Deborah Cassilly has dropped out of the race for two available Bel Air Town Commissioner positions, citing family reasons.
Cassilly is the wife of popular former Harford County Councilman Bob Cassilly, who had to resign from the position when he was called to active military service in Iraq several years ago. He is currently stationed in Iraq on his third one-year tour of duty.
In an e-mail to The Dagger, Cassilly said her concern for the Bel Air area led her to file for candidacy, but later decided that “it is not the right time for myself or for my family.” Cassilly withdrew her candidacy Friday afternoon, hours before the town’s filing deadline.
Remaining candidates for town commissioners are incumbents David Carey and Rob Preston and challengers Brian Adolph, Richard Davis, David Mitchell, and Steve Testerman. The Bel Air Town Election will be held Tuesday, November 3. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Bel Air Town Hall, 39 N. Hickory Avenue.
Here’s the e-mail Cassilly sent to The Dagger:
Hi Aaron,
Not sure if you know our story, but my husband is now on his third one year tour in Iraq. The time in between assignments was only 7 & 8 months, respectively during which time he was either working and commuting to California and then commuting daily to Washington. We have five children who were college age and below when this all started. As you can imagine, the stresses of being a single parent and being involved with the war for over three years has taken its toll on all of us.
I live in an historic home in Bel Air and very much want the town of Bel Air to be all it can be. If it is truly “the heart of Harford” as our flags lining Bel Air proclaim it to be, then we need to take care of the surrounding communities and keep them vital. This is the reason I filed to run for commissioner, but after filing and trying to gather the energy for the rigors of a campaign, I realized that I really don’t have anything more to give right now. It is not the right time for myself or my family.
Thanks for your interest, good luck on The Dagger.
Deborah Cassilly
It’s a shame that Mrs. Cassilly dropped out of the race. The loss is ours. I hope Bob comes home, things settle down, and she can go get ’em next time.
Carey and Preston were shaking in there boots but certainly this election is not going to be in the bag for them this is the first time they have ever had any strong opposition
Keep in mind in the last election Preston only won by 50 votes against a young man who had just moved in to Bel Air 90 days before the election.
For a better-managed and fiscally responsible Government please vote the incumbents out ABC&P, anybody but Carey & Preston.
Best wishes to the Casssily family it is a shame she would have been a shining star amongst that group