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FEDERALSBURG – Several Federalsburg residents, business owners, and town officials gathered at the Federalsburg Activities Center for a candidate forum between those running for two seats on the Town Council.
Candidate Brandy James is an incumbent running unopposed to represent Federalsburg’s District 1. There are two candidates – incumbent Ian Ferguson and challenger Bruce Hancock – vying for the District 2 representative position, however Hancock had a prior commitment and was unable to attend the forum.
Questions asked by moderator Sherone Lewis centered around the two incumbents’ personal qualities and approaches to town leadership.
When asked what qualities make a good councilmember, Ferguson emphasized independent thought and compromise. Councilmembers, he said, should question everything and be “able to admit when they are wrong.” “You’re not going to win every single thing,” Ferguson said, “Compromise is what our country was based off of, and, for local politics, it’s everything.”
James said councilmembers should be honest, trustworthy, and willing to listen to residents, including those with whom they disagree. She said a councilmember may not always have an answer but should make an honest effort to find one. “Everybody’s voices matter,” she said, adding that while herself and Ferguson are technically elected as district representatives, councilmembers represent the entire town. She also stressed the importance of understanding the town charter and finances.
On group decision-making, James described her work with counties on budgets, programs, contracts, requests for proposals, and grant applications. She said those experiences inform the questions she asks as a councilmember, and she has even incorporated group projects into the classes she teaches at Chesapeake College.
Ferguson pointed to teamwork in his work with the Maryland Food Bank and to volunteering at Federalsburg’s Town Hall during a period when the town needed support. Helping out the town staff, he said, gave him a firsthand view of the challenges they face.
The candidates also outlined how they would respond to residents’ concerns. Ferguson said he would first gather information from the resident, then raise the issue with the Town Manager and follow up before escalating it to the Council if needed. James said she would assess the issue’s urgency and try to understand it before deciding whom to contact.
James said that she believes rumors and a lack of public awareness about work underway within the Council are among the biggest issues Federalsburg faces. As such, she said she would continue communicating with residents and pressing for follow-through on projects currently in the works, like water infrastructure and overdue audits.
Ferguson said completing the town’s audits should be a priority, in part because doing so would help the town qualify for grants. He also cited roads and downtown beautification as needs, and called for more discussion with local business owners about what could help the town grow. He acknowledged that Federalsburg has a list of things to tackle as a town, but reminded the audience that the only way to “eat an elephant” is “one bite at a time.”
Both candidates agreed that residents should have meaningful ways to take part in town decisions. Ferguson called for encouraging residents to attend Town Council and planning meetings, while James said that she would like to see the town use different communication channels, including social media and livestreaming, and make an effort to reach residents who may not be able to attend in person. “We can’t expect the public to come to us all the time,” she said. “Sometimes we have to go to the public.”
Once Lewis made it through the list of pre-written questions, she opened the floor to questions from the audience. One of the first audience questions concerned data-center development within town limits.
James said she was not opposed to data centers in general, but opposed the proposal that was recently under discussion. “I am not against data centers. I don’t hate data centers,” she said, “What I am against is things that do not make sense for our town.” She said she believed the proposal was not sufficiently thought through and that the town needed more information about its potential benefits before making a decision. She also questioned how much tax revenue the project would ultimately generate, saying the town did not know what business or equipment would occupy the building.
Ferguson also opposed the data center proposal, saying his concerns included the risks of relying on a single development for a large share of local revenue. He argued that a data center would not resolve the town’s underlying issues and said the town should consider other kinds of development that could provide sustained local employment. “It’s not just no. It’s no for a reason,” he said.
The discussion also touched on whether councilmembers should make decisions based on their personal financial interests. Both candidates said they consider the needs of the town before themselves, and neither is a fan of raising water bills or property taxes unless absolutely necessary.
Audience members asked how the candidates would attract businesses to Federalsburg. Ferguson proposed bringing current business owners together to discuss what is working, what is not, and what kinds of businesses might fit the town. He said those conversations could help the town identify realistic opportunities and ways to support existing businesses.
James suggested identifying available commercial and warehouse space, describing the local workforce, and reaching out directly to companies that might be interested in locating in the area. She said residents could take part in a letter-writing campaign inviting businesses to visit and learn about Federalsburg.
Both candidates said they would consider proposals on their merits rather than rule out any category of businesses in advance. Ferguson said new development should fit the community and its workforce, while James said businesses should understand that they would need to follow local rules and consider the town’s character.
The candidates were also asked whether growing up in Federalsburg gave someone a better understanding of what the town needs. Ferguson said coming from elsewhere gave him a different perspective, but he understands the importance of taking the town’s history and character into consideration. James cautioned against anyone claiming to know what is best for the entire community, regardless of where they are from. “No one knows – not even myself, because I haven’t talked to everybody in Federalsburg – what’s best for Federalsburg,” she said.
Asked why voters should support them, Ferguson said he had served on the Council for about a year and a half without pay and intended to continue doing so. He said he viewed Council service as a way to give back and hoped to help connect residents with local government going forward if elected. “We got to get some stuff done,” he said, “and a lot of that just takes buy-in from the community as well.”
James pointed to work she said had been done during her term, including making headway on road repairs, reduced town debt, and expanded community programs. She said more work remained and that she would continue listening to residents. “I do listen to people,” she said. “It’s not about my interest; it’s about the town’s interest.”
Voting in Federalsburg’s municipal election will take place on Tuesday, November 3, at the Federalsburg Town Hall.
