Carolyn Miller moved to Emmitsburg from Georgia in 1994 to be close to her husband's family. Since then, she's spent 12 years serving on the town's parks and recreation committee.

In that time, Miller has contributed to the summer concert series in the park and helped plan the walking path that stretches from the town pool to the tennis courts. She said she hopes to help extend the path by one mile in the next year and eventually see it connect to Mount St. Mary's University campus.

Miller, a teacher at Emmitsburg Elementary School, said she would also like to see the town become "green and clean." She cited steps taken by local schools, including Emmitsburg Elementary's rain garden. Mother Seton School in Emmitsburg has also incorporated recycling and a walking path into its green concept.

Tim O'Donnell is no stranger to town government. Since he and his family moved to town six years ago, he has served one term on the parks and recreation committee and was part of the Mountain Trails Task Force commissioned by Mayor Jim Hoover in 2006. He serves as president of the planning commission.

O'Donnell, 43, said he filed to run for commissioner because "I wanted to put my money where my mouth was.

"There are a lot of really good things here, but I think we can enhance what we have," he said.

In addition to moving forward with the development of a recreational trail network through the mountains south and west of town, O'Donnell said he would like to see the town adopt several environmentally friendly initiatives, including a community garden and a yard waste recycling program.

O'Donnell, a Frederick County teacher, also said he'd like to help develop more recreation opportunities for young people, including acquiring a rectangular ball field for public use and continue growing the town's relationship with Mount St. Mary's University. He also said he thinks town government should be supportive of town businesses.

"If we can see a strong investment in Main Street and our businesses there and elsewhere in town, I think that would be a very positive thing," he said.

Commissioner Joyce Rosensteel is seeking re-election to a third term. She was first elected in 2002 and is the current board treasurer.

Rosensteel, 71, has lived in Emmitsburg since 1952, and said she wants to continue to be a voice for her fellow citizens.

"I'm a people person and I love my town, and I want to do everything I can É I try to respond to all citizens who contact me," she said.

In her six years as a commissioner, Rosensteel has served as the board liaison for the parks and recreation and water committees and the planning commission. The town's concerts in the park originated during her first term on the parks and recreation committee, and she has regularly taken courses with the Maryland Municipal League on efficient meetings, budgeting and other local government skills.

"I've had a great experience being commissioner, and I would like to continue helping the citizens," she said.

Commissioner Cliff Sweeney is seeking his fifth term as commissioner, and said he wants to continue to oversee some of the projects he began working on during his first term.

"It takes a lot of time to get things done; you don't get it done in the (first) three-year term that you're there," he said.

One of these projects is a rehabilitation of the town's water and sewer system, which town officials hope will include the construction of a treatment plant in the next several years, as well as the addition of a new well to the town's water supply, he said.

The current board of commissioners is also reviewing an update to the town's comprehensive plan, a process that has been six years in the making. Sweeney said he wants to see this update through to completion, which is tentatively scheduled for October.

Sweeney, 44, was born and reared in Emmitsburg and works full-time as a construction foreman. He has served on every town committee except the water committee, and said he is especially proud of the restoration work done on the town office and community center in 2002.

"I enjoy working for the whole entire community, I don't have a set agenda, I treat everybody the same," he said.

The fifth candidate, Jennifer Crampton, could not be reached for comment.

Emmitsburg residents will vote Sept. 29. Thursday is the last day to register.

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