VIDEO: Election Night Brought Reflection, Plans

Even before the final vote tallies were announced on Tuesday night, Councilman Piotr Gajewski was all but conceding defeat in the Rockville mayoral election and reflecting on the campaign.

“I think those of you that are present here know that there’s a lot at stake,” Gajewski said to supporters gathered at his campaign headquarters on Rockville Pike. Based on early results reported by his poll watchers Gajewski said that he expected Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio, Councilwoman Bridget Donnell Netwon and former Councilman John Hall to be elected.

“So this will be a very different council going forward and obviously the dynamic will change,” Gajewski said.

Gajewski said that was crafted to imply that because he accepted contributions from developers, his mayoral administration would be corrupt.

“It’s trying to create the perception of bad ethics,” Gajewski said. “And I’m sorry we’re in an environment where that takes place.”

While Gajewski reflected on the campaign, two victorious incumbents looked forward to the upcoming term. Early Wednesday morning, at a victory party across town, campaign contributions were on Newton’s mind.

Newton said she’d like the council to consider lowering the campaign contribution limit for individual donors from $1,000 to $500.

“I think Rockville politics do not need to be so heavily controlled by money,” she said.

Money was on the mind of Marcuccio, as well.

“People are struggling,” she said. “Every one of us has been impacted in some ways by this dwindling economy. Either our retirement plans are going to pot or somebody’s lost a job or somebody’s lost the ability to pay for their mortgage. I mean, this is an economic nightmare we’re going through. I don’t think we can afford to ignore that.”