Incumbents Rule as Dougherty Wins Third Term as Havre de Grace Mayor
Dougherty wins race for mayor; Craig and Correri are re-elected to City Council; Wagner has slight edge over Lawder for third seat.
UPDATED (10 p.m.)—Wayne Dougherty won a third term as Havre de Grace mayor Tuesday, beating his lone challenger, City Councilman Mitch Shank, after a heated race.Dougherty earned 1,128 of the 1,775 votes cast in the mayor's race to beat Shank in an election that drew one of the largest voter turnouts in city election history. Results were announced shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday at Saint Patrick Hall, the city's lone polling place.
“Wow. I’m just a little bit overwhelmed right now,” Dougherty said. “The people of Havre de Grace—I thank them so much. We must be doing something right. With that, we will continue on.”
Shank said he was unsure what he would do next.
“We feel we ran a good campaign. The citizens spoke, they’re happy with Wayne. I’m happy for them,” Shank said. “There were some of us, obviously a minority, that wanted a new direction. Wayne talked to the people, they listened. I’m happy for him.”
Barbara Wagner appears to have the edge on Diane Lawder, 878-833, but the final tally will be determined by absentee and provisional ballots.
“I’m very honored that the community has chosen me to serve,” Wagner said.
Lawder said she would need almost 100 percent of the absentee and provisional ballots to unseat Wagner.
“It was an unbelievable experience,” Lawder said. “You’ll probably see me again next May.”
The race for three open City Council seats left two certain victors—incumbents Randy Craig (1,251 votes) and John Correri (905 votes).
“It’s an honor to serve. It always has been,” Craig said. “I love serving my hometown. I look forward to doing so in the same manor as before.”
Correri stayed outside the hall as the results were read aloud.
“I couldn’t stand it,” Correri said with a laugh. “That’s always what the election comes down to—reading out those results.”
The two other losing candidates were Lori Maslin, who had 606 votes, and James Lauer, with 185.
"I’m pleased that Wayne won. I think Randy and John ran great campaigns. I wish Barbara the best of luck," Maslin said. "I’m proud of the campaign that I ran. I ran a clean campagn and I was able to be myself."
The votes are unofficial and are pending up to 53 absentee ballots and 18 provisional ballots. Those ballots will be counted May 9.
| Havre de Grace Mayoral Race | May 3, 2011 | |
| CANDIDATE | VOTES |
| Wayne Dougherty * | 1,128 |
| Mitch Shank | 647 |
* — Unofficial winner
| Havre de Grace City Council Race | May 3, 2011 | |
| CANDIDATE | VOTES |
| Randy Craig * | 1,251 |
| John Correri * | 905 |
| Barbara Wagner * | 878 |
| Diane Lawder | 833 |
| Lori Maslin | 606 |
| Jim Lauer | 185 |
