Three candidates, including a University of Maryland student, are competing in a special election for the vacant District 3 College Park City Council seat.

The seat opened up when former District 3 council member Stuart Adams resigned on Jan. 8 after serving for more than three years. The winner of the special election will serve until the November general election.

City residents can vote in person at College Park City Hall on March 11 or by mail.

Here is a look at the candidates running in the special election. Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name.

Michael Meadow

If elected to the council, Michael Meadow, a mechanical engineer at the Architect of the Capitol, plans to focus on sustainable planning, safety and looking after senior citizens in the district.

Working to create a safer and more walkable community will help residents and students live more “harmoniously” together, Meadow said.

Meadow aims to keep neighborhoods safer by expanding the city’s contract police force, according to the city elections website.

In addition to his day job, Meadow serves as vice chairperson for the city’s advisory planning commission and as a member of the local advisory planning board, where he works closely with the current council.

[Here’s how to register to vote for the College Park District 3 special election]

Meadow said his lifelong residency in College Park is a reason why people should vote for him. He grew up in the city, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from this university and still lives in the city.

This shows that he can understand perspectives from both residents and students and can help join them together, he said.

“I’d like for [students] to eventually get their degrees but I would like the students to stay and build their families, just as I have here in our town,” Meadow said.

Ray Ranker

Ray Ranker, a chaplain at this university, said he plans to work to make sure students and residents can live in an environmentally sustainable and safe city. One of his top priorities is expanding affordable housing in College Park.

Ranker previously served as the president of the College Park Estates Civic Association in District 3. He also oversees tutoring and mentoring at local elementary schools and is on the Good Neighbor Day planning committee, where he works with elected officials, university staff and students and community members to promote community service.

[Special election for District 3 College Park City Council member set for March 11]

As a chaplain at this university, Ranker has a close relationship with students, staff and faculty, which he believes shows his involvement in the community.

Ranker also coaches youth sports in the College Park community and has served on the city’s charter review commission, according to the city elections website.

“The thing that really gives me the most joy is bringing folks together and getting them to get excited about the city,” Ranker, who attended this university, said.

Gannon Sprinkle

Gannon Sprinkle, a junior government and politics major at this university, said he is running for the vacant seat because he thinks students deserve to have a voting representative on the council.

Sprinkle was the executive vice president of this university’s Student Government Association from last spring until earlier this year and served as the city council’s deputy student liaison during the 2023-24 academic year.

Some of the goals Sprinkle had during his term as deputy student liaison are not fulfilled, he said.

“I felt that there was more work to do in bridging the gap between student residents and long-term residents,” Sprinkle said. “I wanted to give a voice to both on the city council.”

As deputy student liaison, Sprinkle helped create a rental subsidy pilot program for low income students in the city.

Sprinkle also helped to create the College Park Tenants Union, which works to combat the disconnect between high housing rates and the responsiveness of landlords in the city, he said.

He cites his experience with the council and his current internship with the Maryland General Assembly as reasons residents should vote for him.