(Dec. 29, 2016) Berlin Mayor Gee Williams won a decisive victory to earn a third term in office, while Councilman Elroy Brittingham won an uncontested reelection in District 3 and newcomer Zackery Tyndall took home the council seat in District 2.
Things, at times, got a little weird during the town election, which wrapped in October.
Williams tipped his hat early in the year that he would run, but did not formally file until late August. His challenger, former District 2 Councilwoman Lisa Hall, filed in June.
The race got off to a rocky start for Hall in August when, during an interview related to her new business the Berlin Butcher Shop, she vowed she would leave town if she did not win the election.
“I’m sick of it,” she told a reporter during a break in the discussion. “If I don’t become mayor, I’m selling my house, I’m moving outside of Berlin, I’m going to let all these wealthy residents promote my business on their dime and thank you very much, because I don’t live here and I don’t pay no taxes.”
Hall went on to compare the Town Council to Donald Trump’s accusations about Hillary Clinton.
“You talk about ‘Crooked Hillary?’ Well, we’re all crooked, because I have to sit there and watch this s—t go on and can’t say nothing,” she said.
She also suggested the town’s recent $95,000 land purchase on Flower Street was politically motivated.
“Do you think if Gee was running for mayor this fall that he would have done that $100,000 deal with that developer?” she asked. “And why was Elroy voting? He sold them some of that land. You guys gotta ask the right question. Elroy should have recused himself.”
If Councilman Brittingham had recused himself the vote, 4-1, would not have changed.
Asked why the town’s ethics commission did not look into the matter, Hall replied, “They don’t look at s—t.”
“That just frustrates me, in that they’re watching me like a hawk here [in the shop]. Let me do something without a frickin’ permit or something,” she said. “It’s like, why am I going to spend all my time and energy if everybody’s running around doing whatever the hell they want?”
Asked about the outburst later, Hall said she wanted to retract her previous statements.
“You all aren’t doing this to me,” she said. “I didn’t say that. I deny it.”
Then, about a month later, it came out that Hall and a female companion were charged in Charleston County, South Carolina was charged with marijuana possession on April 29.
Hall was scheduled to appear during a hearing on a marijuana charge on Oct. 19, but a court administrator at the City of Charleston Municipal Court said that case would be “continued” on Jan. 19.
Williams went on to win 588 votes townwide on Tuesday, Oct. 4, while Hall received 137 votes.
Tyndall won with 185 votes — 177 on regular ballots and eight on absentee ballots, besting fellow newcomer Jack Orris, who won 116 votes in District 2.
Brittingham earned reelection with no challenge to his seat.
Joining the third-term mayor during a victory-night celebration at Burley Oak Brewing Company were Brittingham and councilmen Troy Purnell and Thom Gulyas.
Brittingham termed the victory for Williams a “landslide,” while Purnell praised the turnout, which he called “good for Berlin.”
Williams, after a long wait, seemed relieved and appreciative of the results.
“I’m very grateful that all the work that the town has done – not just during my two terms as mayor, but for the generation or so that preceded that – I think we’re validated tonight,” he said. “I think that vision of deciding that the future was a good place and not a fearful place, it is now not a matter of question, but is a matter of our culture. It is who we are.
“Hopefully, in our own way, we can become an example to other small towns that the future is not a place to fear, but a place to embrace if you’re willing to make changes that are necessary for all people to succeed,” Williams added.
As for his agenda, Williams said he would continue “thoughtfully, on the same path” that he had set out during his previous eight years in office.
Williams celebrated the victory with his wife, Betsy, other family members and friends.
Tyndall was equally grateful for being selected at the District 2 representative.
“I want to thank my family, friends and neighbors for their constant support as I start my political career as councilman for the Town of Berlin,” he said in a statement the following morning. “Growing up, my parents instilled in me the importance of never compromising your character. Throughout this election, I have maintained my integrity and stood for what I believe is right. I look forward to working with the council, Mayor Williams and the public to keep Berlin a great place to live and visit. Thank you again for the opportunity to give back to the community that raised me.”
During Hall’s final meeting as a councilwoman, Oct. 11, she was widely praised by her colleagues – including Williams.
“Quite frankly, I think this has been a very productive team,” he said. “I think everyone here has contributed … we’re just part of the process, but I think Councilmember Hall has been an integral part of the success that we have achieved as a mayor and council.”
Williams added, “Every time one door closes another one opens.”
“On behalf of the mayor and council we wish you success with your new business venture, right down the street, the Berlin Butcher Shop, and we also wish you all the best as you now take on even the greater responsibility of those wonderful grandchildren.”
Brittingham said he enjoyed working with Hall, while Councilman Dean Burrell added, “ditto, ditto, ditto.”
“Thank you for your commitment [and] service to the citizens of the town of Berlin, and I look forward to patronizing your butcher shop,” Burrell said.
“Well, as my husband would say, I look forward to getting in your pockets,” Hall said.
Hall, for her part, said he hoped the council would continue working with the Maryland Municipal League, with which she was heavily involved.
“It’s been a very pleasurable eight years,” Hall said. “It was [a] very difficult time when the mayor first got elected. It was a horrible time – it was probably the worst economy since the Great Depression. And had a lot of things ahead of us that seemed overwhelming.
“We were kind of like in our own little bubble here. We were very lucky,” she added. “We worked well together and we miss Councilmember [Paula] Lynch too. She was integral.”
Things, at times, got a little weird during the town election, which wrapped in October.
Williams tipped his hat early in the year that he would run, but did not formally file until late August. His challenger, former District 2 Councilwoman Lisa Hall, filed in June.
The race got off to a rocky start for Hall in August when, during an interview related to her new business the Berlin Butcher Shop, she vowed she would leave town if she did not win the election.
“I’m sick of it,” she told a reporter during a break in the discussion. “If I don’t become mayor, I’m selling my house, I’m moving outside of Berlin, I’m going to let all these wealthy residents promote my business on their dime and thank you very much, because I don’t live here and I don’t pay no taxes.”
Hall went on to compare the Town Council to Donald Trump’s accusations about Hillary Clinton.
“You talk about ‘Crooked Hillary?’ Well, we’re all crooked, because I have to sit there and watch this s—t go on and can’t say nothing,” she said.
She also suggested the town’s recent $95,000 land purchase on Flower Street was politically motivated.
“Do you think if Gee was running for mayor this fall that he would have done that $100,000 deal with that developer?” she asked. “And why was Elroy voting? He sold them some of that land. You guys gotta ask the right question. Elroy should have recused himself.”
If Councilman Brittingham had recused himself the vote, 4-1, would not have changed.
Asked why the town’s ethics commission did not look into the matter, Hall replied, “They don’t look at s—t.”
“That just frustrates me, in that they’re watching me like a hawk here [in the shop]. Let me do something without a frickin’ permit or something,” she said. “It’s like, why am I going to spend all my time and energy if everybody’s running around doing whatever the hell they want?”
Asked about the outburst later, Hall said she wanted to retract her previous statements.
“You all aren’t doing this to me,” she said. “I didn’t say that. I deny it.”
Then, about a month later, it came out that Hall and a female companion were charged in Charleston County, South Carolina was charged with marijuana possession on April 29.
Hall was scheduled to appear during a hearing on a marijuana charge on Oct. 19, but a court administrator at the City of Charleston Municipal Court said that case would be “continued” on Jan. 19.
Williams went on to win 588 votes townwide on Tuesday, Oct. 4, while Hall received 137 votes.
Tyndall won with 185 votes — 177 on regular ballots and eight on absentee ballots, besting fellow newcomer Jack Orris, who won 116 votes in District 2.
Brittingham earned reelection with no challenge to his seat.
Joining the third-term mayor during a victory-night celebration at Burley Oak Brewing Company were Brittingham and councilmen Troy Purnell and Thom Gulyas.
Brittingham termed the victory for Williams a “landslide,” while Purnell praised the turnout, which he called “good for Berlin.”
Williams, after a long wait, seemed relieved and appreciative of the results.
“I’m very grateful that all the work that the town has done – not just during my two terms as mayor, but for the generation or so that preceded that – I think we’re validated tonight,” he said. “I think that vision of deciding that the future was a good place and not a fearful place, it is now not a matter of question, but is a matter of our culture. It is who we are.
“Hopefully, in our own way, we can become an example to other small towns that the future is not a place to fear, but a place to embrace if you’re willing to make changes that are necessary for all people to succeed,” Williams added.
As for his agenda, Williams said he would continue “thoughtfully, on the same path” that he had set out during his previous eight years in office.
Williams celebrated the victory with his wife, Betsy, other family members and friends.
Tyndall was equally grateful for being selected at the District 2 representative.
“I want to thank my family, friends and neighbors for their constant support as I start my political career as councilman for the Town of Berlin,” he said in a statement the following morning. “Growing up, my parents instilled in me the importance of never compromising your character. Throughout this election, I have maintained my integrity and stood for what I believe is right. I look forward to working with the council, Mayor Williams and the public to keep Berlin a great place to live and visit. Thank you again for the opportunity to give back to the community that raised me.”
During Hall’s final meeting as a councilwoman, Oct. 11, she was widely praised by her colleagues – including Williams.
“Quite frankly, I think this has been a very productive team,” he said. “I think everyone here has contributed … we’re just part of the process, but I think Councilmember Hall has been an integral part of the success that we have achieved as a mayor and council.”
Williams added, “Every time one door closes another one opens.”
“On behalf of the mayor and council we wish you success with your new business venture, right down the street, the Berlin Butcher Shop, and we also wish you all the best as you now take on even the greater responsibility of those wonderful grandchildren.”
Brittingham said he enjoyed working with Hall, while Councilman Dean Burrell added, “ditto, ditto, ditto.”
“Thank you for your commitment [and] service to the citizens of the town of Berlin, and I look forward to patronizing your butcher shop,” Burrell said.
“Well, as my husband would say, I look forward to getting in your pockets,” Hall said.
Hall, for her part, said he hoped the council would continue working with the Maryland Municipal League, with which she was heavily involved.
“It’s been a very pleasurable eight years,” Hall said. “It was [a] very difficult time when the mayor first got elected. It was a horrible time – it was probably the worst economy since the Great Depression. And had a lot of things ahead of us that seemed overwhelming.
“We were kind of like in our own little bubble here. We were very lucky,” she added. “We worked well together and we miss Councilmember [Paula] Lynch too. She was integral.”