Norris wins re-election

Leonardtown mayor fends off Lancaster’s bid

Friday, May 9, 2008

Norris received 190 votes, town officials reported at Town Hall that evening, and 134 were cast for Lancaster. Town Council Vice President Walter Wise got 246 votes and planning commission member Dan Burris got 263 votes in their uncontested bids for two council seats.

‘‘It took a lot of support,” Norris said that night as he gathered with family and friends at the nearby Willows restaurant. ‘‘I’m very pleased with the number of people that came out to vote.”

The 326 ballots cast far exceeded the 73 tallied in the most recent previous election, the mayor said, in the town of about 2,000 people.

‘‘For Leonardtown, it’s quite a few,” Norris said. ‘‘It’s encouraging to see, whether they’re older residents or new residents to the town, that they got involved.”

The contested race for the job included a few signs in town, and some active campaigning.

‘‘I hit all the neighborhoods – myself, my wife and friends of mine,” Norris said, and that led to conversations with town residents. ‘‘It’s a good experience to hear from them,” he said, ‘‘and hear their concerns.”

On Wednesday, Lancaster said his bid for the post, while unsuccessful, also was a good experience.

‘‘I got to say what I was thinking about. I got to see a lot of new people and renew acquaintances with friends,” he said. ‘‘I think some good will come from all of it, [including] more attention to communication and more attention to a broader array of issues.”

Lancaster said his 134 votes could serve as a ‘‘wake-up call” on issues other than development, such as children’s recreation facilities and the needs of elderly residents.

He said he expects to continue serving on the board of zoning appeals.

‘‘I’m still very interested,” he said, ‘‘in things to help the town.”

Norris said he is interested in seeing to fruition ongoing projects including the revitalization of the town wharf and a state-funded streetscape project to transform the appearance of much of the downtown area.

‘‘There are things I want to see done,” Norris said at the restaurant, before Wise led a toast to congratulate him on his victory.

Write-in votes included two for departing Councilmember J. Maguire Mattingly III and one for Carolyn Bakewell.