Governor O'Malley Appoints James E. East to Board of Commissioners For Somerset County
ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 6, 2009) –Governor Martin O’Malley today announced the appointment of James E. East to the Board of Commissioners for Somerset County. Mr. East fills the vacancy of C. Samuel Boston, who was appointed to County Administrator for Somerset County. Governor O’Malley will submit Mr. East’s name for appointment to the Maryland Senate for confirmation.
“I am proud to appoint James East to the Board of County Commissioners for Somerset County,” said Governor O’Malley. “I am confident that Mr. East will serve the citizens of Somerset County well.”
James E. East is a resident of Pocomoke and currently operates and owns East Farms, a family farm. Mr. East has owned and operated East Farms since 1975. He is the fourth generation farmer in Somerset. Mr. East also currently serves as Chair on the Somerset County Board of License Commissioners. From 1972 to 1975 Mr. East served as a manager in local retail sales, and prior to that, he served as a security supervisor at NASA’s flight facility in Wallops Island, Virginia. He also served as a Maryland State Trooper from 1960 to 1966, and served in the United States Air Force from 1956 to 1960.
Mr. East is a graduate of Pocomoke High School, a graduate of the United States Air Force Non-Commissioned Officers’ Academy, and a graduate of the Maryland State Police Academy.
He is the first Vice-Chair of the Somerset County Economic Development Commission, and a member of the Somerset County Farm Bureau. Mr. East serves as a liaison between county government and the agricultural community, and is an advocate for finding sources of alternative energy and Maryland’s cover crop program.
