For all early indications, the upcoming coming town election set for Oct. 31 should have been a sleeper. Commissioner Wes Hamrick and Buehrer initially said they would not be seeking re-election; Burns and Lookingbill announced in August that they would seek the vacant seats, setting up a two-person race for two open seats.

But that all changed within a matter of days, and even as this paper gets ready to go to press, the field of candidates gets more and more crowded – It’s now a horse race.

As noted in their candidate position papers submitted to this paper, both Burns, who served as Thurmont Mayor for 12 years, and Lookingbill, point to concerns over the town’s recent handling of the contentious Simmer’s Farm annexation, and the town’s handling of growth and spending related issues in general as the basis for their decisions to run.

Burns also is concerned over the Town’s fiscal position and says he is committed to crafting a town budget that prioritizes essential services while eliminating unnecessary expenses. "This means scrutinizing every dollar spent and ensuring that it serves the best interests of the entire community," he said.

Lookingbill concurred with Burns’ concerns on spending and has taken aim at the proposed Thurmont Boulevard project. "They [Council] had proposed obtaining a six-million-dollar bond to pay for the project. The taxpayers would be burdened with repaying this loan. In my opinion, this is reckless spending," Lookingbill said.

Schildt, who was the third to throw his hat into the ring, says he will offer a "fresh view of the daily decisions of the business operations for the town of Thurmont. I want to take the time to listen to all our residents and their views on the issues being discussed by the board. It is very important to be accessible to our residents so that the beauty of our town remains the identity we want as a community in the future years ahead."

"It is important that the core of our downtown remains intact but realize that sustainable growth is critical to maintain the infrastructure of the community for future years. I would encourage sustainable growth in a controlled and responsible manner and ensuring that urban sprawl is not the path we take as a municipality." Schildt said.

With Schildt’s entry a three-man race for two open seats was in the works. But that all changed when commissioner Buehrer changed his mind and decided to seek reelection.

Buehrer, who was first elected to the Town Council in 2011, and currently serves as liaison to the Board of Appeals, Economic Development and the Electric Department, said he changed his mind because he feels he still has things he would like to accomplish. "I thank you for the opportunity to serve this community for 12 years and I’d like to continue to do so," Buhrer said. He also cited the good the Town Council has done, including the new chief financial officer saving "tens of thousands of dollars" in the budget.

Shortly after Buehrer announced his intention to seek re-election, Johnson threw his hat into the ring citing concerns over the Town Council’s "focus as of late in increasing tax revenue through expanded tract housing projects, which is ruining Thurmont’s small-town charm and creating a transient commuter community." Johnson wants to return the focus of the Council to the many pressing needs of the current citizens of the community.

The last candidate to enter the coursed field was Stouter. As a mechanical engineer, Stouter hopes to focus on infrastructure if elected. At the Nomination Convention, he said he would be able to understand projects such as the substation repairs to make decisions and ensure the residents know what is going on in simpler terms.

The Thurmont Lions Club will be hosting a Candidate Forum on Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Town Office. All candidates have been invited to take part in the forum. It will be broadcast live on Channel 99 at the time of the event and live streamed on the town’s website. The recorded forum will also be on the Town’s website.