Former Frederick County Councilman To Run For Councilman At Large

Tony Chmelik

Tony Chmelik made that announcement on WFMD.

Frederick, Md. (KM) – He served on the Frederick County Council once before, and he wants to go back. Republican Tony Chmelik says he’s running for an at-large seat on the County Council. He made his announcement on Wednesday on WFMD”s “Mid-Maryland Live.’

“I’m been a resident of the County since I was five years old. Actually, I live in the same house that I have been in since 1972.. I purchased it from my parents in 1996. I’ve raised all of 11 of my children in. it. I have seven boys and four girls, and my seventh grandchild is on the way,” he said.

Chmelik was one of the first members of the County Council when Frederick County switched from a commissioner form of government to charter government. He represented District 2 from 2014-2018. He was defeated in the 2018 GOP Primary by fellow Republican Steve McKay who went out to win the general election. “I don’t agree with Steve on every decision he’s made as a Councilmember. And I would be the first to say that there are some certain things we don’t agree on. But I would say 85% to 90% of the issues Steve and I do align with. I want to be in a position to help him bring forth the other things he would like to do like fiscal responsible. He has made some good proposals when it came time for the budget season,” Chmelik says.

Chmelik joins four other candidates who have registered so far to run for Council-At-Large. They are Democrats Brad Young and Renee Knapp, Republican Dylan Diggs and GOP Incumbent Phil Dacey.

“I saw the Council-At-Large as a place to be more effective, if you will,” he says. “And candidly, I think you need to hold other individuals who have come out that are running for office that had opportunity to have large budget and haven’t show they’re capable of managing them in a proper way.”

He says Council can influence the budget, especially when it comes to the School System. “Our school teachers are once again lining up and asking for money. And I do believe that the Council has a way of influencing that because it is the County Executive who asks the County Council to approve the budget and then send it over to the BOE {Board of Education}, and I do believe there are ways we can influence that process too.”

During the last County Council election, the issue of growth was brought up, especially  in District 2 where the  Monrovia Town Center was proposed. Chmelik, whose a building contractor and remodeler, has some thoughts on that as well. “I’m been accused of being a pro-developer. I’m just pro-Frederick County,” he says. “And I think we need to have responsible growth and we need to have it in the right areas, and I think we’re doing that. I think that that we need to continue that path. But once a development is approved, I think we need to make it easier for these projects to move forward in a timely manner.”

The 2022 primary election is June 28th. But early voting will be held on June 16th through the 23rd from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM. The general election is November 6th, but early voting will take lace from October 27th to November 3rd from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM.

By Kevin McManus