Election

Longtime Funkstown Town Council member Kim Ramer was defeated in Monday's town election when he was edged out of a four-way race by two votes, according to Town Clerk/Treasurer Brenda Haynes. Four candidates filed to run for three open seats on the council. Political newcomer Luke Barnette finished with 60 votes, incumbent John Phillips III received 60 votes and incumbent Robert D. Rodgers was re-elected with 57 votes, Haynes said. Ramer received 55 votes, Haynes said. Ramer has been on the council for more than 20 years.

Hancock election is Jan. 29 HANCOCK - The Hancock Town election is Jan. 29 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Town Hall Community Center. The last day to request absentee ballots for the Hancock election is Jan. 15, Mayor Daniel E. Murphy said. The ballots must be returned by Jan. 29, he said. - Scott Butki

When it comes to the 2012 election, I have four important words for you: “Thank God it's over.” The votes have been cast, the winners have been congratulated, the election-party hangovers have abated and the world has started to move on to the next big thing. It's time for us to bury the hatchet for a while and work together. For those in office, it's high time to reach across the aisle and find common ground on the problems faced by this country. I want to know who will be the bigger person, the one to stand up against partisan politics in Washington and our state capitals and do the right thing.

WILLIAMSPORT -- Williamsport Town Council member Jeffrey A. Cline is challenging Mayor James G. McCleaf II for his seat in the town's March 2 election, Clerk/Treasurer Donnie Stotelmyer said. The offices of mayor and assistant mayor are up for election this year, along with two council seats. A total of two candidates for mayor, two candidates for assistant mayor and three candidates for council filed to run before the filing deadline of Friday at 4 p.m., Stotelmyer said. The candidates are as follows: Citizens First party ticket: o Jeffrey A. Cline for mayor o Earle R. Pereschuk Sr. for assistant mayor o Bobbi Cole for council Independent ticket: o James G. McCleaf II for mayor o Anthony T. Drury for assistant mayor o Timothy W. Fraker for council o Joan E. Knode for council Pereschuk and Drury, who were in the middle of council terms that run through 2011, automatically forfeited those seats when they filed to run for assistant mayor, town attorney Edward L. Kuczynski said.

Citing a desire to continue working for grass-roots causes in the Maryland General Assembly, Del. Louise V. Snodgrass, R-Frederick/Washington, has filed for re-election in legislative District 3. "I really think I do make a difference," Snodgrass, a Middletown, Md., resident, said Monday. A former burgess of Middletown, Snodgrass, 55, was first elected to the House of Delegates in 1994. She said she used her experience in local government to fight for "people issues" that don't receive much publicity.

RANSON, W.Va. - Three incumbent Ranson Town Council members are unopposed for their positions today in the Ranson municipal election. Residents can cast their ballots from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. today at Town Hall. Charles Beahm Jr. is running in Ward I, Ernest Breeden is on the ballot for Ward 2 and the at-large council member is Howard Shade. Tammy Miller is a write-in candidate for town recorder. The current recorder, Charles Slusher, 70, said he wants to retire after 12 years in office.

wandaw@herald-mail.com BOONSBORO - Boonsboro voters will go to the polls May 10 to elect two Town Council members and a mayor. Four candidates, including two incumbents, are vying for the open council seats. Mayor Charles F. "Skip" Kauffman Jr. is unopposed for re-election. Incumbent Councilman Kevin M. Chambers, 43, said his re-election to a third term would allow him a chance to continue working on town projects already under way. "I'm chairman of the Boonsboro Municipal Utilities Commission and we'll be upgrading the waste water treatment plant in the next two years," Chambers said.

Hancock incumbents re-elected By KIMBERLY YAKOWSKI / Staff Writer HANCOCK - Hancock's mayor and two incumbent councilmen kept their seats during a town election Monday evening. Councilman Darwin Mills Sr. was the top vote-getter with 273 votes, followed by Councilman Greg Yost with 110 votes, according to town officials. Challenger John Norris took home 95 votes and James Ward Sr. received 65 votes. Mayor Daniel Murphy ran unopposed and received 218 votes.

Hancock voters today will decide whether to re-elect Mayor Daniel Murphy to a second two-year term. The polls at Town Hall are open from noon to 7 p.m. today. Voters are electing the mayor and two residents to serve four-year terms on the Town Council. Murphy, 46, has served one term as mayor after serving a term on the council. He is a self-employed veterinarian. Murphy is being challenged by Roland Lanehart Sr., 50, who owns Roland's Garage & Used Cars. Lanehart, a lifelong Hancock resident, filed to run for mayor in the 1996 elections but later dropped out of the race.