EMMITSBURG,
Md. – Catherine Forrence, a former member of Citizens
Organized to Preserve Emmitsburg (COPE), filed an 11th hour
application for candidacy in town hall minutes before the
close of the March 27 deadline for the April 25 town election.
Forrence had taken over as COPE president, when newly elected
Commissioner William B. O’Neil, Jr. stepped down, following
the 2004 election.
Joining
Forrence on the ballot will be previously filed candidates
Joyce A. Rosensteel and Clifford Sweeney.
Candidate
recap
Candidates
will be vying for two positions on the board of commissioners,
one vacancy resulting from the end of Commissioner Arthur
Elder’s term, and the other the recently created fifth
commissioner seat.
The
board of commissioners voted at the Jan. 18 town meeting
to amend the town charter, creating a seat for a fifth commissioner,
officially in effect March 10. Both terms will expire in
October 2009.
Forrence
was defeated in the 2005 election, finishing next to last
among six candidates. She attributed her loss to her membership
in COPE, and said she had subsequently resigned from that
organization.
Former
Commissioner Joyce Rosensteel, who served from 2002 to 2005,
when she was defeated for re-election, filed Feb. 15. Former
Commissioner Clifford Sweeney, who served from 2001 to 2004,
when he lost a re-election bid, filed Feb. 13.
Alternate
judge needed
Three
judges have been approved for the upcoming election: Denise
Etris, who has served previously; Sharon Hane; and former
Commissioner Dianne L. Walbrecker, both serving for the
first time.
The
town still needs one alternate judge to cover in the absence
of any of the other judges. If no one comes forth, the mayor
may appoint someone.
Write-in
candidates must file by noon, April 18. Write-in candidate
names will not appear on the ballot.
All
candidates must provide proof and duration of residency.
Every candidate must also file a financial disclosure statement
both 30 days before and seven days after the election (covering
the 30-day period of time from the first filing).
