RYAN FIRST OFFICIAL CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR
Interested in youth activities, crime prevention, and taxes

SALISBURY Robert Ryan filed for Salisbury mayor last Thursday, making him
the first official candidate for next year's city mayoral election.

Mr. Ryan, 43, who lives at 522 W. College Ave., said kids, crime and taxes
are the three issues he wants to address if he becomes mayor.

"Salisbury needs to be a kid friendly town," Mr. Ryan said. "For example,
there's a city ordinance that outlaws skate boarding and Rollerblading
except in a kid's driveway. The thinking pattern behind that is really
absurd. What's good for kids is good for Salisbury."

On the crime issue, Mr. Ryan said that it would help if the police made
citizens more aware of crime happening in the city.

"The police need to communicate with the citizens better," Mr. Ryan said.
"I've lived here seven years and there's been several instances where we've
had crimes and didn't know about it. An example of this is the rashes of
crime in the Pinehurst area."

Mr. Ryan also said that city taxes need to be slashed because the services
taxpayers receive do not equal the amount of money they have to pay out.
"Taxes. It's too high, we don't get enough," Mr. Ryan said. "We've got
holes in the city. We're leaking."

But perhaps the registered Republican is best known in Salisbury for his
appearances at public meetings supporting the legalization of drugs such as
marijuana. He frequently writes letters to local newspapers supporting the
decriminalization of such drugs because he believes the drug war is a
battle that has failed. He claims he does not personally use illegal drugs
though.

Besides Mr. Ryan, no other person has announced his or her candidacy for
Salisbury mayor, which is a post that pays $10,000 a year. One person
however, Shanie Shields, of Delaware Avenue, has filed for City Council.

Mrs. Shields wants to unseat City Councilwoman LaVonzella Siggers, who
represents District 1.

The city's general election is May 5.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Robert Richard Ryan
522 W. College Ave.
Salisbury, MD 21801

Education:
St. Michael, St. Benedict's Prep, Forest Hills High, Forest Hills, N.Y.
Fayetteville Technical Institute, Fayetteville, N.C. AS Liberal Arts
Morris County College, Randolph, N.J. (GI Bill) AS Engineering
Leheigh University Bethlehem, Pa. (GI Bill) BS Mechanical Engineering
University of Cincinnati, (GE Edison Program). MS Aerospace Engineering
Tan Beta Pi Engineering Honors Society

Professional:
Ingersoll Rand, Alpha, NJ Application Engineer for industrial equipment.

General Electric, Cincinnati, OH Program, Design, and Project Engineer
for jet engines for commercial and military aircraft.

Computer Sciences Corporation, Wallops Island Va, Mechanical System
Engineer. Design and oversee sounding rocket and orbital satellite
systems.

Military:
U.S. Army Fort Bragg, N.C., 82nd Airborne infantry Sergeant, Antitank
Squad Leader, SWAT instructor, Marksmanship team leader and member.
19731977 Honorable discharge.

Civic:
Tball coach, Soccer coach, PTA member, Excel science museum volunteer,
neighborhood block captain, Cub Scout leader, St. Francis De Sales Knights
of Columbus, and the Camden Neighborhood Association.

Personal:
Born June 1, 1954, Summit, N.J., married 23 years to Eileen and have four
children; Robert, Delia, Sean and Thomas.