Laura Freeman Legge, First Woman Mayor of Westernport

The Town of Westernport in Allegany County was incorporated in 1859 and according to the 2020 census has a population of 1,777 people. Laura Freeman Legge was elected mayor of Westernport in July 2019 and as such is the first woman to hold that office. Legge served through 2022 and secured numerous grants pertaining to the town’s aging infrastructure. She also led a trail development committee seeking to extend the Great Allegheny Passage trail through the Georges Creek Valley. In 2021 Legge was honored by the Daily Record as one of Maryland’s “Leading Women,” an award honoring women forty years of age or younger for the accomplishments made thus far in their careers.