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Bladensburg's Town Council remains unchanged after incumbents swept three seats up for election.

Mayor Walter James won with 90 votes, Councilman Cris Mendoza (Ward 1) won with 67 votes and Councilman Walter Ficklin (Ward 2) won with 43 votes.

Ficklin's seat was the only one that was contested. Joan George, wife of Councilman Walter George (Ward 2), lost with 17 votes in the Oct. 5 election.

Ficklin's seat was uncontested in the last election. This is his third term.

"I felt that I wanted to continue serving the residents of Bladensburg," he said. "There were some unfinished projected I wanted to complete for the town."

Ficklin said he's focused on helping residents find jobs by creating a career center in a local apartment complex, a project he began during his second term.

Newcomer Joan George ran because she wanted "new ideas" and fresh blood on the council and to advocate for seniors' issues. She said she has plans to run again in four years.

James won in an uncontested run for his third term in office. He said he plans to run a fourth time, as well.

James said during this term, he will focus on improving public safety and working more closely with local schools.

"I want to expand community policing to implement more satellite offices around town," he said.

Town police currently have an officer stationed at the Autumn Woods apartment complex on 57th Avenue, and this year the town was awarded a $221,672 grant through the federal stimulus package to pay for two new officers. Town officials have discussed stationing the extra officers at The Phoenix apartment complex on Annapolis Road.

This is Mendoza's second term. He said he wants to expand celebrations for Black History Month and Cinco de Mayo, by including parades and hosting them at nearby schools.

"It brings the community together," he said. "We're all in this together and we can help each other out."

The next election for the seats currently held by Walter George and Charlina Watson (Ward 1) is in 2011.