Easton’s Mayors share their thoughts: Progress and Thoughtful Leadership Continues
- Image Courtesy Easton Utilities: Mayor Willey and the Town Council awarded $3.5 million from their second round of American Rescue Plan Act funds to Easton Utilities for broadband improvement projects in Easton in the fall of 2022, one of their many successful projects over the years.
On May 2, Megan Cook was elected Mayor of Easton. She is the first female mayor in Easton’s 300+ year history. Her last two weeks have already been busy. WBOC interviewed her about some of that work, check out their story here: WBOC interviews Mayor Cook
Picking up where Mayor Willey left off is a challenging task, as he has been in office since 2003, and a member of the town government for another 12 years prior to being elected Mayor. Mayor Willey himself followed in the footsteps of another legacy, as his mother Elizabeth M. Willey was hired in 1942 as the assistant town clerk, retiring in 1985 as the Town Clerk.
It is hard to put in a simple blog post the extraordinary amount of projects Mayor Willey has overseen, but the top five are potentially Mistletoe Hall Commerce Park, Rails-to-Trails, EVFD Substation, Easton Point Park, and the Renovation of Town Hall/Restoration of Town Buildings (i.e. RR Station, Welcome Center).
“He created a sense of community,” remarked Carolyn Jaffe, a long-time resident and coordinator of First Night Talbot, which is the town’s signature New Year’s Eve event, celebrating 30 years this year. “But the changes from decades ago have been constant and challenging.”
Mayor Willey realizes that challenges are still ahead for the community.
He writes, “I knew this time would come but it doesn’t make it any easier. Over the past 32 years, I have met and worked with some amazing people. They were dedicated to making Easton the great place it is today. I want to sincerely thank them for their concerns, advice, and most of all their willingness to roll up their sleeves and help to get things done. Easton has and will always have these types of “can do” employees. I know the future is bright and hope if the need arises I can help.”
Megan Cook has worked closely with his team. She is also ready to serve. We reached out to her for comments for this article and her response is below:
“I am honored and humbled to address you as the newly elected mayor of our great town. It is with great enthusiasm and a deep sense of responsibility that I assume this role, and I am excited about the journey we are embarking upon.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for entrusting me with this important position. It is a privilege to serve you and work towards the betterment of our community. I believe that my role as a council person and as Council President have given me valuable insights and skills that are relevant to an executive role. I also believe that my leadership roles in the Community, both on the Council and off, coupled with my ability to collaborate with others, and make tough decisions have demonstrated my capacity to lead the Town of Easton.
I am excited to work alongside our dedicated employees, town council and community leaders to bring about positive change. I encourage open communication and collaboration and am here to listen to your ideas.
Easton is a great community which we all love. My husband and I have raised our children here and we have loved living in downtown Easton. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to serve as your mayor, and I look forward to working to make a meaningful difference in our town. With warmest regards, Megan.”
Mayor Cook welcomes questions and feedback via her email, mcook@eastonmd.gov
We want to thank both of these leaders for their past and future service. Continuing a legacy of supporting Easton’s smart and thoughtful growth is a shared commitment, and we are excited to see what is in store for the future.
