CHESAPEAKE BEACH, Md.– The Town Administrator of the Town of Chesapeake Beach provides notice related to the 2024 Town of Chesapeake Beach election, held November 5th from 7AM-8PM at the Northeast Community Center.
Ballot Questions #1: Do you support the State of Maryland permitting expanded gaming (i.e., additional electronic bingo machines, casino slots, table gaming) to venue(s) in the Town of Chesapeake Beach?
Ballot Question #2: Do you support the Town of Chesapeake Beach to continue to limit attendance at Bayfront Park to Town residents and their guests, the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department, and the Twin Beaches Deputies?
Why are these ballot questions important? The ballot questions provide the next Mayor and Town Council valuable and verified input from Town citizens related to key issues before the Town. It will be up to the next Mayor and Town Council to decide how they will take legislative action based on citizen responses. For example, during the 2020 Town election, Town citizens were asked a similar ballot question regarding their views on gaming, and they overwhelmingly responded by opposing any gaming expansion in the Town. Based on citizens’ documented responses, the Mayor and Town Council advocated on citizens’ behalf to successfully limit expanded gaming in the Town through the State legislature. Over the last several years, bills were introduced in the State legislature to expand gaming in the Town of Chesapeake Beach, but failed to pass due to the Town Council actions to advocate for Town citizens’ documented opposition to the expansion. It will be up to the next Mayor and Town Council to decide what action to take based on the citizens 2024 ballot responses. In addition, legislative actions related to Bayfront Park will rely on citizen input to understand if there is a desire to maintain approximately 300 ft of beach access for residents or to consider amending current Town legislation to permit general public access.
For more information on the 2024 Town of Chesapeake Beach Election, please click here.