Emmitsburg election approaches, still no candidates filed

Danielle Ryan

(8/2) The Emmitsburg town election will be held on September 26 this year with residents voting for someone to fill the seats currently held by Emmitsburg Mayor Don Briggs and Commissioner Joe Ritz.

The last day to file to run for either Mayor or Commissioner this year is Aug. 28, according to Town Clerk Maddy Shaw. The write-in deadline is September 19 at noon. The last day to register to vote in this year’s election is also August 28. Candidates for election must be Emmitsburg residents and registered voters in the town. Candidates must also live in the town for the duration of their term. If a candidate moves out of town while in office, they must vacate their office.

While no one has officially filed to run yet, it is not that unusual for candidates to wait until closer to the deadline. It tends to be on par with past elections, waiting until closer to the deadline to announce their candidacy.

Don Briggs has filled the position of Mayor since 2011, when he won against then Mayor Jim Hoover. Briggs secured a win over Hoover with a vote of 209 against 176 votes, ending Hoover’s nine-year run as Emmitsburg Mayor Briggs has held the position since then, but no official word has been given as to whether or not he’ll run again, for another term. Commissioner Joe Ritz has been a Commissioner since October 2014, and has been the town liaison for the Citizen’s Advisory Board as well as, more recently, the Parks and Recreation Committee. Neither Briggs nor Ritz has officially announced any intention to run for their respective positions again.