Chesapeake Beach Town Council candidates, top row, left to right, Valerie Beaudin, Stewart Cumbo, Derek Favret and Greg Morris; bottom row, left to right, Cheryl Greene, Lawrence Jaworski, Jan Ruttkay and Keith Pardieck. Not pictured, Patrick Schaeffer.
Chesapeake Beach, MD – Tuesday, Nov. 8 will also be a day of decision locally in the Town of Chesapeake Beach. The Northeastern Calvert County municipality will conduct its election for mayor and town council from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Ballots will be cast at the Northeast Community Center on Gordon Stinnett Avenue from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Room A.
This past summer, incumbent Mayor Bruce Wahl announced he would not be seeking a third four-year term. Subsequently, to incumbent town council members—Pat “Irish” Mahoney and Jeff Krahling—announced their candidacies for mayor. No other mayoral candidates filed.
Chesapeake Beach Mayoral Candidates, left to right, Jeff Krahling and Pat “Irish” Mahoney
With Mahoney and Krahling seeking the office of mayor and two other incumbent council members—Robert Carpenter and Eric Reinhardt—opting not to seek re-election, only two incumbents are seeking re-election to the council. Those incumbents are Stewart Cumbo, who was first elected in 2000; and Dr. Valerie L. Beaudin, who has served on the council since 2004. In total, there are nine candidates for the six town council seats.
One of the non-incumbents—Jan Ruttkay—was appointed in 2001 to fill an unexpired term of a councilmember who moved outside the town boundaries. Ruttkay herself moved to a location outside the boundaries in 2004 and had to resign. He and her husband have since returned to the municipality.
The other town council candidates are Derek Favret, Cheryl M. Greene, Lawrence P. Jaworski, Greg Morris, Keith Pardieck and Patrick A. Schaeffer Jr.
On Thursday, Nov. 3, the Calvert County League of Women Voters hosted a forum for Chesapeake Beach candidates at the Northeast Community Center.
Krahling and Mahoney answered several audience questions, including how much time each would spend doing what is currently a volunteer job. Krahling, whose real estate office is in town, pledged to work a 40-hour week, which will include Saturdays. Mahoney stated that since he is retired, he would be working from town hall four days a week. Both Krahling and Mahoney indicated they intended to fill the vacant town administrator’s post.
On the subject on the planned expansion at Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa, Mahoney declared “I testified against it twice.” He indicated the project component he is most opposed to is a planned 58-unit apartment building, which opined was out of character for a small town. Krahling indicated he was not a huge supporter of the plan, but, the property owner “has a right to do it.”
In his closing remarks, Krahling stated he was a businessman and not a politician. He added that out of the remaining four incumbent councilmembers, three of them endorse him.
“I reduced taxes six times,” said Mahoney in his closing statement. “I am one of you.”
Council candidates were asked seven questions, including who their plans for boosting small business in town would be. Pardieck called for revisions in Chesapeake Beach’s Comprehensive Plan. Favret said the council must work cooperatively with North Beach officials and should establish an economic development commission. Ruttkay said “more variety” in the types of small businesses would be best. Greene suggested looking at North Beach’s model for small business expansion. “I am interested in developing a ‘Twin Beach’ atmosphere,” said Morris. Beaudin concurred that “atmosphere” was key to making business work in Chesapeake Beach. “Small businesses attract more people,” Jaworski declared. “We are a destination,” said Cumbo, who added the Rod ‘N’ Reel has been part of that success.
In addition to the offices of mayor and town council, the municipality’s registered voters will also decide whether the elected officials should receive pay. The referendum questions specifically identify $18,000 as the mayor’s annual salary and a councilmember’s annual pay as $3,000.
For more information on the Chesapeake Beach elections, visit the town’s web site.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com