Union Bridge changes election requirements

(6/22) At a previous work session, the Town Council discussed changing how council members are elected. The current nomination procedure is simple: interested candidates fill out a form at the Town Hall. If the procedure is changed, candidates will need to attend a meeting and be nominated by another person who has lived within the corporate limits of Union Bridge for two consecutive years, and the nominee must accept the nomination. Sykesville has a similar procedure, as well as other local municipalities, according to Mayor Perry Jones.

The Council discussed implementing additional requirements to run for mayor or the Town Council, such as requiring a candidate to live in the corporate limits of the Town of Union Bridge for two consecutive years and they must attend three consecutive council meetings within 12 months prior to their nomination.

Commissioner Bret Grossnickle asked if the change was really necessary. "Do we want to make it more difficult for someone to run for a position when we have enough trouble getting people to run at all?" Jones said they want to be ahead of the game because a lot of other municipalities are having issues with people running who are not qualified. He specifically referenced people running for mayor in other towns who have never been to a council meeting. "They run because they are upset about one thing. They get the position and they never finish the term," he said. According to Jones, different towns in Carroll County have experienced this problem for the last few years.

Jones described a potential future for the Town of Union Bridge where new residents may wish to run for a seat on the Council without knowing how the Council works. "They should be coming to a meeting to understand what it's about first." He said candidates should understand how to conduct a meeting before considering running for office.

Grossnickle agreed with Jones and shared his experience when he was first elected. "I was sorely lacking in any experience. They put me in charge of water and sewer which I knew nothing about." Jones pointed out how unnecessary pressure is placed on Town staff when a new member of Council has no idea how the Council is supposed to work, yet comes in and makes demands.

One of Grossnickle's suggestions was to require a candidate to do a term on the Council before running for mayor. According to Jones, the legal department at the yearly Maryland Municipal League Conference said that was not a legal option, even though it would eliminate the problems they see. They also considered preventing write-ins; however, Grossnickle did not agree with this option either.

Grossnickle reiterated his concerns over making the election process too complicated. "You may get someone who would make an excellent council member, but they don’t want to go through all the trouble to apply."

The Council will continue debating their options at the next work session and hopefully proceed with a vote in July.