Salisbury Primary Next Tuesday

SALISBURY — Eight candidates will face off in the Salisbury City Council primary election next Tuesday with the top six vote getters advancing to the General Election in April.

Salisbury’s City Council will get a dramatic makeover after the General Election in April, but the first step in that process occurs next Tuesday when primary elections are held for the town’s three available seats. A total of eight candidates will be narrowed to six after Tuesday’s primary in the non-partisan election.

Salisbury’s city government includes a mayor and five council members. The council terms are staggered to provide continuity and prevent a complete turnover in a single election year, similar to the system in place in Ocean City.

Mayor Jim Ireton and current council members Deborah Campbell and Eugenie Shields were elected to office in 2009, leaving the seats currently occupied by Council President Louise Smith and Council members Gary Comegys and Terry Cohen up for election in this year’s cycle.

Regardless of what happens during Tuesday’s primary and the eventual General Election on April 5, there will be a considerable turnover on the Salisbury Council. Smith and Comegys did not file for re-election and will be replaced. Cohen is among the field of eight candidates in the primary.

The eight primary election candidates include Muir Boda, a Libertarian who was born in Easton and grew up on Tilghman Island before settling in Salisbury. Boda has worked for Wal-Mart for 17 years in various capacities and is currently an Assets Protection Coordinator.

Joel Dixon is the youngest of the candidates at just 25 years of age, but already has wealth of public service experience. Dixon, an Eagle Scout, is currently a lieutenant with the Salisbury Volunteer Fire Company and a member of the Maryland Army National Guard.

Orville Dryden, Jr. is a retired postmaster who has lived in Salisbury for 25 years.

Bruce Ford was born in Salisbury and is a career paramedic and firefighter who has served with the Berlin Volunteer Fire Company for 23 years.

Laura Mitchell was also born in Salisbury and draws from a strong business background with a Master’s in business administration.

Timothy K. Spies’ resume includes a long list of involvement in civic organizations in the area. Spies, who has a nursing background, is a decorated veteran of Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield.

Michael Steven Taylor is the stage manager at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center and a supervisor for TEAM Productions of Ocean City. Taylor is also deeply involved with youth baseball and umpiring.