Allegany County Md. Campaign Buttons 19

James S. Stafford, a Democrat, promised he “Will serve YOU in Annapolis”. In a heavily Republican district at that time this assurance was not enough to have him voted into the Maryland House of Delegates. At the time of Stafford’s 1962 bid he was an employee of the Queen City Brewery. It is interesting to note that he was among the last members appointed to the Allegany County Board of Education before it became an elective office. Active within the community until his passing his 1986, the back of Stafford’s campaign card at the time of his campaign reads as follows:
JAMES SINSEL STAFFORD, 312 Prince George St., Cumberland, Md.; married to Grace Weber Stafford, two children Mrs. Richard D. Knight, Zwiebrucken, Germany, and Jim Jr., student University of Maryland; native of Grafton, W.Va.; education, Grafton public schools, Potomac State College and West Virginia Wesleyan College; Graduate of latter institution with secondary school teaching certificate; member St. John’s Lutheran Church, the Allegany County Board of Education, Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, Shrine, Elks, VFW, Eagles, Moose, American Legion and the South Cumberland Business and Civic Association; four years service In World War II.

Edward T. Evans, Jr. , a Republican, was appointed to the House of Delegates from Allegany County during a Special Session in November 1964, and was “returned” to that office serving as a Delegate until 1970. The back of the card depicted here shows driving distances from Cumberland to such places as New York City (307 miles) and Wheeling, West Virginia (133 miles).

Vernon C. Gains, a Democrat, felt that it was “Time for a Change” in the Maryland House of Delegates. He was also unsuccessful in his campaign bid for Delegate.

William “Bill” Byrnes, a Democrat, was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1970, and continued to be re-elected to that office representing Allegany County until 1986. The back of the card depicted here lists the birthstones and accompanying flowers for each month, as well as wedding anniversaries (Paper for the 1stYear to Diamond for the 75th year).

Thomas W. Gracie and John W. Sloan, both Republicans, were unsuccessful candidates for the House of Delegates. An old notation written in pencil on Sloan’s card reads, “Sept 1951 Lost Out”.

William “Bill” Davis,1932-2014, a Republican, was elected in 1980 to the first of his three two-year terms as Mayor of Frostburg, serving in that capacity until 1986. It was also in that year, 1986, Davis made an unsuccessful bid for election to the Maryland House of Delegates.

John P. Corderman, a Democrat, pledged to put “Western Maryland 1st.” and served in the Maryland State Senate representing Legislative District 2 from 1975 to 1978. Between the years 1975-1982 this District represented parts of Allegany as well as Washington Counties.

DeCorsey E. Bolden, a Republican, served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1971-1982. Bolden represented Legislative District 1-A which between the years 1975-1982 represented all of Garrett and a portion of Allegany County.

Lester “Buster” Reed, a Republican, was a long-time member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing Allegany County, District 1-B. He was first elected to the House of Delegates in 1938, took office in 1939 and continued to be re-elected serving through 1974.