August 10th, 2017 by WCBC Radio
More than six months remain before the deadline to file to run for elected office in Maryland, however some candidates- local and statewide- are already on file. In Allegany County, the county commissioner’s race is expected to see a heavy field with all three incumbents- Jake Shade, Creade Brodie Jr and Bill Valentine- having announced plans to run. To date, only Valentine has filed. Cumberland City Councilman David Caporale has confirmed to WCBC News that he plans to run as a republican for commissioner; while Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Stu Czapski is expected to announce his plans to run in the very near future. On the city council, three seats are up: Mayor Brian Grim and council members Richard Rock Cioni and Seth Bernard. Although none of those have filed, local businessman George Merling has filed for mayor; while Wayne Hedrick will run for a council seat. Three seats will be up for grabs on the Allegany County School Board, those currently held by Laurie Marchini, Sara Beth Bittinger and Wayne Foote. Bittinger and Marchini have both said they won’t seek another term, while Foote has said he is undecided. One candidate is on file, Wesley Mason of Cumberland. Although State Senator George Edwards and 1A Delegate Wendell Beitzel are both planning on running, most likely unopposed, they have not yet done the paper work. The 1C race could be wide open, as incumbent Mike McKay has announced he will run for Allegany County Register of Wills instead. Former City Councilwoman Nicole Alt Myers has long been rumored to be running for her husband’s old seat, but those rumors are not as strong as they once were. The 1B seat is expected to feature incumbent Jason Buckle against longtime state planner and local historian Al Feldstien. Both republicans, they would face off in the June primary. With incumbent Register of Wills Becky Drew expected to be out of the picture one way or the other, McKay would have been considered the early frontrunner for that seat however other names have surfaced in recent days as interested in the post. Former councilwoman Mary Beth Pirolozzi and former Sheriff David Goad are sad to be considering Register or Wills. Two offices that may see uncontested elections are Sheriff and Clerk of Court as Sheriff Craig Robertson and Clerk Dawne Lindsey are both popular republican incumbents. Maryland’s Primary Election is set for June 26th.
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