The Poolesville Town Commissioner Election was held on Tuesday, Nov. 3 to decide which of the five candidates would clinch the three open seats. One week after the election was held at the Poolesville Town Hall, it was announced that Jeff Eck, Martin Radigan, and Ed Reed, who received 1,516 votes, 1,283 votes, and 1,233 votes respectively, would be appointed to the position. Eck and Reed will be serving their first terms as commissioners. Incumbent Jerome Klobukowski received 1,027 votes and David Wilson received 708 votes, falling short of being elected to the three open seats. 

With a record of 2,098 ballots surpassing the past average by over 700, a total of 1,851 ballots were mailed-in or dropped off and 247 votes were cast in person. Of the town’s registered voters, 49% cast their ballot in this local election. Poolesville citizens and PHS staff Katie Horan and Kenny Kramek voted and commented on the significance of this local election.

“We need to make sure we have the right people in place who are going to continue to advocate for the high school, for our students, and for that small-town feel,” Kramek argued, noting the importance in a wide array of commissioners from different professions and backgrounds. “[The commissioners are] making a lot of decisions that affect us on a day-to-day basis: they’re deciding where money gets spent, they’re deciding the activities that go on in this town.” The town commissioners are responsible for hosting events such as Poolesville Day, overseeing the city’s financial operations, and developing a Master Plan to dictate the growth of the town. With four-year staggered terms and elections every two years, these officials give their time to receive no payment. 

Horan found that the accessibility and proximity of the town commissioners give them a unique position as leaders, and feels it’s important that they mirror who they are working for. 

“In a small town like ours, we want leaders that represent us… and our values,” she posited. For Poolesville, growth of small businesses and new housing development is a common topic for debate. All five candidates mentioned the presence of growth in their statements for the Monocacy Monocle. 

Klobukowski, who served as a town commissioner for the past 24 years, feels Poolesville has managed the housing expansion and development proposals have been dealt with properly. MCPS educator and former PHS staff Ed Reed prioritized small businesses in his statement. “I am running to support local and small businesses to increase their economic prosperity as gems in our town,” he mentioned. During a forum held by the Poolesville Chamber of Commerce through Facebook live, the questions centered around a cap on the number of citizens, the development of affordable housing, and the strengthening of small businesses. 

For Kramek, the preservation of the Agriculture Reserve and small businesses are essential policy issues. Horan had similar sentiments. 

“What’s most important to me is that we get people in there who just love the town and want to preserve that small-town feel that we have,” she stated. Both teachers noticed the importance of the high school and its stronghold in the small town.

“The high school kind of is the center of Poolesville, it’s the driving force of this town,” Kramek argued. “Without that high school, this town would not be what it is.”