Local bon vivant and so-called “mayor of Hampden” Lou Catelli is legitimately running to be mayor of Baltimore–as in, went down and filed with the Baltimore City Board of Elections legitimate.
But as many have pointed out, Lou Catelli is more like a short shorts-wearing, chest hair-bearing persona, one adopted by Will Bauer, who works as a consultant of sorts in Hampden to help local businesses get all their proper licensing and permits.
Whether or not you think Catelli, who registered as a Democrat, has a snowball’s chance in hell or not, his candidacy raises the question: Can “Lou Catelli” even run under the pseudonym Lou Catelli? Or, as his campaign sign reads, Louis J. “Lou” Catelli?
According to state law, he can. Citing Election Law Article 5-301, Jared DeMarinis, public information officer for the Maryland State Board of Elections, said candidates are able to alter their name if they file “an affidavit attesting that the candidate is generally known by that other name in press accounts or in encounters in the community.”
Two such affidavits are required, and Abigail Goldman, deputy election director for the Baltimore City Board of Elections, said Bauer/Catelli went the extra mile and submitted three.
Catelli is the second candidate to formally file for the June 2020 primary after Ralph E. Johnson Jr., per state election board records. Former Maryland Deputy Attorney General Thiru Vignarajah has also announced a run, and ex-Mayor Sheila Dixon and Councilman Brandon Scott have said they’re considering it.
Residents of Baltimore City need a bit of levity at the moment. And Catelli, is just the man to bring it on. He’s not the first, nor will he be the last to run for election simply to enhance his brand.
Thanks so much for the article! I just have one clarification if I may. I’ve never claimed to be Mayor of Hampden. Quite the opposite actually, I’ve always refused that title. When I came here back in June of 2008 we had the most amazing individual that roamed the streets of Hampden named Nosey Jack, but he was more officially known as The Mayor of Hampden. He died a few years back, but to me he was mayor for life or death! The title I’ve always asked people to use for me is Ambassador of Hampden. The only caveat, since we filed our paperwork on Monday, I’ve accepted any titles with the word Mayor in it!!!
kindly,
Lou Catelli, aka Will