Cumberland City Mayor Choose 1
DUTIES: The Mayor of the City of Cumberland acts as the President of the City Council and presides at City Council meetings. Although the mayor may vote on matters before the Council, the mayor does not have the authority to move or second a matter for consideration. In addition to appointing the City Administrator, the Mayor and City Council are responsible for making all laws and ordinances consistent with the Constitution and laws of the state.SALARY: $7,200 annuallyTERM: 4 yearsHOW ELECTED: Elected citywide.
Biographical Information
QUALIFICATIONS: How does your experience prepare you for the duties of this office?
Candidate has not yet responded.
ECONOMY: How should the city government best encourage development and job growth at all economic levels?
Candidate has not yet responded.
PRIORITIES: What are the three biggest challenges facing the City government and how will you address them?
Candidate has not yet responded.
DOWNTOWN: What plans do you support for improvements in the City's downtown area?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Biographical Information
Campaign Email
darrellleepowell59@gmail.com
Campaign Mailing Address
223 Massachusetts Ave
Cumberland, MD 21502
Cumberland, MD 21502
QUALIFICATIONS: How does your experience prepare you for the duties of this office?
I’m a 2026 Candidate for Mayor of Cumberland, because I am a self-motivated and progress-driven Queen City born resident and former 15-year city employee.
I have honed abilities in meeting regulations/ordinances as an astute problem-solver capable of prioritizing and managing complex projects with proficiency.
I have exercised skills in customer service, decision-making and program management and consistently contributed to team.
ECONOMY: How should the city government best encourage development and job growth at all economic levels?
Much needed investment in Cumberland’s housing stock would create jobs, money investment, and growth at all economic levels. Government and private partnerships would remove/remodel blight homes and create new affordable, mixed-use housing.
Proactive state and federal elected leaders should assist the Queen City with attracting new jobs and industries. Tax and water breaks must be incentives in attracting new industry.
PRIORITIES: What are the three biggest challenges facing the City government and how will you address them?
The biggest challenge facing the Queen City is the loss of jobs/industry and population loss of nearly 30-thousand residents since 1980. Force state and federal elected officials do their jobs and help with economic development.
Cumberland’s Council-CEO form of government should be changed to mayor as responsible administrator.
Tax differential cost charged by Allegany County Government for duplicate utility services.
DOWNTOWN: What plans do you support for improvements in the City's downtown area?
A deeper dive into Downtown Cumberland’s historic ties to the nation’s three major transportation modes allowing the country’s westward expansion; Route 40, first federal highway began in Cumberland in 1811; than the B&O Railroad in 1842; the C&O Canal in 1850, made the Queen City a major industrial center. I support the River Park Project, but additional information is needed.