(6/19) While the Thurmont election for
mayor is still more than a year away, Mayor
Martin Burns has announced that he is not
planning to run again.
Burns, who was elected as mayor in 2001,
said during a recent town meeting, “I think
the time is right that somebody else step up
and do it.”
Burns said that the job has been rewarding,
challenging and demanding, but it is time for
him to step down.
“I might change my mind, but I highly doubt
it,” Burns said.
Burns said over his years in office he is
proud that the town created the charter review
committee, approved a new charter, raised
impact fees, received more grants, was
designated a Main Street Maryland community,
built a new police building and lowered taxes.
“I think the tax rate is lower today than
when I took office,” Burns said.
He said he has done what he could to engage
the community in government, including writing
monthly columns for newspapers and
broadcasting many town meetings.
“People are engaging in government more
than they ever have been,” Burns said.
His biggest disappointment as mayor has
been “that we were not able to find common
ground with plaintiffs in the sewer case prior
to litigation.”
Burns said that whoever the next mayor is,
that person should plan on sacrificing a lot
of his or her free time. The position takes a
lot of time if the mayor plans on being more
than a figurehead.
“I have many, many shortcomings but putting
forth my best effort was not one of them,”
Burns said.
Burns is now looking toward a time when he
can relax more, enjoy his family a little more
and have more time to himself. He still wants
to be involved in the town, but it won’t
necessarily be in a formal capacity.
He said he has been asked to run for
Frederick County Commissioner, but he legally
can’t. The Hatch Act prohibits federal
employees from running for an office that has
a party designation.
