CUMBERLAND - The floodgates opened Monday, bringing nearly double the candidates necessary for the Cumberland council to participate in the presidential primary election.

Not so for the Allegany County Board of Education that found only three people filing for two seats. Kitty Davis, administrator of the Allegany County Board of Elections, said those three automatically will move on to the general election because five candidates were needed to conduct a primary.

Tim Iman of Cumberland was the first to file for a seat on the board.

Incumbents Jeff Metz, the current board president, and Fred Sloan also are seeking re-election to the seats they first won in 2004. Metz of Frostburg filed last week while Sloan of Lonaconing waited until Monday.

Both the city and board elections are nonpartisan.

Cumberland City Clerk Sharon Clark said eight people filed yesterday to round out the field at 13, more than she can recall in recent years.

Councilwoman Mary Beth Pirolozzi and Brian Grim were the first to file on Nov. 27. Bernie Lechman, Gerald Chambers and Albert Wayne Keener also filed last week. Waiting for Monday, however, were Carol Cauley, Jim Combs, Devon D'Atri, Lindsay Farris, David Kauffman, Dan Morris, Mike Records and Bill Taccino.

Councilman Ed Hedrick, a real estate agent, property owner and proprietor of Ed's Canal Pub, is not seeking a third, four-year term.

When reached at home, Hedrick said he ran in 2000 because he was tired of how the community looked and felt it was an issue that hadn't been addressed in 50 years.

After winning his first term and with the blessing of Mayor Lee Fiedler and the council, Hedrick took his real estate background and knowledge and put it to use addressing the city's blighted property problem.

Throughout his tenure he's visited each demolition site either during the process or shortly thereafter on his own time. He believes he's made the necessary changes but knows he hasn't done so alone. He gives much credit to the mayor, his fellow councilmen, staff and residents themselves.

"I feel that the process is moving along to the point where I can now step away and see it continue to move forward. ...," he said, noting the Blighted Property Committee will continue. "I never lost site of what I thought my mission was - to make our community a better place to live and work."

Hedrick said he didn't intend to run for a second term in 2004, but did so at the urging of Fiedler, his colleagues and others.

Hedrick also said no one needs to worry whether or not he'll finish his term, which expires Jan. 5, 2009.

"I would never, ever betray the voters who voted me into office," he said. "That would be highly disrespectful of me to do so."

In Garrett County, incumbents James Raley and Charlotte Sebold filed to retain their seats on the school board. Sebold first joined the board in January 1993 with Raley winning his first election in 1996. A call to the Garrett County Board of Elections shortly after 9 p.m. Monday went unanswered.

The Maryland State Board of Elections Web site, however, only listed the two candidates as well.

On the statewide front, five Republicans and five Democrats have filed for a chance to represent the 6th District congressional seat, according to the state board.

U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett of Frederick has held the seat since 1992. Seeking a ninth term, he will be challenged by Tom Croft of Middletown, John Kimble, Beltsville; Joseph Krysztoforski, Hunt Valley, and Frank Nethken, Cumberland.

Democrats looking to challenge him in November are Robin Deibert, Fairplay, Jennifer Dougherty, Frederick, Andrew Duck, Woodsboro, Rick Lank, Middletown, and Larry John Smith, Cumberland.

Gary William Hoover Sr. of Clear Spring has filed as an unaffiliated party and will run only in the general election.

The primary election is Feb. 12 with successful candidates moving on to the Nov. 4 general election.