SALISBURY, Md. - Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt is seeking a third term in office. Republican and Salisbury business owner Bob Culver is serving his first term on county council, and hopes to take over the seat in November's elections.
Jobs and the lingering effects of the recession fuel this race.
Democratic incumbent Rick Pollitt points to his work with the Visioning Action Committee as proof of creating a "business-friendly" county.
"we've brought decision makers from all around the county. From higher education, from the hospital, from agriculture, from the environmental community, from public education, the K through 12 system. All to talk about how we've going to build a Wicomico County that's going to come out of this recession," said Pollitt.
His opponent, county councilman Bob Culver says his experience as a business owner gives him an advantage.
"I have always taken time to see what businesses will do and how that works," said Culver. "my first step is to go ahead and stop the jobs from leaving Wicomico County. We need to stop that and then we need to work on getting new companies in town and starting to relocate here."
Pollitt looks to expanding current businesses in the county, especially along the Wicomico River.
"chesapeake shipbuilders is the only tugboat manufacturing company on the East Coast. There are jobs here. But we're beyond that, we're looking at how we can expand the whole Port of Salisbury to turn it into a multipurpose terminal," said Pollitt.
The position of Wicomico County Executive was created in 2006. It was the first for the Eastern Shore and one of only eight in the state of Maryland.
The future of the office will be determined Nov. 4.
