Cambridge residents turn out to vote for mayor and commissioners

CAMBRIDGE, Md. – Polls were open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Saturday, giving Cambridge residents the chance to have their voices heard in the city’s 2024 General Election.

For Mayor, voters had to choose from Lajan Cephas, Andrew Bradshaw, and LaShon Foster.

For Commissioner, every seat was contested except for the Fifth Ward, which saw current Commissioner Brian Roche running unopposed.

“It’s been really steady. I think we expected it to have some ebbs and flows throughout the day, but really since about 10 o’clock, we’ve had a steady line of people coming through. I would estimate that we’ve probably had 500 or 600 voters, and this is before lunchtime. So that’s it’s a pretty good turnout for the City of Cambridge,” said Assistant City Manager Brandon Hesson.

Residents casted their votes with a wide range of priorities in mind.

Voter Ryan Belton wants the next mayor to focus on the local economy: “Main Street development, the waterfront, just revitalizing the town. I moved here for business purposes, and being able to see Cambridge grow economically is probably my main concern.”

Heinrich Kuhn said he was considering process and character when he casted his vote. “We look towards the mayor and the council members to have integrity, transparency, which is very important to us.”

Eugene Lauer thinks it’s important for the next mayor be able to work with the City Manager, a position Cambridge introduced in 2015. “It brought professional management to the city that was sorely lacking before the change was made, and I think most people at least can see what how the city has progressed,” Lauer said.

Linda Johnson saw this election as an opportunity for the city as a whole. “You know, at the end of the day, just the community coming together, that’s all. Everybody just be on one accord, because we’re all in this thing together,” she said.