By James Rada Jr.
News Editor

EMMITSBURG, Md. – Emmitsburg town commissioner incumbent Glenn Blanchard and new commissioner Denise Etris were sworn in on Oct. 1 following their victories in the Sept. 25 town election.

“I’m privileged and honored that town chose to elect me to a second term,” Blanchard said.

He was the top vote getter on Election Day receiving 102 of the 111 ballots cast. Etris received 98 votes. They were the only two registered candidates, though four others—including a non-resident and a sitting commissioner—each received a write-in vote.

Voter turnout for the town election was 7.4 percent.

“We were pretty active early on and then we get active again after four (p.m.),” said Election Judge Sharon Hane.

One of the residents voting on Election Day was Stan Mazaleski who has run for different public offices before. “I’m surprised there’s only two people running and no (election) signs,” he said. “It could be a sign that there’s voter apathy; people saying ‘ho hum’ and that’s bad.”

Sister Mary Bernadette Forney was another voter. She said she considers voting her civic duty and she always votes even if she doesn’t follow politics closely.

Emmitsburg has 1,500 registered voters, though only 1,366 are considered active voters.