In Towns, Every Vote Can Pay Off
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Thursday, May 14, 2009
The New Carrollton mayor and council members are getting a 50 percent pay raise -- thanks to eight voters.
Voters approved the increase 126 to 118 last week during town elections.
The mayor's salary, which has not changed since 1994, will jump from $4,800 to $7,200, and the council salaries will go from $3,000 to $4,800.
The vote in New Carrollton was one of many in Prince George's County last week.
Voters in 12 municipalities across the county, from Hyattsville to Fairmount Heights, went to the polls to elect mayors and council members.
In New Carrollton, voters also decided to reelect Jim Wildoner to the City Council. Richard Bechtold and June Garrett will replace Lisa Fenton and David L. Anderson, who opted not to run for reelection.
In University Park, voters cast ballots to fill four spots on the seven-member Town Council, but voters in Ward 4 could not decide between two candidates for an open seat. Lenford C. Carey and Charles S. Nickens each received 69 votes.
"As far as I know, it's never happened before, and I've lived here for 28 years," Mayor John R. Tabori said. Tabori estimates that each ward has 250 voters. In Ward 4, 139 voters cast ballots last week. "That's pretty impressive for a small town," he said.
How could 139 votes be divided evenly? One ballot, which could have broken the tie, was void. Tabori said the council will decide this week when to have a special election to replace Lynn N. Dudinsky, who decided not to run for reelection.
In the other races, Francis M. Lucas ran unopposed in Ward 2; Tracey J. Toscano is the new council member in Ward 5, replacing Kelly E. Fischer; and Anne V. O'Connor defeated Virginia L. Myers in Ward 6.
Fairmount Heights apparently had some controversy on Election Day. A clerk said the town plans to have a special election, but she referred all questions to Mayor Madeline E. Richardson, who could not be reached. Richardson's and two seats on the council were to be decided last week.
Voters in Brentwood elected Xzavier C. Montgomery-Wright as mayor. They also replaced three incumbents on the Town Council with the election of Jeff Clark, Tim Cooksey and Aneeka Harrison. Council member Marlene Robinson retained her seat.
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