Hebron elects two new commissioners

Hebron, Md. – Jason Morris and Elizabeth Gravenor have been elected into Hebron’s Town Commission two open seats.

Morris and Gravenor received the most votes with 69 and 65, respectively. Incumbent Commissioner Ken Abrams received 34 and Mitchell Parks received 15. Commission President Chester Seabold confirmed to WMDT the election officials certified the results Tuesday night after poles closed at 7 p.m. Residents could vote for up to two candidates and Sebald said there were 93 total voters.

Before polls closed, Sebald said he wasn’t “overly concerned about the outcome because I know anyone that would win would move in a positive direction.”

“We are slowly but steady growing. We try to keep things nice for everybody,” he said.

However, he said he hopes that more community members decide to engage with the community and come out in future town elections.

“Just please come out and vote,” he said. “With the amount of voters we get, your vote could very well make a difference. We’ve seen elections here win by one or two votes.”

Sebald said one of the benefits about small town elections was the opportunity to get to know candidates running for office.

“What I would say is, if you’re uncertain about a certain person, go talk to them,” he said. “The great thing about small town election, there’s a good chance you know where they live or where they hang out. You go in, if you have a question, you ask them and they’ll they’ll give you an answer. They won’t hide from you.”

Commissioner Randall Stafford said he was excited to see the results after the town was able to create a forum where residents could meet the candidates.

“I mean, it seems like no matter which way this election swings, we’re going to have a lot of great people with a lot of initiative and ambition,” he said. “And that’s what the town needs, is people that are go getters and just want to get stuff done.”

WMDT caught up with then-candidates Grovenor, Morris and Abrams before results were in. Grovenor and Morris both said though they were new to campaigning, they were excited for the opportunity to breathe fresh life into the commission.

“‘But as far as campaigning against everybody, I mean, everybody has something to bring to the table,” Grovenor said. “It’s just a matter of what aligns with what you’re looking for for the town. But all of us will be able to do a good job.”

Local business owner Daniel Couch said though he was not able to vote in this year’s election it is still important to get out and vote.

“Well, there’s a lot of things going on in the world today, and you want to get … the representative to represent us and not say bad things and do good by people, you know, and and let you get the right people in there,” he said.

Couch’s wife, Colleen Eades, said every vote counts, especially in small town elections.

“Because it’s local. It’s at home. It all starts at home before it goes anywhere else. It’s right here at home. And it’s in the details for everything,” she said.

Cleveland Dairy milk delivery driver Douglas Jones got to vote before polls closed and also said that, in a small community, one vote can make a “whole difference.”

“Just knowing that I can change and make a difference. That’s how I feel. It’s important to me,” Jones said.

In a statement to WMDT, Sebald said he looks forward to working with the new commissioners.

“I’m hopeful things will progress in the right direction,” he said.

WMDT will update this story with any comments from the newly-elected commissioners or the other former candidates.