Who’s In The Hot (Town Council) Seat

Many of us are wondering how the Rock Hall Council seats will be filled post election.  We are asking……how many seats are/will be open and how do we do the math and logic?

As one that has trouble counting three pigs in a pen if two are running, I saddled up and rode over to Town Hall to see our Town Manager, Ronnie Fithian for the best answers.  We hauled out my crayons and commenced to draw out the scenarios.  Ronnie wanted to use his Etch A Sketch, but I won him over with the old ….  ”Let’s put more colors in the paint box” theory.  Ronnie has a wonderful sense of humor and usually puts up with my nonstop questions and what ifs…….

So here it is and here we go……….

We have three folks running for Mayor:   David Jones, Rosalie “Miss Rosie” Kuechler and Bob ” Bobby” Willis.

* Miss Rosie received and holds the title Mayor of Rock Hall after vacating her council seat when Jay Jacobs went to Annapolis to be sworn in as Delegate.  Susan Francis was appointed to fill Miss Rosie’s seat (identified as Seat #1 below) .  This seat expires now and needs to be filled by this election.

* Bobby holds a seat (identified as Seat #3 below) that expires in 2013.  This seat does not expire now and does not need to be filled unless Bobby wins the election for Mayor of Rock Hall.

We have six folks running for Town Council.  Susan Francis, John “Jack” Heffner, Brian Jones, Brian “Beefalo” Nesspor, John “TBird” Toulson and Grenville “Gren” Whitman.  Susan and TBird currently hold seats (identified as Seats #1 and #2) both of which expire and need to be filled by this election.  Seats #1 and #2 terms end 2011 or this election.  Seats #3 and #4 terms end 2013.  The only one staying put for sure is Olin “Butch” Price in Seat #4.

Here are the scenarios:

Scenario A:  If David Jones wins, Bobby stays in Seat #3 and Seats #1 and #2 will be filled by the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes for Town Council.  Miss Rosie will not have a seat on the council.

Scenario B:  If Miss Rosie wins, Bobby stays in Seat #3 and Seats #1 and #2 will be filled by the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes for Town Council.

Scenario C:  If Bobby wins, Seats #1 and #2 will be filled by the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes for Town Council.  Bobby’s Seat #3 is then vacant.  Seat #3 is then filled by appointment by Mayor and Council.  The person filling Seat #3 does not need to come from the group of candidates running during this election.  Miss Rosie will not have a seat unless the Mayor and Council appoint her to Seat #3.

Take a good look at our drawing and if you have questions, just keep reading the above and staring at the below. It does not turn into a flock of birds or pod of whales…..and you just might get a little dizzy.  But… you’ll get, I know you will!