(10/28) Incumbent Commissioner Wayne Hooper and incumbent Mayor John Kinnaird were re-elected to the Thurmont Council along with former commissioner Bill Blakeslee as commissioner.
Seven candidates were nominated at September Nominating Convention for two open commissioner seats held by Commissioners Martin Burns and Wayne Hooper, as well as the Mayor position up for grabs. The commissioner candidates also included Christopher Stouter, Sabrina Massett, Mickey Blank, Olen Gunn, and Janice Guillory.
Commissioner Burns did not seek reappointment saying, "Everyone knows when it’s time to step back and give someone else the opportunity."
Kinnaird ran unopposed against 19 write-in candidate votes, winning with 506 votes. This year will mark Kinnaird’s eighth year as mayor.
"I appreciate that I am given the opportunity and that the residents have invested their trust in my leadership to serve as Mayor of Thurmont," he said.
Kinnaird's goal has always been to bring "Civility and transparency to the town," and seeks to see that continue. Kinnaird aims to make building Thurmont Boulevard to ease traffic on Moser Road a top priority, he said.
Hooper received 310 votes and has been a commissioner for 32 years. "I never looked at the job as a personal thing, it's the five of us together to do the best thing for the people," he said. Hooper plans to follow up on federal government funding for a variety of projects and programs currently underway in the township, including the Parks and Recreation Department, sewer, and infrastructure to various buildings, to "let citizens get what they need for quality of life." h
An important issue "Is to keep the cost of living in this town low. Right now, we have some of the lowest costs for any municipality in the state," he said, adding it was imperative the council maintain conservative spending in order to keep taxes low.
Blakeslee received 287 votes. A Thurmont resident for nearly 50 years, Blakeslee has an extensive background in civic and government activities including previously serving as town commissioner, former chief administrative officer, as well as operating on the Planning and Zoning Board, the Parks Commission and coaching youth sports. "I feel like I have the experience necessary to be an asset to the town," he said.
Blakeslee aims to focus on economic development "We have to help business improve their facades," he said, encouraging everyone to support local business, "Go to them, make them prosperous, it helps us all out. I think the most important thing is maintaining the wonderful lifestyle we have here," by continuing low costs of living, while growing to support businesses, Blakeslee said.
A total of 562 ballots were cast, which is 12.6% of registered Thurmont voters. Massett received 181 votes, Gunn received 111, Stouter 101, Guillory 50, and Blank received 24 votes as well as two votes for write-in commissioner candidates.
