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City election voter turnout "disheartening"

(5/6) Three Taneytown Council members will retain their council seats as the result of the outcome of the town’s May 3 election but the lowest voter turnout in years sparked concerns.

Three four-year-term seats were open to be filled in the election. Four candidates filed to run, including the three incumbents. Incumbent Joseph Viglioti received the highest number of votes, garnering 241, while incumbent Diane Foster received 239 and incumbent Judith Fuller received 226. Challenger Barbara Cook received 66 votes.

But aside from the election results, the voter turnout for the election was described as the lowest in nearly two decades. Of the city’s 4,795 registered voters, only 266 cast ballots.

One individual posted on Taneytown’s Facebook page, "This (voter turnout) is disgraceful."

Regarding the election turn-out, Mayor Bradley Wantz said, "The election was rather successful. It was a low turnout, unfortunately – 266 voters – which is roughly five percent of registered voters in the city," adding, "That is the lowest turnout we’ve had since the late ‘90s, I believe. That is disheartening."

Addressing claims that some members of the public were unaware of where and when the election was to have been held, Wantz stated he felt the city did an adequate job of notifying (the election details) and having that information published in the media, on the town website, and on city social media pages. "The information was out there," he said.

Another Facebook user posted, "Whoever is responsible for running this (Facebook) page and running the election did a horrible job of making it known when and where the election was going to be held," adding that the people responsible for the election must do better… "Five percent is sad."

In spite of various complaints received regarding the management of the election, Wantz also responded, stating that City Clerk Clara Kalman’s efforts regarding managing the election process was appreciated, noting that her first task during her first Municipal Clerks Week as the city clerk was taking-on an election, jokingly adding, "That’s how terrible bosses we are to her."

City Attorney Jack Gallo, speaking at the city’s May work session, commended Kalman for her efforts, noting, "This election was done flawlessly because of her (Kalman’s) preparation and her efforts and getting everybody on the team together."

The mayor said he had no one (on staff) to blame for anything regarding the election effort, but noted, "I think everyone did a great job in making this a success… I’d love to get to when we had over a thousand people come out to vote… The more voices we have the more confident we are in the results."

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