(9/6) Seven Thurmont residents will be
vying for two seats on the Thurmont Board of
Commissioners. The town’s nominating
convention was Aug. 28 and the candidates
nominated at that meeting will appear on the
ballot for the town’s Oct. 1 election.
Glenn Muth
Incumbent Glenn Muth said he is running
because his supporters asked him to run again.
He believes the greatest issue facing the
incoming commissioners will be to try and
upgrade the town sewer system. Muth said he
has an idea he would like to implement, which
is to create a fund of about $100,000 to use
to loan residents the cost of repairing their
laterals (the sewer and water lines that
branch off the town property and lead into
private homes and businesses). The money would
be paid back over a 10-30 year period in the
individual’s water bill.
John Ashbury
John Ashbury, editor of TheTentacle.com,
said he is also running because he was asked.
“This is a great community and I want to help
as much as I can,” Ashbury said.
He said the biggest issue facing the town
is ensuring an adequate water supply for the
residents living in town since Thurmont can’t
draw off water from a large river like the
Potomac.
Bob Lookingbill
Bob Lookingbill, a member of the Thurmont
Police Commission, has seen a lot of decisions
made in town that he doesn’t agree with.
“Rather than sit back on my hands and
complain, I decided to step forward and do
something about it,” he said.
Lookingbill said the largest issue facing the
town will be deciding on whether or not to
accept or deny the three annexation requests
before the town.
Randy Cubbedge
Randy Cubbedge, vice chairman of the
Thurmont Planning and Zoning Commission, has
been attending the weekly town meetings
regularly for years, voicing his opinions to
the commissioner. Now he wants to help solve
the problems.
“The town needs to be in control of its own
growth,” Cubbedge said. By doing so, it will
be able to find how best to address the town’s
sewer problem and annexation questions.
Keith Naff
Keith Naff is a Montgomery County police
officer running for public office for the
first time. He believes the annexation
requests are the biggest issue facing the
commissioners. He would like to see the town
grow by no more than 25 homes a year.
“I’m concerned about the future of the town
interested in keeping it how it is,” Naff
said.
Rosie Bentz
Rosie Bentz has been thinking about running
for years. She decided that this year is the
year to run so she can help with the town
tackle the annexation issue and the sewer
problem.
Brian Lynch
Brian Lynch, a member of the town’s parks
and recreation committee, said, “I’m running
to serve the citizens of Thurmont. It’s just
that simple. I’m not running to be a vote for
or against annexation.”
While he acknowledges that annexation is
the big issue on everyone’s mind, he said what
it really comes down to is maintaining the
town’s quality of life.
The candidates will be campaigning for the
next month and the election will be Oct. 1.
