Five candidates on ballot for mayor, with contests for council dist. 3 and at-large

By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer

(Sept. 10, 2020) The ballot is set for the Berlin municipal election on Oct. 6, with the passing of the candidate filing deadline last Friday at 5 p.m.

The race for mayor has five candidates: Jennifer Allen, Ron Bireley, Bill Todd, Zack Tyndall and incumbent Gee Williams.

Jack Orris is seeking the District 2 council seat unopposed, while Shaneka Nichols and Dan Packey are vying for the District 3 seat.

Jay Knerr and Tony Weeg are running to fill Thom Gulyas’ at-large council seat when he retires after the Sept. 28 mayor and council meeting because his family is moving outside the town limits.

Sept. 4 was also the deadline for voter registration.

Voters will have the opportunity to learn more about candidates’ views on issues during virtual question-and-answer sessions hosted by The Dispatch on Sept. 15 and Sept. 22.

Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, all eligible voters are being encouraged to vote by absentee ballot.

Voters no longer have to provide a reason, such as illness or travel, to obtain an absentee ballot application.

Applications to vote absentee in the municipal election are being accepted by mail until Sept. 29 at 5 p.m.

Absentee voting applications will be accepted in person at Berlin Town Hall, 10 William Street, until 5 p.m. on Oct. 2.

The deadlines for withdrawal of candidacy and write-in candidate filing are also Sept. 29 at 5 p.m.

Write-in candidates will not appear on the ballot.

On Election Day, polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters in Districts 1 and 2 will vote at Buckingham Presbyterian Church at 20 S. Main Street, and voters in Districts 3 and 4 will vote at the Berlin Police Department at 129 Decatur Street.

The Berlin Board of Supervisors of Elections assures those who decide to vote at the polls that appropriate measures will be taken to enforce social distancing, face coverings and other safety precautions for interactions between poll workers and voters.

With the statewide shortage of election judges, Berlin is also accepting applications to serve as poll workers until Sept. 18.

For more information about the Berlin municipal election, contact Deputy Town Administrator Mary Bohlen at 410-641-4314 or by email at mbohlen@berlinmd.gov.

The Berlin municipal election is independent of any county, state or national election, Bohlen said.