Pocomoke City Election Results

POCOMOKE CITY -- Robert Hawkins and Diane Downing have been elected to serve on the Pocomoke City Council, representing District 1 and District 2, respectively.

Hawkins retained the seat he has held for 22 years with the help of 82 votes, compared to his challenger, Harvey Lynch, who received 17. Forty-six ballots were cast for Downing, 29 more than her opponent Duane Bias's 17, giving her the position recently left vacant by retiring councilman Honiss Cane.

"I'm very excited," Downing said after the results were announced. "I'm ready to get to work."

For Downing, a lifelong Pocomoke City resident, her victory represents her first foray into elected politics. Downing -- a former member of the city's Board of Elections and an employee of Worcester County government -- said she planned to clean up Pocomoke's neighborhoods, instituting neighborhood watches and other initiatives to combat local crime.

She said she also plans to create more opportunities for local youth to keep them out of trouble.

Tuesday's election marks only the second time Robert Hawkins has been challenged for the District 1 seat since first running for the position 22 years ago.

The veteran of City Hall first ran after retiring from a job with the federal government and had the time, he said, to attend meetings and represent the town at state and county functions.

"I go to a lot of meetings," Hawkins said, mentioning his position on the Lower Shore Tri-County Council and other local boards. "And I get something out of every one."

In his next term, the councilman said he will focus on updating local infrastructure, bringing more businesses to the historic downtown and encouraging companies to set up shop in the city's industrial park.

"I want to get another grocery store here and other small businesses," Hawkins said after his victory Tuesday. "That's what I'll work for."

Downing and Hawkins will take office at the next meeting of the Pocomoke City mayor and council on April 13.

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