(8/1) Dear Neighbors. I am running for the office of mayor of this wonderful town again. We have done so much together in such a very short time, but there is more that we can accomplish.

But first lets talk census. The 2010 census was taken before I took office and sadly only 52% responded. At this point, we are at almost 69%.

It would be from a lack of leadership if I did not approach getting more people to register with fixed determination. Each person who is counted equates to $18,000 coming back to the County and to the town over the next census period. We can do this. It is a simple form. If you do not have one, we can get you one. Call 301-600-6300.

Here are a few of the things that have been done while I have been Mayor.

• We lowered the town property tax rate by 14%. How we do the things listed below while not increasing taxes? We aggressively went after grants from state and federal agencies.
• We placed more emphasis on infrastructure then at any time I have been in Emmitsburg. Even before the presence of discolored water last Fall, we were working our water of water and sewer lines.
• For the first time the town annually set aside funds in the town budget for replacement of vehicles and for road repairs.
• Within weeks of taking office for my first term we opened the entrance of Brookfield Drive and Irishtown Road for one way exiting from Brookfield and Pembrooke Woods subdivisions onto Irishtown Road. Opening this entry point gave residents safe exiting point when left turns onto Rt. 140 during ski season and other heavy traffic times is virtually impossible.
• We ‘took back the Square’. We beautified downtown and made the Square safer for both vehicles and pedestrian.
• Enhanced town walkability and connectivity with nine sidewalk connections.
• Replaced high cost streetlights with long lasting energy saving LED lights. Through rebates and grants the lighting virtually cost nothing.
• Transferred 94% of the town government’s electric energy over to cheaper renewable solar energy. The town now has an electric vehicle and four charging stations for residents and visitors.
• Town now has a dog park, all-accessible children playground equipment, and a totally refurbished pool and pool house.
• Added seven historic Wayside Exhibits downtown. More to come!
• Attracting new businesses all along the way: Dollar General; a national award-winning educational marketing and branding agency, Dunkin Donuts, a proposed Rutter’s Gas and Convenience store, and we are in the planning stage a large industrial warehouse.

Again, we have done all of this without raising taxes. We have been able to do these improvements while lowering the tax rate by aggressively going after grants.

We have done so much in a short nine years but there are so many things that remain to be done and the challenges are coming full speed. The COVID-19 pandemic and all it brings on with it; lost jobs, no schooling for children to name but a few. Most assuredly there will be more challenges. Keep the course with me and we can handle it.

Next month in this paper I will lay out my goals for the next the next three-year.