(8/16) If you want to run or you want
someone to run for the two Thurmont town
commissioner seats that will be open this
year, the best time to make your wishes known
is at the Thurmont Nominating Convention on
August 28.
“You come with the people who support you
and want you to run for office and they
nominate you,” said Mayor Martin Burns.
The recent changes to the town’s charter
has moved the nominating convention up from
late September to the last Tuesday in August
at 7 p.m. Burns said the old date for the
convention allowed for less time to campaign
and so, it actually favored the incumbent who
would be better known than an new candidate.
At the meeting Burns will select a
chairperson who will call for nominations for
candidates.
“If you get a first and a second, you are
automatically an official nominee,” Burns
said.
Holding a nominating convention is not
unusual. Rosemont, Middletown and
Burkittsville are among the municipalities
that hold special nominating meetings for
candidates.
“Some municipalities do it that way. Some
do not. It’s not unusual at all. Every place
is a little different because municipalities
are in charge of their own elections,” said
Stuart Harvey, Frederick County election
director.
Harvey also pointed out that the nominating
convention can be a very important meeting. At
Burkittsville’s special nominating meeting in
June just enough candidates were nominated to
fill the vacant seats and so the election was
cancelled.
While the Thurmont Nominating Convention
has been the traditional way to become a
candidate, the new town charter also allows
for a candidate to file paperwork.
The mayor and the commissioners serve
four-year terms. The terms are staggered and
the town election is held on odd-numbered
years on the first Monday in October.
