Tess Colwell/The Gazette Joyce Gladstone of Greenbelt waves to voters Tuesday with her sign supporting candidate Judith Davis in front of Trinity Assembly of God in Greenbelt.

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Tess Colwell/The Gazette Emmett V. Jordan (right) candidate for Greenbelt City Council talks Tuesday with Greenbelt resident Danny Dean at Greenbriar Community Center in Greenbelt.
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Tess Colwell/The Gazette Joyce Gladstone of Greenbelt waves to voters Tuesday with her sign supporting candidate Judith Davis in front of Trinity Assembly of God in Greenbelt.

Tess Colwell/The Gazette Joyce Gladstone of Greenbelt waves to voters Tuesday with her sign supporting candidate Judith Davis in front of Trinity Assembly of God in Greenbelt.

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This story was updated at 11:11 p.m., Nov. 8, 2011.

All seven Greenbelt City Council incumbents will serve another two-year term following Tuesday’s election.

The incumbents retaining their seats are Mayor Judith Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Emmett Jordan and council members Konrad Herling, Rodney Roberts, Leta Mach, Ed Putens and Silke Pope. Challenger Bill Orleans was not elected.

“I’ll continue to be engaged and I hope that more people will join me,” he said, noting that he has been able to count on one hand the number of residents who regularly attend city council meetings.

Davis received 1,383 votes, the highest amount of votes, followed by Jordan who received 1,367 votes, Roberts received 1,354 votes, Herling received 1,266 votes, Putens received 1,243 votes, Mach earned 1,238 votes, Pope received 1,205 votes and Orleans received 412 votes.

Traditionally, the council selects the highest voted candidate as mayor and second highest voted candidate as mayor pro tem. Davis and Jordan were named mayor and mayor pro tem following the 2009 election. Jordan is the city’s first African-American council member.

“I’m very honored and humbled,” said Davis, who will be a City Council member for a 10th term. “We got the whole team back and there are no more learning curves.”

Orleans, who is homeless, said he was able to run for a council seat by declaring his residency at the city municipal building.

Orleans said the chances of him winning were overwhelmingly unlikely because not enough residents are involved with the city or care about the council actions. He said he would still continue to attend city meetings.

Putens, who was elected to his 16th term, said he is glad to serve for another term.

“Finances, finances, finances. Budget, budget, budget. That’s our key,” he said. “We have to address how to keep our services and programs that are all very important.”

Jean Cook, a board of elections member, said voter turnout was lower in this election than in 2009, despite early voting, a free transportation service to polling stations and an updated voting precinct map. In the 2009 election, 2,399 residents voted. That election had four new challengers, assuring that at least two newcomers would be joining the council.

djgross@gazette.net