Allegany County Md. Campaign Buttons 15

Edward C. Athey (1935-2014) was first elected to the Cumberland City Council in 1982, and was the top vote-getter in the General Election with 3,629 votes. As noted here in a May 1982 Cumberland News campaign advertisement, Athey’s slogan was “I Want to Serve Our Queen City.” Athey was re-elected in 1984 and served on the council until 1986. In 1992 Athey was elected Mayor of Cumberland, and re-elected to that position again in 1994, 1996, and 1998 serving in that capacity until 2000. At that time he was defeated in his re-election bid by Lee N. Fiedler.

L. Wayne Lewis served on the Cumberland City Council from 1974-1978. As noted in this campaign advertisement in the Cumberland News, he again ran for the city council in 1982 under the motto of “Progress through Leadership.” In a very tight race, Lewis was eventually successful in his 1982 bid for a seat on the council. Lewis was later elected Allegany County Commissioner in 1986, but resigned the following year in May 1987.

John W. Wormack, Sr. (1905-1993) was the first African-American to seek political office in the City of Cumberland and as such was elected and served as Commissioner of Streets and Public Property for a four-year term from 1974 to 1978. This campaign ad for John W. Wormack Sr. appeared in a 1982 edition of the Cumberland News. John Wormack received 829 votes in the May 4, 1982 Primary Election for City Council, and finished tenth in a field of thirteen candidates. This was not enough to place him among the top eight finishers who would go onto the General Election. Wormack’s slogan during the 1982 campaign was “Serving You and the Community.”

Dr. Nicholas Giarritta (1925-2013) felt the citizens should “Vote for Progress thru Unity, Planning and Community Pride!” As noted in this May 1982 campaign advertisement, Dr. Giarritta wanted to make city government work, but needed “your” help. Although he qualified for the General Election, Dr. Giarritta’s 1,950 votes were not enough to put him among the top four finishers for a seat on the Cumberland City Council.

R. Donald Shaffer (1916-1997) asked city residents in this 1982 Cumberland News campaign advertisement to “Vote for a Full Time Mayor Who Respects Cumberland.” Only the top two primary candidates in the six-person contest for Mayor would go onto the General Election. Shaffer finished third with 1,002 votes. Prior to his campaign for Mayor, Shaffer had been elected to the Cumberland City Council in 1978 and served in that capacity as Police Commissioner. He had also previously served as Chief Liquor Inspector of Allegany County from 1975-1978.