Councilman Hendershot stepping down from post after completing 18th year
Kristin Harty Barkley Cumberland Times-News
CUMBERLAND — Close to a dozen candidates have registered to compete for two open seats on Cumberland City Council, but neither incumbent is running.
Longtime Councilman Butch Hendershot withdrew his candidacy at the last minute on Wednesday, saying he is “just very tired” and feels it’s time to step down.
The deadline to register as a candidate for the April 3 primary election was 9 p.m. Wednesday.
“My family met with me last evening — it was an impromptu meeting — and we decided, to a person, that we weren’t willing to go through the rigors of another campaign,” said Hendershot, who is completing his 18th year in office.
Last February, he suffered a heart attack and has experienced other health problems.
“Especially since the heart attack, I’ve been increasingly fatigued,” said Hendershot, who originally filed for re-election on Jan. 5. “I probably prematurely filed. I wish I would have waited now.”
Nine other candidates have thrown their hats into the ring for the two open council seats, meaning that voters will head to the polls on April 3 to narrow the field to six candidates.
Incumbent Mary Beth Pirolozzi announced earlier this month that she would not seek re-election.
While plenty of candidates are stepping up to fill the two available council seats, there’s a dearth of interest in the same number of spots on the Allegany County Board of Education.
Just two candidates had registered to run for the BOE positions by 9 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Allegany County Board of Elections.
That means that incumbent Ed Root will run unopposed in the November general election, as will BOE newcomer Nicolas Hadley, a former mayor of Lonaconing. Incumbent Jeff Metz, the most senior BOE member with two terms under his belt, will not run for re-election.
In Garrett County, two BOE members — incumbents Charlotte Sebold, a board member since 1993, and Cynthia Downton, who was appointed a year ago — filed for candidacy, as well as Darlena M. Grady, of Oakland, and Gary L. Barlow, of Grantsville.
Hendershot said he believes voters have a “good slate of candidates” to choose from.
“And I think there’s good leadership in place at the city,” Hendershot said.
“I’m real happy with the state of affairs right now, so that makes it a little easier to step away.”
Candidates for City Council include (in order of filing):
• Steven Phillips, a case management specialist at the Department of Juvenile Services.
• Albert Keener, who works for Alliance Publishing on Virginia Avenue.
• Nicole Wagoner, director of sales at Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott.
• Dominic (Nick) DeArcangelis, co-owner at Annie’s Fine Furniture, on North Centre Street.
• David Caporale, vice president of Caporale’s Italian Bakery, on Mechanic Street.
• Sylvester Young, of Oldtown Road, whose Linked In page says he is employed by Friends Aware.
• Carey Walker, who retired from Allegany County Public Schools after 39 years.
• Thomas Taccino, who is self-employed in the auto sales and repair business.
• John Cline, retired chief deputy fire chief for the Cumberland Fire Department.
Contact Kristin Harty Barkley at kbarkley@times-news.com
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