Six candidates ran for the two commissioner seats, including incumbent Bill Buehrer. The second seat was left open by Wes Hamrick, who retired from public office. The results were as follows for the remaining candidates:

• Ed Schildt: 336 votes
• Chris Stouter: 217 votes
• Grant Johnson: 85 votes
• Buehrer: 79 votes.

Burns and Lookingbill have supported each other’s campaign since they announced their plan for candidacy at a town meeting in August. They both prioritized sustainable growth in their platforms, citing the Simmer’s Farm Annexation as a catalyst for their decision to run for office. "The Simmer’s Farm Annexation decision clearly shows that the current Board believes that they know what is best for the future of the town than what the large- majority of the citizens want," Burns said in a candidate submission article.

Both Burns and Lookingbill believed that the Town did not take residents’ opinion into account when approving the Simmer’s Farm Annexation. They both have publicly vowed to take public opinion into account during their four-year terms. "My hope is to work with all the citizens of Thurmont to make our small town continue to be a place we love to call home," Lookingbill said in a Facebook post on Nov. 1, after the election results were announced.

Burns also is concerned over the Town’s fiscal position and says he is committed to crafting a town budget that prioritizes essential services while eliminating unnecessary expenses. "This means scrutinizing every dollar spent and ensuring that it serves the best interests of the entire community."

Lookingbill concurs with Burns’ concerns on spending and has taken aim at the proposed Thurmont Boulevard project. "They [Council} had proposed obtaining a six-million-dollar bond to pay for the project. The taxpayers would be burdened with repaying this loan. In my opinion, this is reckless spending," he said in his candidate submission.

Neither Burns nor Lookingbill are strangers to sitting on the Thurmont Board of Commissioners. Burns previously served on the board for 22 years, 12 of which he served as town mayor. The town saw Lookingbill and Burns work together on the board in 2007, when Lookingbill served as commissioner and Burns as mayor.

Most recently, Lookingbill had been serving on the Board of Supervisors of Elections before stepping down due to his candidacy in the town elections. Burns retired from public office in 2021 but remained active at town meetings.

"I never imagined just two years ago that I would ever seek public office again," Burns said at the Aug. 1 town meeting, when he and Lookingbill announced their candidacy during public comment. "But I was asked by a number of residents to run, many of them are here tonight, so run I will.

The newly-elected commissioners were sworn in during the Nov. 7 Town Meeting for their four-year term, expiring Oct. 31, 2025.