On April 27, Vincent “Woody” Spong was sworn in as the newest member of the Washington County Board of Commissioners. Spong replaced former commissioner William Wivell who was appointed a state delegate position earlier this spring.

According to the Herald-Mail Media,

Spong, 71, who lives north of Hagerstown, said he brings “experience and wisdom” to the table, although he chose not to talk about specific issues when asked what he hopes to tackle or accomplish over the remainder of the four-year term.

“I do, but I don’t want to talk about them at this point,” he said. “I just want to learn a little bit more.”

Calling it a “great responsibility,” Spong said he sat down with County Administrator Gregory B. Murray earlier in the day Monday in advance of his first commissioners’ meeting this afternoon.

The new commissioner said he has been active in local politics “behind the scenes,” but when the vacancy opened when Wivell was appointed to fill the former delegate seat of now-state Sen. Andrew A. Serafini, Spong said he was prompted to take a stab at politics.

“I think I owed it to take a chance and to come out, try to do my best for this county …. I do believe that I can represent the people, because I am a people,” Spong said.

…

Prior to his application for the county vacancy, Spong has never held or ran for public office.

He worked for the county school system for 32 years, including 22 years as a principal at Keedysville, Pleasant Valley and Salem Avenue elementary schools.

Following his retirement, Spong served five years as the executive director of Leadership Hagerstown, along with spending time as a hunting guide at Woodmont Rod & Gun Club near Hancock.