Bel Air Election 2021: Candidates, How To Vote

BEL AIR, MD — Voters in Bel Air will head to Town Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 2, to decide who will serve on the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The town holds elections every two years.

Elections in the town of Bel Air are nonpartisan, so candidates run without official party designation or affiliation.

This year, two seats on the five-member board are up for election.

Mary Chance, Paula Etting and Lawrence Russell will run for a seat on the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners against incumbent Amy Chmielewski.

Incumbent Patrick Richards is not running for reelection, meaning at least one newcomer will join the board.

Commissioners serve four-year terms. Salaries for the commissioners are $4,800 a year and $6,000 a year for the chair, who is known as the mayor.

Meet The Candidates

When asked about the most important issue facing the town, two candidates told Bel Air Patch that preserving the character of the town while growing its economy was of the utmost import.

"Ensuring a balance of economic growth while preserving neighborhood communities is critical," said Chance, who has served in Harford County government for 28 years.

A similar response came from Etting, a prosecutor who has worked for the Harford County Department of Law.

"The most pressing issue facing our Town is how to grow and change in the future without losing our small-town, family-friendly character," Etting said. "I will work with residents and businesses to encourage economic growth that is consistent with our Town's character."

Russell said he saw COVID-19 as the most important issue.

"As a town we need to get out there and try to educate the citizens about getting the vaccine," Russell said. "Getting vaccinated is important for all of us. We need to keep businesses open and keep our children in school."

• Mary Chance For Bel Air Town Commissioner
• Paula Etting For Bel Air Town Commissioner
• Lawrence Russell For Bel Air Town Commissioner

Chmielewski has been the mayor of the town, also known as the chair of the board, since 2019.

She was the only candidate who has not yet completed a questionnaire for our Patch voters guide. If she does, we will post it and add it to our candidate list above.

Last week, Chmielewski disclosed as the result of an ethics probe that her husband was employed by Independent Brewing Company, and she said she would recuse herself from voting on legislation initiated by the business. She did abstain from voting, and the ordinance passed.

Hear from the mayor: Bel Air Mayor On Brewery Vote: 'I Was Planning To Recuse Myself'

When And Where To Vote

The Bel Air town election will be from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 2, at Bel Air Town Hall, 39 N. Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, MD 21014.

To vote in the Bel Air election, people must live in the municipality (the town of Bel Air) and be registered to vote. Not sure whether you are registered? Check your voter registration status here through the Maryland State Board of Elections.

Sample ballots are available online from the town of Bel Air.

Those who would like to vote absentee can pick up their ballots at the Harford County Board of Elections on or before election day at 133 Industry Lane, Forest Hill, MD 21050.

Ballots must be postmarked or received on or before the close of the polls — by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 2 — at Bel Air Town Hall, 39 N. Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, MD 21014.

Those who would like to drop off their ballots can take it to the drop box outside Town Hall or to the Department of Administration office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

The drop box, which was set up Sept. 24, will be open through 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 2. Ballots must be signed.

See Also:

• Bel Air Commissioners Change Code As Requested By Brewery
• Mayor Won't Vote On Brewery Issue After Ethics Concerns Raised