9-year-old Cub Scout steps in as Sykesville ‘Mayor for a Day’ (Carroll County Times)

By Brennan Stewart

Nine-year-old Cameron Schrack spent a recent Monday evening calling the Sykesville Town Council meeting to order, leading officials in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and presenting a motion to approve the council’s consent agenda.

Schrack is a member of Cub Scout Pack 719 based in Eldersburg, where he holds the rank of Webelos. He wore his Cub Scout uniform to Monday’s meeting as he sat alongside the town’s elected mayor, Stacy Link.

At the meeting Link proclaimed Dec. 9, 2024, as “Cameron Schrack Day” and said the fourth-grader won the chance to run the town for a day during a raffle at his pack’s annual pancake breakfast fundraiser last month.

“The ‘Mayor for a Day’ program provides an opportunity for young individuals to learn about local government, civic responsibility, and leadership,” Link said, reading the proclamation. “Cameron Schrack has demonstrated outstanding qualities of leadership, community involvement and a commitment to making Sykesville a better place.”

Schrack read announcements to the council during the meeting’s latter half, which included information about volunteer opportunities with the town government. His final act as mayor was banging the gavel to call for a five-minute recess before the meeting transitioned to a closed session.

Along with participating in the town council meeting, Schrack was given a tour of The Town House and had the opportunity to sit in the mayor’s office. Link said, to her surprise, Schrack came prepared with a list of questions, including some that addressed concerns with the structural stability of local bridges. He also asked about the role of mayor and what aspects of the job Link enjoyed or disliked.

With a pen and notebook Schrack recorded Link’s responses carefully, she said.

 
Link said the idea for the “mayor for a day” experience came from Ryan Herzing, a father of two cub scouts in Pack 719, who asked council members if they would be willing to participate in this year’s raffle in November. The council and mayor agreed and put together a basket with a mayoral certificate and Sykesville memorabilia.

“I plan to, in some fashion or another, provide this opportunity moving forward,” Link said. “I very much enjoy partnering with Sykesville’s Cub Scout packs, as I regularly present, at least annually, to the packs to help them qualify for their civics badge.”

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