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RIDGELY – Four candidates vying for two seats on the Ridgely Town Commission shared their experience and ideas with residents during a 6:30 p.m. forum April 15 at Ridgely Volunteer Fire Company’s meeting room.
The non-partisan public forum was sponsored by Brenda Walls, owner of Ridgely Pharmacy, and moderator Joe Anderson, CEO of Combined Technology Solutions in Ridgely.
The candidates are incumbents John Buckle and Brad Sears, returning candidate Chad Leister and first-time candidate Jamie Romph. Commissioner John Hurley’s term expires in 2026.
The four men and about 40 attendees abided by the ground rules established by the organizers, which included the guideline of focusing on the future instead of revisiting the past. They adhered to guidelines and time limits, and exchanges among the candidates were courteous.
Each had three minutes to introduce themselves, provide background information and explain why they were running for office. Following a question-and-answer session, they had a minute to summarize their positions. A meet-and-greet rounded out the 90-minute forum.
The incumbents introduced themselves first. Buckle, 62, has served on the commission since 2013, and his current term expires this year. He is the only Ridgely native among the four candidates and his home was once owned by his great-great-grandparents.
He and his wife Kelly drive school buses under contract with Caroline County Public Schools. They have two children. He is an Army veteran and serves as commander of American Legion Post 29 in Denton. “I plan to keep my home values close to my heart, and that's God, family and country,” Buckle said. “I am committed to Ridgely.”
Sears, 76, was appointed to fill former Commissioner Anthony Casey’s unexpired term in July 2024 and is running to remain in office for a 3-year term.
He has been married nearly 40 years to Nancy, and they have three children and seven grandchildren with one on the way. They have lived in Ridgely for nine years. “We love this town,” he said.
Sears is a “retired project manager with over 30 years’ experience in finance operations and getting tough projects done on time and under budget,” he said. “I’m not here to impress you with promises. I'm here to do the work, and I am doing the work right now.”
Romph, 51, has lived in the town “for a little over a year,” he said. Originally from northern Ohio, he has had a career in law enforcement for 27 years. He is a senior instructor for the Department of Homeland Security and acting branch chief, working in Washington, D.C. “I deal with a lot of budgetary issues, contract issues and instruction of the people that protect our homeland,” he said.
“Sometimes fresh ideas on something are better, and I believe I have the fresh eyes right now,” he said, adding that residents’ voices matter, “and I will hear you.”
Leister, 45, moved to Caroline County about 20 years ago, and has lived in Ridgely about five years. He works for the Anne Arundel Department of Public Works and stressed his willingness to volunteer and listen to residents’ concerns.
“I think I'll make a good commissioner because I'm willing to put forth all my effort into the town,” he said. “But most importantly, I care. I care about the businesses in this town. I care about our parks. I care about our storm water terra cotta pipes, unsafe drivers, unsafe roads … because I live here.”
Residents were asked to pen questions as they arrived, and Anderson and Walls sorted them by theme. Two recurring questions were how long the candidates had lived in Ridgely and their ages. Another question concerned transparency and communication, which all four affirmed their interest in pursuing as both posture and policy, including improving the town’s website and promoting town businesses on it.
The establishment of an ethics committee was brought up, and none opposed the idea.
A resident submitted a question about how the candidates would respond to flooding issues in the area of Hannah Henry Way. Sears said he was researching the “persistent problem” and had approached Maryland Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day and his staff the previous week about possible grants to address the issue.
Buckle agreed with Sears, adding that the problem has been a “tough one” the commissioners have been working on.
“You know what’s tough? The people whose yards are flooding,” Romph said.
“And we understand that,” Buckle said.
“I’m just saying it's tough for them. And the question is, is the squeaky wheel going to get the oil?” Romph asked. “We got to do something for these people. … If our infrastructure is causing these issues, then we're being a bad neighbor, and we need to figure this out. We need to figure this out quick.”
“Agreed,” Buckle and Sears said in unison.
All four affirmed creative solutions were needed to keep and attract businesses to the town and revitalize Central Avenue, including improving sidewalks and encouraging businesses to be more accessible for those with disabilities.
Anderson opened up the discussion to residents, who said they would like to see a bakery, an indoor kids’ park in the empty Medifast building and a good restaurant. Many agreed that the state of Maryland presented obstacles for business development.
Buckle said he was concerned about one-person ownership of several business district properties, while Romph said businesses were needed that would enhance rather than detract from the town’s charm.
One question centered on the candidates’ ideas for increasing services residents want. Sears said the answer would be determined by discovering residents’ needs and prioritizing how to meet them.
All four candidates stressed the need for fiscal restraint. Romph said he would like to see an outside audit, including “maybe even a forensic audit.”
“I don't have the hard numbers of what's being spent,” Romph said. With low crime statistics, a closer look at budgeting for law enforcement was warranted, he said.
In their closing summaries, the commissioners stressed their commitment to transparency, hard work and listening to residents.
“I wish all the candidates the best of luck,” Buckle said. “And my last comment is, this job is not a monthly town meeting. It's pretty much every day.”
After thanking everyone for attending, Leister expressed concern that “the hard questions never get answered” at town meetings. “Everything gets pushed off,” he said. “With no updates, no transparency, you can't ask anything at a meeting without getting the answer of, ‘Oh, that's complicated. Oh, that's a process.’ I just hope, regardless of whatever happens, that next year we're in a better spot than we are this year.”
Romph said, “I'm about transparency. I'm about accountability, about integrity, honesty. I'm about putting our meetings online, so if someone misses it and can't team in, they can watch it later on. And also, that record is accountability, because it's right there for someone to go back and look at.”
Sears thanked the organizers, the RVFD, his fellow candidates and citizens. “I know things can get a little heated – that's politics – but it means people care, and when the dust settles, someone still has to lead,” he said. “Someone has to make the hard calls, balance the books, get the work done quietly, steadily and without drama. We need that kind of leadership. That's the kind of leadership I offer to you, and I believe it's exactly what this town deserves.”
Residents clearly enjoyed the give-and-take, with a few saying they would like to see more forum opportunities with the new commission. Some said the large room in the fire hall was more accommodating than the commissioners’ meeting room.
According to the town charter, the candidate who receives the highest number of votes will serve a 3-year term; the runner-up will fill the last year of an unexpired term. Ridgely Commission elections are held annually.
The election will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. Monday, April 28, at the town hall, 2 Central Ave.
