The December 20 meeting of the mayor and town council of Chesapeake Beach was long in tradition—both Yuletide and political—with a bit of rancor thrown in for good measure.
The regular meeting began with the swearing in of Mayor Bruce A. Wahl, who is serving his second consecutive four-year term in that post. Wahl, who had served several terms on the town council prior to being elected mayor in 2008, ran unopposed in 2012.
The race for the town’s six council seats was quite different. A dozen candidates, including five incumbents, vied for those offices. Four incumbents—Patrick J. “Irish” Mahoney, Stewart B. Cumbo, Dr. Valerie L. Beaudin and Robert Carpenter—were successful. They are joined on the new council by Jeff Krahling and Eric Reinhardt.
Calvert County Clerk of the Circuit Court Kathy Smith [D] administered the oath of office to Wahl, who then swore in the six councilmembers, Town Treasurer Leslie Porter and Town Clerk Sharon L. Humm.
“A new team, new members, fresh ideas,” was how Wahl described his feeling about the transition.
After the ceremony, the council took action on naming a vice president, a councilmember who fills in for the mayor when the chief executive is absent.
Mahoney, who has served in that capacity the past four years, was re-nominated.
“I won’t support the nomination,” said Carpenter. “I don’t see Mr. Mahoney as a leader. He doesn’t seek consensus.”
Carpenter indicated his opposition stemmed from comments made by Mahoney during the 2012 election.
The vote was 5-to-1, approving Mahoney’s nomination. Mahoney expressed his gratitude to the council for selecting him as vice president and thanked “those friends who came to tonight’s meeting.”
The swearing in ceremonies, along with the awarding of prizes to the 2012 Brightest Beacon on the Bay contest winners attracted a sizeable crowd to the Dec. 20 meeting. In addition to Smith, other elected county officials on hand were County Commissioners’ President Pat Nutter [R], Commissioner Evan K. Slaughenhoupt Jr. [R], Sheriff Mike Evans [R] and Board of Education Member-elect Kelly D. McConkey. Outgoing Calvert Republican Central Committee Chairman Frank McCabe also attended the meeting.
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