(9/28) 269 residents turned out on September 28 to return Commissioners Tim O’Donnell and Cliff Sweeney to the Town Council. O’Donnell was to top vote getter with 182 votes with Sweeney receiving 174 votes. Buckman received 98 votes and Benvenji 63.
O’Donnell has served on the Town Council since 2009 and currently serves as the Council President. O’Donnell said he was running to continue serving the community and aims to prioritize the safe opening of businesses following COVID-19 guidelines. O’Donnell also wanted to see "measurable growth" through-out the town by continuing to improve parks and preserving local trails. "I don’t want to lose the quality of life that makes Emmitsburg known for as a small town," he said. A focus on systematic ways to improve the town sewer and wastewater treatment are also high on O’Donnell’s priorities. "My judgment is in accord with what the community wants," he said.
Current Council Vice President Sweeney has been on the Town Council for 23 years now, (having briefly been unseated in the 2004 election) and is not only the longest serving commissioner on the current Town Council, but the longest serving council member in the town’s history.
"Every year I learn something new that I haven’t tried. I enjoy being on the council and making Emmitsburg a better place," Sweeney said. Sweeney aims to bring back community involvement activities such as Little League, noting many families must travel out of town to participate in sports and activities.
Sweeney’s goals are that he doesn't want to see Emmitsburg continue to be a "bedroom community, one that residents only sleep in while they live and work in the cities. A focus should be placed on bringing in new businesses and developments and upgrading the sewer system to expand the town."
O’Donnell, and Sweeny will be sworn-in and reassume their position on the Town Council on October 7.
The voter turnout this year is a decrease from the 2020 election for mayor and one commissioner that saw a total of 398 total ballots cast. In the 2020 election, Commissioner Joseph Ritz ran unopposed for his seat and received 331 votes and Mayor Donald Briggs was elected Mayor with 398 votes in a contested election against former Mayor James Hoover and Sweeney. (Sweeney only garnered support of 58 residents to be Mayor.)
