Cannon, Winn ahead in Wicomico Council contests

By Greg Bassett
Posted 11/8/22

Four new members are poised to join the Wicomico County Council, based on early election results released Tuesday.

Democrat Shanie Shields appears likely to join Republicans James Winn, Jeff …

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Cannon, Winn ahead in Wicomico Council contests

Posted

Four new members are poised to join the Wicomico County Council, based on early election results released Tuesday.

Democrat Shanie Shields appears likely to join Republicans James Winn, Jeff Merritt and Shane Baker as members of the seven-seat legislative branch.

In Election Day and early-voting ballots counted Tuesday, Council President John Cannon of Salisbury held the at-large lead with 13,534 votes or 57 percent. In second place was James Winn of Mardela Springs, with 11,179 votes or 27 percent.

Two Democrats were trailing – Brad Gillis of Salisbury had 8,408 votes or 21 percent; Megan Outten of Salisbury had 7,934 votes or 19 percent.

Two of Wicomico’s council members are elected at-large, while five are elected within districts. 

A council veteran who has served on the body for 12 of the last 16 years, Cannon is owner of Cannon Management & Rentals. Winn has lived in Wicomico for 18 years and is an owner of Acme Ceramic Tile Co.

The counting of mail-in ballots will begin today, Nov. 10. To be eligible, county elections officials needed to receive those ballots by 8 p.m. Tuesday at drop-off boxes, or through the mail and postmarked no later than Nov. 8. Properly completed and timely mailed ballots returned by the U.S. Postal Service will be accepted until Nov. 18 at 10 a.m.

Provisional ballot canvassing will be held Wednesday, Nov. 16. Local certification cannot occur before Nov. 18.

District 1

In the race for the District 1 seat, political veteran Shanie P. Shields of Salisbury had a strong lead over Republican newcomer Kyle E. Cole of Hebron.

Seeking a political comeback, Shields – a Democrat and former Salisbury City Council member – had 2,047 votes or 66 percent to Cole’s 1,050 votes, or 34 percent

District 1 is Wicomico’s minority-majority district and includes portions of north and west Salisbury.

District 2

In District 2, Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce chair Jeff Merritt held a lead over Democrat Talana D. Watson.

Merritt had 4,701 votes or 71 percent to Watson’s 1,888 votes or 29 percent.

A Republican, Merritt of Salisbury is owner of Minuteman Press and is especially known for his work with Operation We Care, which supports active-duty military, veterans and first-responders.

Watson and her husband operate Lewis N. Watson Funeral Home.

Wicomico’s District 2 encompasses a huge swath of the county’s west side and crosses the Wicomico river to take in neighborhoods down Riverside Drive into Fruitland. Sharptown, Mardela Springs, Nanticoke and Whitehaven are all part of the district.

District 3, 4, 5

District 3 winner Shane Baker defeated incumbent Larry Dodd in July’s GOP primary and had no general election opposition.

The district encompasses east-southeast Wicomico County below Route 50, and includes Powellville, Wango, portions of Fruitland and Salisbury, and neighborhoods including Deer Harbor.

Democrat Josh Hastings was the automatic winner in District 4, following Republican Kyle Lemonte Brown’s departure from the race over a residency requirement error.

District 4 is made up of the neighborhoods of central and south Salisbury, off Riverside Drive and around Salisbury University, and south of Snow Hill Road.

Joe Holloway of Parsonsburg defeated a fellow Republican in July, which guaranteed him a return to the council. 

Holloway is a lifelong resident of Wicomico County and small-business owner in Parsonsburg.

He is currently the council’s longest-serving member, first winning election in 2006.

District 5 includes east-northeast Wicomico County above Route 50, and includes Delmar, Powellville, Willards. The district dips south of Route 50 to take in Wor-Wic Community College.

While the new membership breakdown means new voting matrixes when the new council is seated in December, Republicans appear headed for a 5-2 majority on the board.

Incumbents Bill McCain, Ernie Davis and Nicole Acle were already set to depart the council, with McCain retiring, and Acle and Davis leaving to pursue other elected offices. Acle lost a bid for state delegate; Davis was the Democratic nominee for County Executive.

Wicomico Council members recently received pay raises. The salary for the County Council president has been raised from $18,000 to $25,000, while the council vice president’s salary went from 17,000 to $23,000. The president and vice president are selected in a vote of their colleagues.

Council members are paid $21,000 annually.




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