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Mayor and Council |
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Mayor Michael E. Bennett
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Mayor Michael E. Bennett was born in Madison, Indiana and then moved to Aberdeen when he was ten years old. He graduated from Aberdeen High School where he played football, basketball and baseball. From High School he entered the U.S. Army and served a tour in Viet Nam. Mayor Bennett began his public service as a volunteer with the Aberdeen Fire Department while in High School. He has been a faithful member ever since and became both the Fire Chief and the President of the Department. The Mayor ventured into the police field first as a dispatcher with the Aberdeen Police Department. After he returned home from the Army, he became a Trooper with the Maryland State Police (MSP). He served a full career with the State Police and retired as a Lieutenant. He recently retired again with MSP, this time as a civilian director in the Electronic Systems Division. Mayor Bennett served a total of 40 years continuous service with the Maryland State Police. Before being elected, Mayor Bennett served the City as a member of the Aberdeen Board of Zoning Appeals. He is currently Council liaison to the Economic Development Commission. Mayor Bennett is active in the Maryland Municipal League, an organization that trains municipal officials and advocates on issues that impact cities and towns. The Mayor has served four terms as a member of the Board of Directors, has chaired the committee on emergency preparedness, served on the communications committee and is the current President of the Maryland Municipal League. Mayor Bennett is also a member of the Maryland Mayors Association. Mayor Bennett lives on North Rogers Street with his wife Elaine. Their daughter, Michele and husband Andy resides in Tennessee. The Mayor holds a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Electronic Engineering Technology from Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan. E-Mail mbennett@aberdeen-md.org |
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Councilwoman Ruth Elliott
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Councilwoman Ruth Elizabeth Elliott was born in Aberdeen. She is the daughter of Nelson J. and Jessie E. Farrell also natives of Aberdeen. Her father worked for the town of Aberdeen for 45 years. She graduated from Aberdeen High School, attended Harford Community College, and the University of Delaware. She is married to Robert Elliott who is a life-long resident of Aberdeen. They have four children: Pamela Jean, Robert Jr., Larry Nelson and Gary Allen (twins). She also has seven grandchildren and two great-grandsons. She worked at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds and retired from there after 32 years service. She was elected to the Aberdeen Board of Commissioners (the former governing body) in 1982. She was the first woman ever to serve on the Board since Aberdeen's incorporation in 1882. She served for five consecutive terms (1982-1992). When the Aberdeen Charter was changed in 1992 to a Mayor and Council form of government, she ran for the Mayor position and became the first elected Mayor of Aberdeen (1992-1994). In November 2005, she returned to the political arena by winning a seat on the Aberdeen City Council. She is currently serving as Aberdeen's liaison to the Heritage Trust. E-Mail relliott@aberdeen-md.org |
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Councilman Bruce Garner
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Councilman Bruce Edward Garner was born in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1947, and raised in coastal North Carolina. While employed at Cherry Point Marine Corp Air Station, North Carolina, he entered the U.S. Army in 1969. While stationed at Fort Lee, Virginia, he met and married his wife, Harford County native, Joanne Sills. After receiving his honorable discharge with commendation from the U.S. Army, Councilman Garner and his wife moved to Aberdeen in 1973. There they raised their children: A. Bruce Garner II, Amy Garner-Lindecamp, and Jennifer Garner. All attended Aberdeen public schools. Councilman Garner was employed by one of the largest manufactured housing retailers in the north east region in 1974. He was the General Manager for that company, overseeing eight retail locations in three different states for over ten years. Councilman and his wife have successfully owned and operated Bayside Homes Ltd. in Havre de Grace, Maryland for over twenty-five years. Councilman has served the board of directors for the Manufactured Housing Institute of Maryland for six years, and was elected the President of the Manufactured Housing Institute of Maryland the last two years. He is currently on the board of directors for the National Buyers Group, a privately owned stock company in Syracuse, New York. Councilman Garner is serving his second appointment on the Harford County Building Code Board of Appeals. He is also the current liaison for Parks and Recreation, and the Ripken Stadium Management Board for the City of Aberdeen. Councilman Garner has been a proud member of the American Legion for over thirty years and has called Aberdeen his home for over thirty-five years;he and his wife, Joanne, have lived on Mount Royal Avenue for over twenty-five years. Councilman Garner serves as Aberdeen's liaison to the Parks & Recreation Board. E-Mail bgarner@aberdeen-md.org |
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Councilwoman Sandra Landbeck
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Councilwoman Sandra J. Landbeck (Sandy) has resided in Aberdeen since 1972 with her husband, John. They have been married 43 years and have 4 children, 2 of whom reside in Aberdeen; 11 grandchildren, 8 of whom reside in Aberdeen. Councilwoman Landbeck graduated from Brigham Young University with a B. S. in Psychology and minor in English and from Towson University with an M.A. in research psychology. She also received a Certificate of Advanced Studies in counseling from Johns Hopkins University and a PhD from the University of Maryland, College Park, in planning, policy, and administration. The Councilwoman’s professional experience includes: Towson University teaching assistant; Veterans Administration, Perry Point research assistant; Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) teacher, counselor and administrator; and Harford Community College adjunct faculty. She has participated in the Interagency Task Force for Children of Chemically Dependent Parents and the Harford Women’s Network; served on the Board of Harford County’s Delinquency Prevention & Policy, Safe and Drug Free Schools Steering Committee; the Harford Library Foundation; and the Albert P. Close Foundation. As the administrator of HCPS Non-Traditional Careers Grant, she received the 1993 Maryland State Award of Excellence for Career and Technology Education, a result of a partnership with the Aberdeen Proving Ground. Councilwoman Landbeck attended the Southern Region Emerging Leader Academy of the American Counselor Association (ACA) and was a delegate to the ACA legislative conference. She was a member of the Maryland School Counseling Association (MSCA) Board as well as a presenter at the MSCA Conferences. Councilwoman Landbeck serves as Aberdeen's liaison to the Planning Commission and the Chamber of Commerce. |
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Councilwoman Ruth Ann Young
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Councilwoman Ruth Ann Young resides in Aberdeen with her husband, William. They have been married 48 years and have a daughter, Elizabeth. Councilwoman Young graduated from Lycoming College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Johns Hopkins University with a Master’s Degree in Counseling, and received a Certificate of Advanced Study in Counseling and Therapy from Johns Hopkins University in 1990. Her career includes two years as a teacher at Campbell Central School in Campbell, New York, four years as a teacher in the Harford County Public Schools, as well as twenty-seven years as a guidance counselor in the Harford County Public Schools before retiring in 2000. She has been recognized by Who’s Who in the East (1979-1980), Who’s Who among Human Services Professionals (1986-1987), and the Army Communities Excellence (ACOE) Award (1996). She has been a member of the Harford County Citizen Advisory Budget Committee (2005-2007), Blue Ribbon Annex Committee (2007), APG Restoration Board (2002 to present), Aberdeen Lion’s Club, and Harbor of Grace Chapter Daughter’s of the American Revolution. She is serving as council liaison for the Appearance and Preservation Committee. E-Mail ryoung@aberdeen-md.org |
