In Extremely Rare Election Event, Boonsboro Recount Reveals Tie for Final Council Seat

The official tally of the May 12, 2026, Boonsboro Town Election results, as released by town election officials after the council ordered a recount, has confirmed a remarkable tie for the last available town council seat, necessitating a special runoff election. The results also finalized the win for Assistant Mayor and two other council positions. Making this an even more rare occurrence, a council candidate on the ballot tied with a write-in candidate.

In the race for Assistant Mayor, Anthony Nally emerged victorious, securing 132 votes. His opponent, Hugh O’Neill, received 122 votes, while a single write-in vote was cast for Kendra Cole.

The Boonsboro Town Council saw two seats filled without contention. Ricky Weaver garnered the most votes with 186, securing the first council seat. Matthew Small followed, claiming the second seat with 113 votes.

The most significant outcome of the election was the exact tie for the third and final council seat. Ken Ebmeier, a candidate listed on the ballot, and Dave Wade, who ran as a write-in candidate, each received 103 votes. This unforeseen tie requires a special election to determine the ultimate winner.

The election also highlighted a substantial level of engagement with write-in candidates. Beyond Dave Wade’s tie with Ebmeier, Eric Kitchen, another write-in candidate, garnered an impressive 77 votes. The combined total of 180 write-in votes for Wade and Kitchen, when compared to the leading ballot candidate’s 186 votes, suggests a well-organized and active grassroots campaign on behalf of both write-in candidates.

According to the Boonsboro Charter, the Board of Supervisors of Elections is now mandated to schedule a special runoff election between Ken Ebmeier and Dave Wade. This election must occur between May 26, 2026, and July 11, 2026. The outcome of this runoff will decide who fills the remaining council seat, with the election hinging on the ability of both candidates to mobilize their respective supporters for a second round of voting.

Article by Ken Buckler, based upon information from Boonsboro Town Election Results

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