Wm. Gee Williams, III, Mayor; District I Councilmember:
A lifetime resident of Berlin, Gee Williams became the interim Mayor upon the untimely death of former Mayor Thomas Cardinale on May 3, 2008. Williams had been serving as the Town Council Vice-President. The Town Charter provides that the Council Vice-President serve out the remainder of the Mayor’s term in case of resignation or death. Williams will serve as Interim Mayor until the next Berlin municipal election on Tuesday, October 14, 2008. The winning candidate in the mayoral election will serve for a four-year term.

For the first 28 years after graduating in 1991 from University of Maryland, College Park, Williams was a newspaper editor and publisher based in Ocean City, MD. For 20 years he worked for a group of weekly newspapers and ultimately became the regional vice-president of weekly newspapers for the firm’s beach resort communities in Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina and South Carolina, managing 11 of the firm’s newspapers. In 1991 Williams started his own publishing firm and published resort and specialty publications until 1999, at which time he sold his publications to Thompson Newspapers, Inc.

From 1999 to 2003 Williams was the Maryland State Highway Administration’s Public Information Officer for the Eastern Shore and also served as SHA's liaison with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' statewide Nature Tourism Program. In 2003 Williams began his current career as the Director of Development and Marketing for the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore.

Williams has devoted much of his time over the past 37 years to civic, political and nonprofit service to improve the quality of life for the citizens of the Town of Berlin, Worcester County and the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Williams has been very active in local and state politics serving as campaign manager for several election campaigns; has held a number of appointed political positions; was elected vice-chair and then chairman of the Democratic Central Committee of Worcester County (1994-2002); was elected as a delegate alternate to the Democratic National Convention, Chicago (1996); and currently is serving his second term on the Berlin Mayor and Council.

Ellen Lang, District II Councilmember:

    Born in Lewes, Delaware on November 10, 1949, Ms. Lang is a graduate of Stephen Decatur High School and Salisbury State University.  

    Ms. Lang's interests in the annexation and growth of the town, as well as promotion of the Town as a destination influenced her decision to run for office.  Elected to the Council in 2000, she plans to work on maintaining the quaint, 'small-town USA' atmosphere of the downtown business district by protecting the towns assets and addressing such issues as parking.  She takes particular pride in the downtown activities she has worked on both as a member of the business community and the Berlin Chamber of Commerce.  These activities include 2000's Delmarva Chicken Festival, a two-day event which attracted over 35,000 people a day and the annual Fiddler's Convention.

Elroy Brittingham, Sr., District III Councilmember:

    Born in Berlin on August 22, 1948, Mr. Brittingham is a graduate of the Delaware Technical & Community College and the Taylor School of Business in Philadelphia, PA.  Mr. Brittingham worked for the Style Guide clothing store in Berlin and for Pro-Jersey and Absolute Sports in the Fenwick-Bethany Beach area.

    Mr. Brittingham's interest in the conditions in his district - primarily housing, streets and drainage - influenced his decision to run for office.  Elected to the Council in 1989, Mr. Brittingham has worked toward better drug control in his district and improved streets and more sidewalks as well as a youth center for the entire town.  In particular he takes special pride in the improved housing and Main Street lighting projects which have been completed over the course of his term as well as the Spray Irrigation and water drainage projects.

Dean Burrell, District IV Councilmember:
    Born in Chance, Maryland on March 22, 1951, Mr. Burrell is a graduate of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.  Mr. Burrell has been employed by SHORE UP! Inc. since 1974 and is currently the Head Start Program Director for that organization.

    Mr. Burrell's desire to be a positive influence in the lives of his family, neighbors and friends influenced his decision to run for his Council Seat in 1994.  Mr. Burrell enjoys being a part of grassroots government and believes that in order for Berlin to be a prosperous community, the Town must have planned growth with a special emphasis on protecting the environment and quality of life.

Paula Lynch, At-large Councilmember :

    Born in Baltimore on February 25, 1936 Mrs. Lynch is a graduate of Goucher College.  From 1957 to 1960 she worked as a teacher for the Baltimore County Board of Education.  From 1969 to 1970 she was an aide for the Board of Education of Worcester County and from 1970 to the present she has been employed by the Worcester Preparatory School (formerly the Worcester Country School) here in Berlin, and is currently the Business Manager.

    Her desire to be a part of her community and to serve that community influenced Mrs. Lynch to run for office as a Berlin Councilmember.  She was elected to the Berlin Council in 1988 and has enjoyed learning the "ins & outs" of the government process and helping our town seek and meet new challenges.  Mrs. Lynch takes particular pride in being part of the Town's budgeting and human resources processes and her involvement in decisions about benefits and assorted risk assessments.  Her goals for the Town include ensuring fiscal responsibility for the Town's future and sensible growth.