On May 9th, 2023, four candidates will vie for three seats on the Westminster MD Common Council

On May 9^th, 2023, four candidates will vie for three seats on the Westminster MD Common Council, by Kevin Dayhoff, April 23, 2023

This spring three Westminster Common Council seats are up for election on May 9, 2023. Westminster council members serve four-year terms. The seats are currently held by council members Kevin E. Dayhoff, Ann Gilbert, and Gregory Pecoraro.

For this election in Westminster, four candidates have filed for the non-partisan election. All three of the incumbents, Kevin E. Dayhoff, Ann Gilbert, and Gregory Pecoraro, would like to be re-elected. One challenger, Scott Willens, has filed.

On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, all four candidates participated in a forum hosted by the Community Media Center as a public service to the residents of Carroll County. A video of the forum may be found here: https://www.facebook.com/carrollmediacenter/videos/611267174260369 Or on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8sF5Ihy9R0

All four candidates have filed a 2023 candidate profile with the Community Media Center – https://www.youtube.com/@CarrollmediacenterOrg

Dayhoff was elected to the council in 2019. He previously served as a council member from 1999 to 2001, and mayor from 2001 to 2005. His CMC candidate profile may be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3uveN_JYgU&t=49s

Kevin Dayhoff’s campaign election Facebook page, may be found here: https://www.facebook.com/DayhoffforWestminster His personal page may be found here: https://www.facebook.com/kevindayhoff/

Gilbert has served since 2019. Her CMC candidate profile may be viewed here:

Ann Gilbert’s campaign election Facebook page, may be found here: https://www.facebook.com/VoteAnnGilbert Her personal page may be found here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000131905393

Pecoraro is council president. He returned to the council in 2015, having served previously from 1994 to 2003 and from 2005 to 2011. His CMC candidate profile may be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGRaFYcj-DU

Greg Pecoraro’s campaign election Facebook page, may be found here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090648968061 His personal page may be found here: https://www.facebook.com/greg.pecoraro

Scott Willens’ CMC candidate profile may be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-afgbTuajF0&t=3s

Scott Willens’ campaign election Facebook page, may be found here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078319417995 His personal page may be found here: https://www.facebook.com/scott.willens.3

Several Carroll County municipalities, including Hampstead, Manchester, Mount Airy, New Windsor, Sykesville, Taneytown and Westminster will all hold elections in May.

The Westminster election will take place on May 9, 2023 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Residents who live on the west side of Route 31, will vote at the Westminster Community Building at the Westminster Municipal Pool, 325 Royer Road.

Residents who live on the east side of Route 31, will vote at the Westminster Volunteer Fire Department, 28 John St., in Westminster.

According to an article written in the Carroll County Times on April 7, 2023 by Thomas Goodwin Smith, “Westminster’s five Common Council members vote on ordinances, bids, and zoning decisions, council member Tony Chiavacci said. Chiavacci’s seat is not up for election this year.

“The mayor holds an important position as city executive and as an influential person, he said, and the council benefits from having a good relationship with Mayor Mona Becker…

“Westminster has 13,134 active, inactive and pending voters according to Carroll County Board of Elections Director Katherine Berry. Chiavacci said just over 10% of registered voters typically turn out for Common Council elections.

“Being a member of the Westminster Common Council pays $2,400 per year, Chiavacci said, and the position is considered nonpartisan.

“‘We want the best people and don’t care what party they’re in,’ Chiavacci said.”

So far, several articles have been written about the upcoming election. The Carroll County Times published an article on February 17, 2023: “Seven Carroll County municipalities will hold elections for mayor and council in May,” https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll/news/cc-upcoming-town-elections-20230217-qae7q2eaozc4demcztdprqextu-story.html

Another article was published by the Carroll County Times on April 7, 2023, “Westminster’s Common Council race will see at least four people chasing three open seats,” by Thomas Goodwin Smith Carroll County Times https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll/news/cc-westminster-common-council-nominations-due-20230407-xwos6hbspvgqjhf3aoaoorjxia-story.html

For more information on the election, go to https://www.westminstermd.gov/elections.

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Dayhoff Westminster: https://www.facebook.com/DayhoffforWestminster/posts/pfbid02FR9LUZCSLtehLKfESgu4qawBmBcWX9HmqWTMB4X44oJgNY8WfGvioNURbuB45Eedl

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