Allegany County Maryland--History

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.

Acknowledgments and Bibliography:

I deeply appreciate the direct assistance offered by the following individuals in providing information from their respective units of government:

Catherine “Kitty” O. Davis, Director, Allegany County Board of Elections
Rebecca Drew, Register of Wills, Allegany County, Maryland
Marjorie Eirich, City Clerk, City of Cumberland
Carol Gaffney, former Clerk, Board of Allegany County Commissioners
John Kirby, City Administrator, City of Frostburg, Maryland

Victor Cushwa, a Democrat, was appointed to the Maryland State Senate, Legislative District 2, in 1978. At that time this district represented parts of both Allegany and Garrett Counties. Cushwa was officially elected later that same year, and re-elected to the State Senate serving until June 1990 when he resigned to accept an appointment to the Public Service Commission. The last six months of his term of office were filled by the appointment of his wife, Patricia K. Cushwa.

Marshall Thomas Wilt was elected to the Cumberland City Council in 1982 with 2,901 votes, and re-elected in 1984 serving through 1986. As can be seen in his Cumberland News campaign advertisement from May 1982, his slogan was “Wilt Will Do It.” In 1984, along with being “honest, experienced and hardworking”, Wilt promised to “always strive for better government”, and felt we could all “prosper by working together.” Wilt, a Republican, was also elected to the Board of Allegany Commissioners and served from 1986-1990.

Dellann Campbell, later Dellann Campbell-Fultz, 1936-2023, was appointed to the Cumberland City Council in 1986, elected to that position in 1988 and served in office through 1992. She was one of only seven women to have served on the City Council of Cumberland.

Ray Beall lost to George Wyckoff in his 1984 bid to be elected Mayor of the City of Cumberland.

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.

George M. Wyckoff Jr. (1928-2003) served as Mayor of Cumberland from 1982-1990, having been re-elected in 1984, 1986, and 1988. As seen here from a May 1982 ad in the Cumberland News during his first campaign, Wyckoff’s slogan was “Let’s Change Cumberland’s Image Together.” Wyckoff garnered 3,839 votes in the 1982 election to Wallace G. Ullery’s total of 1,811 votes. Wyckoff’s campaign Treasurer was George C. Stein.

Francis G. Philpot , a Republican, certainly had a suitable name for the office he held upon election as Allegany County Treasurer. Raymond Walker served as his campaign Treasurer. Philpot would also go on to serve as an Allegany County Commissioner from 1982-1986.

Robert Little Ebert (1916-2010),a Republican and a former City of Cumberland Councilman, was elected to the Board of Allegany County Commissioners in 1962, and was re-elected in 1966 serving through 1970.

Raymond W. Walker , 1938-2022, a Republican, was sworn in as Acting Clerk of the Circuit Court in June 1974 to complete the term of Paul Haberlein who passed away in office. Walker would serve seven terms beginning in 1974 through July 2001 as the Allegany County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Lee C. Barnett served as his campaign Treasurer.

Dawne D. Lindsey , a Republican, was appointed to the position of Allegany County Clerk of the Circuit Court in July 2001. She was later elected to the position in 2002, and in 2006, 2010 and

James J. Stakem, a Democrat, was first elected to the Board of Allegany County Commissioners in 1998. He was re-elected to a second four-year term in 2002, and was re-elected a third time in 2006. The door hanger depicted here, with his slogan, “A True Representative for All of Allegany County” is from that campaign. Stakem’s campaign treasurer was Phil Davis. Jim Stakem lost his bid for re-election to County Commissioner in the September 14, 2010 Democratic primary.

Jim Stakem
Past Four Years Supported:
Substantial increases to education