Stroech

SHEPHERDSTOWN — After years of serving as the Corporation of Shepherdstown’s Town Recorder, Lori Robertson said she realized she was ready to step down from the position of second-in-command to the mayor. And so, when she learned that fellow Town Council member Chris Stroech was interested in the position, she said she felt like she had finally been given the sign that it was time to step back and only run for a regular position on the Town Council during the Municipal Election on June 4.

“It has been an honor to serve as the Recorder for the Corporation of Shepherdstown for so many years,” Robertson said. “Councilman Stroech has my full support and I will help him in any way, if asked.”

Robertson moved to Shepherdstown in 2006 with her daughter, Rachael, and partner, Chris Crawford. She first ran and was elected to the Town Council in 2008. Two years later, she was elected to the position of Town Recorder — a position she has remained in for a total of 14 years.

“Being an elected official has been highly rewarding,” Robertson said. “It has allowed me to see how town government works, and as Recorder, fill in for the Mayor as needed and run the Municipal Election every two years. I desire to continue serving the good people of Shepherdstown, and as such, have opted to run for council. I look forward to furthering my work to preserve the historic integrity of the town, to be a voice for those that choose to not be publicly vocal, and to see the bike path come to full fruition after starting the process almost 14 years ago.”

Stroech, who is running unopposed in the Municipal Election, said his interest in the Town Recorder position grew from his desire “to take on more and different [responsibilities] for the town.”

“This is my second term on the Shepherdstown Town Council,” Stroech said, before noting a number of initiatives he is involved with. “We need to protect our town borders. To that end, I am organizing a group to explore annexation possibilities. I am currently working on an ordinance to fine vacant businesses in town. I continue to work to create a stream-lined process for grant requests, which will foster long-term strategic planning across all town entities and planning shovel-ready projects for funding opportunities. I am working with the county and waste management to implement a countywide glass recycling program. I am creating an up-to-date contact list for town businesses and plan to create an easy way to communicate information to the businesses.”

In Dec. 2022, Stroech opened his own legal firm, Panhandle Legal, after working as a civil litigator with Arnold & Bailey, PLLC in Charles Town. The West Virginia University College of Law graduate has practiced law in the Eastern Panhandle for nearly 20 years. He lives in Shepherdstown with his wife, Sarah Poland, and their two cats, Kitten and Mia.

Over the past four years on the Town Council, Stroech said he feels he has accomplished quite a lot: creating the Grants Committee; establishing grant guidelines to be used across town government; fostering a long-term planning strategy through the implementation of the grant guidelines; achieving grants for COVID-19 Pandemic rental assistance; conducting a Tree Survey; securing AED devices for the Shepherdstown Police Department; pushing progressive ideas through the Recycling Committee, including the discouragement of using single-use food service containers; securing increased funding for the Shepherdstown Public Library; hosting a town forum on business development and follow-up implementation; and improving the town infrastructure by working on efforts to repair sidewalks, clean up utility lines and improve stormwater control.

Stroech has been involved with a number of the Corporation of Shepherdstown’s committees, commissions and boards, along with serving on the Shepherdstown Community Club board and Shepherdstown Street Fest board.