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Nock elected to Pocomoke Council

Todd Nock, 27, overwhelming won election to the Pocomoke City Council on Tuesday. Pictured, from left, are City Manager Bobby Cowger, Councilman Dale Trotter, Nock, Mayor Bruce Morrison, Councilman George Tasker and Councilwoman Esther Troast.

By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(April 5, 2018) Pocomoke City native Todd Nock on Tuesday became the youngest city councilman in recent memory, besting challenger Ryan Hurley 66-25 in the contest for District 4.

Results were announced inside the Pocomoke Library just after 7 p.m., when polls closed. Waiting inside were the two candidates, and Pocomoke Mayor Bruce Morrison and Councilwoman Diane Downing.

After results were announced, Nock, clearly elated, tearfully hugged friends and family members waiting in the library parking lot.

“I feel awesome. I’m so excited and I can’t wait to get to work,” Nock said. “First and foremost I want to thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ. Without him none of this would be possible.

“I want to thank my family, my friends, my church family – I just want to thank everybody that’s been behind me and that has supported me [also including] the Worcester County Women’s Democratic Association and the Worcester County Democrat’s Association,” he added.

Both candidates set up campaign tents in the parking lot and Nock said he had been there since about 6:45 in the morning. He joked he only left once, for about three minutes, to run home and put on an extra layer of clothes.

Nock, 27, said he might be the youngest council member ever in Pocomoke City.

“At least in my recollection,” he said.

During the campaign, Nock said he would work toward beautifying the town, improving roads and rehabilitating vacant buildings such as the former Salvation Army.

“I’m so excited and I’m thrilled to get to work now. Let’s make it happen,” he said on Tuesday.

Hurley, 44, and also a Pocomoke native, is the owner of Backyard Escapes. The two men vied to replace departing District 4 Councilman Brian Hirshman, who opted not to run.

“Congratulations to Todd,” Hurley said. “I had a good time on the campaign trail and I wish him the best of luck.”

District 5 Councilwoman Esther Troast, also present, was reelected without opposition.

Troast said Morrison would be present at a City Council meeting on Monday to preside over a swearing-in ceremony.

The Pocomoke Mayor has not attended a meeting since being hospitalized in November. He returned home from a rehabilitation facility to a townwide parade last month.

“It’s the most awesome feeling in the world,” said Troast, a longtime friend of Morrison and currently the acting mayor. “I go over every week to keep him informed and go over things, and we laugh and then get serious and then giggle. But there won’t be anything like it when he comes back for good.

“I’m the most optimistic person in the world and I believed, from day one, before I left Christiana Hospital that day and we didn’t know if he was going to live or die, that he would be back,” Troast said. “I believed in him from the beginning. He’s a fighter!”

The Pocomoke City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 9 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.