Stephanie Mlot
Frederick News-Post

(10/6) The sitting mayor and two incumbent commissioners were reelected Monday night.

The results came in about an hour after polls closed. Mayor Martin Burns tallied 552 votes while write-in mayoral candidate Rosie Bentz had 224. There were nine additional write-in votes cast.

The commissioners seats went to Wayne Hooper with 570 and Ron Terpko with 439. John Bean lost by 18 votes, coming in at 421. Twenty-one write-in votes were made for the commissioner positions.

A total of 866 votes were cast, including seven absentee. The town has 3,940 active and inactive registered voters.

After the results were announced by judges George Bolling, Vic Jagow and Carol Robertson, Hooper was ecstatic.

The 20-year commissioner said he was humbled by the numbers and appreciated the support.

"The vote count shows that people believe in what I stand for," he said. "Hopefully we can start working together better."

Burns said he feels outstanding and thinks it's clear residents are happy with what officials are doing.

"I want to thank the voters and I want to thank the people with faith and confidence in me," he said.

Bentz held her head up despite the final vote. "I made him go out and work," she said of the mayor's campaign.

"I accomplished what I set out to do," Bentz said. "I worked as hard as I could work. I feel good."

The town election that began with the Aug. 25 nominating convention has had tempers running high for the past month. But during Monday's open polls, Burns said everyone was getting along.

"It's been an absolute blast," Terpko said. "Even the mayor has been lots of fun."

Incumbents Hooper and Terpko ran with Bean for the two open commissioner seats. Two-term mayor Burns was running unopposed until about a week before the election, when Bentz announced her campaign as a write-in candidate.

All five were at the building since about 7 a.m., when polls opened.

"I was the first one out here," Burns said.

"The people have really been great," he said. "Between parties it's been great."

Burns said everyone was friendly and cordial, sharing food and discussions all day.

Bean and his supporters wore blue T-shirts with the message to vote for him.

"It's nice to have friends come show support in any different way," he said, mentioning the homemade chicken soup delivered to the candidates.

"I've been out since a quarter to five putting signs up," Hooper said. He said he enjoyed talking to people coming to the polls.

Bentz said just sitting outside the polling place, she met people she didn't know. "Which is good," she said. "It's been great."

Sitting commissioners Glenn Muth and Bob Lookingbill were out during the day carrying signs and rooting for their favorite candidate.

"The whole day has been busy," said Carol Robertson, a volunteer judge at the poll. "People were waiting (in the morning) for the polls to open."

Polls were open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the Guardian Hose Co. Activities Building.

The seats held by Muth and Lookingbill will be up for election in 2011.