CHESAPEAKE BEACH, Md. – During the June 12, 2024, Town Council Work Session, Mayor Patrick “Irish” Mahoney announced that he would not be seeking re-election in 2024.
Mayor Mahoney provide some history to his time as an elected official in the Town of Chesapeake Beach, starting in 1996 at the youthful age of 42, when he was elected to the Town Council for the first time. Now, 28 years later, having served five (5) terms as a member of Town Council and two (2) terms as Mayor, the Mayor conveyed that he is proud that he can say to anyone who asks that he has wholeheartedly done everything in his power to serve Town residents.
“As I prepare to celebrate my 70th birthday later this year, I’ve decided that what is best for my family, myself, and the Town that I love is not to run for office in 2024. This decision has come with tremendous thought and consideration. Much of my consideration was my strong desire to ensure that the Town continues the same progress it has seen during my leadership; however, my wife and I are happy, healthy, entering our golden years, and looking forward to traveling with friends, spending more time with our family and loved ones. I trust that come November, our Town residents will have paid close attention to who is running for the Office of Mayor, and I have full confidence in our Town residents for this critical decision. I am announcing my decision early so that citizens are aware”, stated Mayor Mahoney.
Mayor Mahoney cited some of his many accomplishments over the past eight years of his leadership as the highest honor and privilege of his lifetime.
Some of the accomplishments the Mayor highlighted under his two terms as Mayor, include:
- a reduction of debt by over $7.5M;
- a reduction of property taxes by $516,765;
- increased police coverage dedicated to the Town of Chesapeake Beach;
- restricted expanded gambling activities by advocating on residents’ behalf with State legislators;
- partnered with the Board of Calvert County Commissioners to acquire ownership of Kellam’s Field, a recreational asset of over $1M, at no additional cost to Town residents;
- returned the public boat ramps to the public by terminating a privately held agreement that did not benefit the public, now hosting over 7,000 recreational boaters annually at the center of our Town. – visitors to the ramps frequent our local businesses, tackle shops, and restaurants;
- completed two partial dredges and one federal dredge of the Fishing Creek channel keeping our vital access to the Chesapeake Bay open for boaters, charter captains, and local businesses, all 100% state or federally-funded;
- established a Tree Board and a Tree City USA designation protecting our natural resources and urban forest canopy;
- revived the Board of Port Wardens, an appointed body of town residents and experts that regulates construction in and near the waterways of the Town;
- accomplished certification twice as a Sustainable Maryland Community and Department of Housing Community Development (DHCD) Sustainable Community, increasing opportunities for grant funding;
- established a Coastal Resiliency Plan charting the course for how the Town prepares for increased flooding events, and;
- adopted the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, which genuinely reflects citizens’ desires to limit development in flood-prone areas, restrict building heights, decrease density and preserve our small-town charm, and protect our natural resources by zoning over 300 acres of critically sensitive land and wildlife habitat in resource conservation (RC) districts.
Mayor Mahoney summarized that “these are just some of the actions of this Town Council and Town Administration that have rerouted the direction of the Town, from the days of the old where Town taxpayer dollars and resources subsidized privately owned special interests to the days of a new town that operates with tax dollars and resources supporting Town citizens AND businesses where everyone pays their fair share, policies are applied evenly and relatively no matter who they are”.
Making changes of this size requires a fantastic team dedicated to serving Town residents. Mayor Mahoney credited the Town’s successes during his leadership to his Operation’s Team (town hall staff/contractors) and the Town’s legislative team (town council and our citizen boards, commissions, and volunteer committees).
The Mayor highlighted his fantastic Operations Team, “led by a true professional, Town Administrator Holly Wahl”, stating that “hiring Holly as the Town’s first-ever professional Town Administrator was my first and wisest move”.
“By professional, I mean a Town Administrator who is trained to think objectively, is willing to make hard decisions for the benefit of all Town residents, a leader who works to ensure we retain our dedicated staff, providing them with the resources and support needed to remain mission-driven to serve you and most importantly to provide transparency and engagement for our citizenry. The Town Administrator plays a vital role in the success of our Town staff in carrying out legislative priorities with efficiency. A true testament to this is our team of highly trained and competent staff from our Town Treasurer, Brittany Moran, who is the Town’s first Certified Public Accountant (CPA), our certified water and wastewater operators, and their leaders, Jay Berry and Josh Stinnett, to our ever-expanding volunteer participation co-producing governmental functions, volunteers who would not be so giving of their time if their efforts were wasted, overlooked or unheard. Her Senior staff and their employees are truly the backbone of all our success”, stated Mayor Mahoney.
The Mayor called for a message for Town citizens of the Town’s bright future under the foundation created by your elected officials. “You, the citizens, gave me six citizen leaders each term to work collaboratively with, and I’m confident each of the current six Council members is ready to step up to be your next Mayor like I was eight years ago”, stated Mayor Mahoney as he individually addressed each Town Council member. From the current Town Council Vice President Charlie Fink, Councilman Larry Jaworski, who served as Town Council Vice President for two years, and longtime Town Council member Dr. Valerie Beaudin, who served as Town Council Vice President for the first four years of Mayor Mahoney’s term. Mayor Mahoney commended Councilman Greg Morris and Councilman Keith Pardieck, who each have been elected twice with 8 years of service to Town residents on the Town Council, and Councilwoman Peggy Hartman, with three years on the Town Council. The Mayor commended the Town Council, stating, “Each has given you proven Town leadership and has chaired vital committees such as Kellams Fields Revitalization, Opioid Abuse Awareness, Economic Development, and Walkability committees.” The Mayor stated, “All of my six colleagues are qualified to be your next mayor. I hope at least one of these leaders will step forward soon!”
The Mayor closed with his focus when he began his first term as Mayor 8 years ago, with a priority to recruit a system of future leaders for the Town’s various volunteer Boards, Commissions and committees, with the Mayor commenting that he designed this system, “so they would be ready to step up”. “Well, that day has come,” stated Mayor Mahoney. For example, the Planning and Zoning Commission Chair Kathleen Berault, who also serves as a Town Board of Port of Wardens Commissioner, and member of the Town’s Tree Board, has already decided to run for Town Council. Mayor Mahoney commented, “There will be an empty seat at this dais for her, and she has my full endorsement. She chaired the Planning and Zoning Commission through the Comprehensive Plan and led our team in producing small-town zoning regulations to protect our small-town values moving forward. I am excited for Kathleen and the Town to consider such a worthwhile citizen leader.”
Mayor Mahoney called for citizens to “please pay attention this coming election”. “Do you want to go back to the old days when certain elected officials fought long into the night over funding for Christmas decorations while prioritizing subsidizing their special interest friends, or do you want leaders like we have currently who invest in your Town, cut taxes each year and pay off town debt? I think the choice is clear; we must not go backward”.
Mayor Mahoney concluded that “it has been the honor of my lifetime to wake every morning knowing my job was to serve the men, women, and children who live within the town limits and to end my day, look in the mirror knowing in my heart that I did just that to the best of my ability. Thank you for bringing such honor and joy into my life.”
After the Mayor’s announcement, Councilman Larry Jaworski led the Town Council and audience in a standing ovation for Mayor Patrick “Irish” Mahoney. The closing remarks for the evening were filled with a somber and emotional Town Council who commended Mayor Mahoney for his service, mentorship and guidance over the years.
To view Mayor Mahoney’s announcement please click here. To view the full work session please click here.
