Emmitsburg voters to choose mayor and commissioner Sept. 29

Emmitsburg voters will decide a three-way race for one commissioner seat and cast ballots in an uncontested mayoral race Tuesday, Sept. 29.

Mayor Frank Davis is seeking another term without an opponent, according to The Frederick News-Post. Incumbent Commissioner Valerie Turnquist faces challengers Mike Myers and Glenn Blanchard.

Voting will be held from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Emmitsburg Community Building gymnasium at 300A S. Seton Ave. The town’s current 2026 election notice confirms the date, hours and gymnasium location.

The town requires voters to have lived in Emmitsburg for at least 30 days before the election and to be registered to vote in Frederick County. Its election notice lists Aug. 28 as the registration deadline.

Davis, a former commissioner elected mayor in 2023, told the News-Post he viewed his first term as successful after an initial period of learning the job. He said a contested race would have offered another way to assess how residents viewed his performance.

His priorities include continued improvements to the water and sewer system, downtown revitalization and greater participation in town commissions and events. Davis also said he wants to see more people shopping and dining downtown, recalling the heavier weekend activity of earlier decades.

The commissioner race gives voters a choice among an incumbent, a former commissioner and another challenger.

Turnquist joined the Planning Commission in 2022 and was elected commissioner in 2023. During that earlier campaign, she told the News-Post that a sharp increase in water rates prompted her to run and that she wanted to bring greater fiscal responsibility to town government.

The newspaper reported that it could not reach Turnquist for its latest interviews. Her comments about the water-rate increase were from 2023 and should not be mistaken for a new interview.

Blanchard served on the Board of Commissioners from 2005 to 2013, then returned after a brief health-related break and served until 2019. He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in 2019 and 2023.

In an email to the News-Post, Blanchard identified affordable housing for new residents, opportunities for entrepreneurs and recreation for families and young people as priorities. He said he wanted to focus on concerns affecting the town’s livability and long-term growth.

Myers’ campaign flyer emphasizes the cost of living and support for bringing a family restaurant to town, according to the newspaper. The flyer described him as a four-year resident. The News-Post reported that it could not reach him for an interview.

The election concerns one commissioner position, so the three candidates are competing for the same seat. The supplied reporting does not include results or establish an outcome.

Residents checking their eligibility can use Maryland’s voter lookup service. The town instructs voters to look for the municipal district designation “EMM,” or contact the Frederick County Board of Elections at 301-600-8683 to verify their information.