Alan Imhoff is joining four other incumbents who want to return to Frederick's Board of Aldermen for another term.

Imhoff, a Republican, said he has more work to do as a board member, dispelling rumors that he was bound for a mayoral bid.

"With my background and experience, that's the best place to put it at this point," he said.

Imhoff, 62, said he has three main goals if elected to a second term this year.

First, he wants to cut the city's property tax rate. The rate is 65 cents per $100 of assessable property.

The tax rate during Imhoff's four years on the board was cut by 2 cents during two separate years.

"I've been doing budget forecasting since the early 1980s," he said.

Another goal would be expanding and improving the city's watershed acreage. He wants to target land north of Frederick surrounding Fishing Creek Reservoir and other creeks and streams.

"I see that as a future water source for emergency water supplies," he said.

His third priority would focus on urban farming -- using land within the municipal boundaries for growing crops.

He sees a business opportunity. Residents and farmers can grow food on unused land, including portions of city parks.

Imhoff said he is proud of producing clean and balanced budgets, and with helping Mayor Jeff Holtzinger move forward with the Monocacy Boulevard project.

He said he regrets not putting more time into studying the early retirement incentive plan when it was proposed. An outside consultant found the plan, which offered 67 employees a two-year salary buyout, did not to represent a cost saving to the city and could lose money.

Despite that, Imhoff maintains a buyout for employees near retirement age is a positive thing.

"I'd still do it again, not quite the same way," he said.

Imhoff has been an alderman member of the city's planning commission most of his term on the board. He also served on the commission as an appointee from 1998 to 2003.

He is vice president of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, a group that work on regional solutions to policy issues. Imhoff is also chairman of the council's metropolitan development policy committee.

He retired as a global project manager at AT&T, where he worked for 38 years. He was born and reared in Baltimore but has lived in Frederick for 25 years.

Also trying to retain their seats are Republican C. Paul Smith and Democrats David Koontz and Donna Kuzemchak.

Other Republicans running for alderman are Shelley Aloi, Bill Ashton, George Bauer, Robert Cassidy, Joe Cohen, Senitta Conyers, Amanda Haddaway, Chris Huckenpoehler and John Shupe.

Democrats running are Josh Bokee, John Daniels, Andrew Kotkin, Carol Krimm, Michael O'Connor, Kelly Russell and Karen Young.

The primary election is scheduled for Sept. 15.