New leadership takes over in Delmar

NOTE: The town of Delmar corrected its vote tally, and this story has been updated to reflect those numbers. Corey Shaffer got more votes than originally reported.

Incumbent Mayor Karen Wells is out after Tuesday's election in Delmar, Maryland, defeated by challenger Benjamin Jorden 126-76.

Jorden was part of a slate of candidates running together and planning to cooperate on priorities in the town. Jacob Boothe and Corey Shaffer, his informal running mates, also won seats on the town Commission.

The two new commissioners join two others on the Commission, but have a tiebreaking vote in Jorden if they vote together.

Boothe got 143 votes and Shaffer 137. Candidate Faith Higbee got 87 votes.

Wells faced political backlash after the slaying of town officer Keith Heacook, and amid related contention over the formation of a police union in Delmar.

For more on that, read our previous articles on the issues at stake.

Meet the candidates for Delmar mayor and Commission

When the residents of Delmar, Maryland go to the polls on Nov. 16 there may be more at stake than just the makeup of the Maryland Commission. The recently signed police union contract will have to be funded for at least three years, the town’s failing wastewater infrastructure will

Delaware IndependentTony Russo

Deal may be close for Delmar police union as anger simmers

Jessie McCoy’s voice rose and fell, sometimes cracking with emotion as he exhorted the assembled to rejoin his “Amen!” The Salisbury native who has taken up residence in Delmar began by saying he wasn’t a politician but rather a man of the people. “I’m looking at all

Delaware IndependentTony Russo

Delmar police dispute: A saga too big for one state

Before Cpl. Keith Heacook was beaten to death and died alone on a housing development floor, few people cared about whether or not the Delmar police should be able to unionize. It was a question the town had toyed with on and off for more than two decades, mostly finding

Delaware IndependentTony Russo

Tony Russo contributed to this report.

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