West OC’s Church retires but is ready to live | News
The West Ocean City County Commissioner is ready to “smell the roses.”
It’s the phrase Worcester County Commissioner James “Bud” Church has often used to discuss his decision to retire from his position of the past 20 years when his term expires later this year.
Church, 80, whose District 3 also includes Assateague Island, everything east of Route 611, all of South Point and parts of Berlin, said he has spoken to political hopefuls who come forward for his vacant seat and said part of his decision was the notion that it is time to infuse fresh blood into the commissioners’ chambers at Snow Hill.
“And it’s time for Bud Church to say, ‘Here’s an empty seat,’ and here’s an opportunity for one or two or three people to jump in and seek the job. I wish them all the best of luck,” Church said.
“You realize that someone else has the time to bring in new ideas and a lot more energy. Not that I didn’t have all the energy I needed to do the job, but an opportunity for someone else to do it. It’s time for Bud Church to take some time out and smell the roses.
A former chairman of the Worcester County School Board, Church first became interested in a seat on the Board of Commissioners when his district was formed and has been under his watch ever since.
He raced against Susan Wenzlaff, the daughter of beloved, late Ocean City Mayor Roland “Fish” Powell, in what he described as a “good, clean race.”
“I’ve always been interested in a county commissioner job, but (this area) has always been pretty much general and then they developed a district that was just perfect for what I thought was an opportunity to run “Church said. “I spoke to my wife and she was like, ‘Go ahead. If this is something you want to do, go for it.
“When they developed this neighborhood it intrigued me to give it a shot and 20 years later I’m glad I did.”
True to her track record, ensuring a quality public school system has been a focus for Church throughout her five terms.
“I think my greatest interest and my focus when I was first elected and – it hasn’t changed much – is the school system,” Church said. “I spent 10 years on the school board, I had five grandchildren in the school system, I went through the school system — I just thought that was a major point of interest for me. I wanted to do whatever I could to promote the system and help with funding, not just mainstream education support. I always wanted to support ancillary things like football, baseball, I wanted kids to have those opportunities too. But my main focus was the program, to hire the best teachers available, to have the best superintendent we could have, to have the best principals.
He will be remembered by fellow commissioners for his unique personality and commitment to Worcester.
“Bud has always been Bud. He was always committed to the county and made sure everything went well for the county,” Commissioner Diana Purnell said. “If I needed advice from him, Bud always gave me direct answers and he told me when I had to make up my mind. But Bud has always been very good. He’s a great person to work with, he has a crazy sense of humor but he’s a very pleasant person to work with.
Purnell spoke about the relationship Church had with her late husband, Commissioner Jimmy Purnell, and said that relationship was passed on to her as Commissioner.
“He always supported me if it was something for the community,” she said. “Bud would always support. And I have to appreciate it. And I do – as a businessman, as a commissioner, and as a person in general, Bud has always been a very nice person to me.
Commissioner Ted Elder wished the best for his retirement.
“He’s been the gold, someone you can always talk to,” Elder said. “You can contact him and even if you don’t agree with him, (settle something). He’s a good guy.
Church will continue to be involved with Bud Church Realty in Ocean City, but also highlighted the work his son and company vice president, Ken Church, has done over the past decade. His grandson is also in the business.
After giving up his seat, he said he and his wife, Allyson, planned to do a bit of traveling but “nothing major”.
“It’s time for Bud Church to smell the roses and I think now is the perfect time,” he said. “I’ve had several calls (about my decision), I’ve told them all the exact same thing, there just comes a time when you need some new blood.”