The Wicomico County Council is expected to interview and select one person from among four applicants for the position of County Executive.
As Tuesday’s deadline for applications was coming to a close, council officials confirmed receiving four submission packets, but declined to name the contenders.
Not only will the names be kept secret, any interviews the council schedules will be conducted in a closed session. The formal appointment would come in an open session, with a majority council vote.
The Salisbury Independent has filed a Freedom of Information Act request asking for the contenders’ names.
Under the County Charter, council members have until Wednesday, Sept. 9, to officially name a new County Executive.
Applicants must be of the same political party as Culver, who was elected as a Republican. The council is not limited to just choosing applicants, however — it can choose anyone who meets the criteria.
The council is next scheduled to meet Tuesday, so closed interviews might be held that afternoon. The council’s next regular meeting would be the evening of Sept. 1, which means a final selection vote could come then.
Only one public figure is known to be angling for the post. State Delegate Carl Anderton of Delmar, a Republican, has been courting support within the business community and elsewhere. A former Delmar Mayor, he made local political history when he defeated Democratic incumbent Norm Conway in 2014 to capture District 38B.
In a recent interview on “One On One” on cable access channel PAC 14, Anderton made known his interest in the County Executive’s post.
“I think the tools I have, especially over the next two years, would be very beneficial to the county,” he said.
Anderton said that the county will be treading on difficult budget turf over the next several months and his experience as a Mayor and member of the House Appropriations Committee makes him well versed in identifying and funding budget priorities.
Though he was regarded as a natural contender to succeed Culver, John Cannon, the council’s current Vice President and Republican, is not believed to be among the applicants.
The hiring process requested applicants submit a resume with a biography, and a completed job application.
The charter sets the County Executive’s annual salary at $85,000.
The appointed County Executive would hold the office until the November 2022 election. Culver won re-election to a second four-year term in 2018.
The charter also mandates that someone who holds the office cannot hold a county office or position — except as a County Council member — for one year after the termination of their appointed term.
Culver died of liver cancer on July 26, after nearly six years in the post. While there are several probable contenders to succeed him, Culver left no obvious successor.
The County Executive form of government has been in effect since 2006 and only two men have served in the post — Republican Culver and Democrat Rick Pollitt.
Wicomico Director of Administration John Psota is serving as Acting County Executive until the County Council can appoint a successor. The charter gives Psota, who formerly served as Fruitland City Manager, all of the powers that Culver had while in the position.
If Anderton were to become the council’s pick, the Wicomico County Republicasn Central Committee would choose a replacement, whose name would be forwarded to Gov. Larry Hogan for official appointment. Hogan, however, could pick anyone he chooses, as long as the candidate lives in the district.
District 38B essentially encircles the city of Salisbury on the north, east and south sides, and includes a significant part of the city’s northern and eastern neighborhoods. It also includes Delmar and Fruitland.
The seven-member council has a 4-3 Republican majority, but all members get to vote on the selection.
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Four contenders reportedly vying for Wicomico County Executive - Salisbury Independent
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