Embattled Hanley Places Last in Election

Terence Hanley, the Bel Air commissioner facing two high-profile legal issues that emerged in recent weeks, was defeated in Tuesday's election.

The two-term Republican commissioner who lost his bid for another four-year term was dogged throughout the campaign by revelations of a theft charge in Cecil County and an allegation of defaulting on a Harford Bank loan of $600,000.

He will be replaced by first-time candidate Susan Burdette, who appears to have won one of the three open seats on the five-member Board of Commissioners. 

"I feel thrilled and I cannot wait to start working with this board," Burdette said following the announcement of preliminary results Tuesday night. 

Incumbent Commissioners  and  won back their seats and were the top two vote-getters, respectively, according to the initial vote count. Burdette secured the third seat.

"I'm very humbled, very honored," Reier said.

Candidate , who lost in 2009 by just eight votes, came in fourth. Hanley finished last. Adolph left shortly after the unofficial results were announced.

Hanley was campaigning outside Town Hall just prior to the 8 p.m. closing of polls. He was in an upbeat mood, joking that "I almost forgot to vote." 

He could not be reached for comment after the results were announced at Town Hall.

Earlier this month Hanley requested a jury trial in Cecil County to face a  from his former employer in Elkton. Hanley faces a single count of . He is accused of pocketing thousands following a business at Ramsey Ford in Elkton, where he was a manager, according to court records.

 is also in a legal dispute with  over a $600,000 loan on which, court records say, he may have defaulted.

There were five absentee ballots and eight provisional ballots cast. The final votes will be counted at 10 a.m. Thursday, but they will not be enough to alter the standings.