Politics & Government
Former Library Administrator Enters 2011 Bel Air Election
Two residents have entered this year's race.
UPDATE (4:20 p.m.)—After a year of retirement, Susan Burdette said she couldn’t take it anymore. The Bel Air resident of more than 20 years wanted to get back into public service.
She took the first step Tuesday by registering for this fall’s Board of Commissioners election. She worked as an administrator in the Harford County Public Libraries system for 35 years until last September.
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“I have the passion for Bel Air, I just love Bel Air,” Burdette told Patch by telephone Tuesday. “What’s on everybody’s mind now is the hard economic times. I think the Town of Bel Air has maintained really quality services during these economic times so I hope my budget experience and public service experience will help to maintain these services without putting a burden on the taxpayers and citizens of Bel Air.”
Burdette’s husband, Stephen, served as a commissioner beginning Jan. 3, 1995 when he was appointed to replace a vacancy left by Mark Decker. He was then elected to serve from April 1995 to November 2009, serving as mayor for the last year of his full term. Susan thinks his experience as a past official, and as an architect will benefit her.
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“I have a lot of contacts that have knowledge in areas that I don’t have,” she said. “He has a lot of knowledge about sustainability and buildings. … I also understand the small business owner and the difficulties they’re facing, especially right now.”
The last woman to serve on the board was Joan Morrissey Ward, from January 2003 to November 2007.
Greg Adolph is the on as of Tuesday.
This year, four-year terms for Commissioners Terence Hanley, and expire. Hopkins has , while Reier is still undecided. previously said he would run again, but in the of , one over a loan dispute and the other involving a theft allegation. .
The filing deadline for the non-partisan election is Oct. 7. Candidates must be registered voters and have lived within town limits for at least six months prior to the election.
will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 7 to allow for late filing. There is a $25 fee. The election is scheduled for Nov. 8.
Residents can check their voter registration status by calling the Harford County Board of Elections at 410-638-3565.
CORRECTION: An earlier edition of this article incorrectly stated that Susan McComas and Maureen Rowland were the last women to serve on the town board. Patch regrets the error.
