BETHESDA — Village residents will choose from among three female candidates for mayor on Election Day this Tuesday. Each candidate shared her background and plans for the future with The Times Leader recently, touching on the issues surrounding the police department and the need to select a chief as among the most pressing points.

Councilwoman Jordan Castello is serving her first term in office. She is a lifelong resident of Bethesda and a graduate of Union Local High School. She works as a substitute teacher.

“A big focus will be, of course, the police department,” she said.

She said Bethesda’s one-time law enforcement contracts with communities such as Union Township and agencies such as Union Local School District were important to the village and that she would like to revive them or establish new ones. She would also redouble efforts to find more funding for law enforcement.

“I would like to try and re-establish our contracts, possibly make new ones,” she said.

Castello said if elected mayor she would work with council to find the right police chief, but she said choosing the candidate is council’s decision. She said she would support council’s decision-making role for Bethesda and would not use executive sessions unless absolutely necessary. She said she would conserve oil and gas revenue for emergencies. Castello also would like to have an emergency management plan in place in the event of a natural disaster or major accident.

Mayoral candidate Samantha Burkhead is seeking office for the first time. She has lived in Bethesda for 11 years and is a member of the park board.

“I decided to run for mayor because I felt that the citizens in town needed a voice and a neutral party in that position. My main goal is to allow council to do their job,” she said, noting she would encourage more involvement from residents.

“I want to focus on the residents … giving them full access to what’s happening and allowing them to have a voice in the decisions that effect them.”

If elected, she would donate $200 of the mayor’s $750 monthly pay back to the community each month. She also would try to budget gas and oil money for the future rather than focus on costly projects. Regarding the police department, Burkhead said Bethesda needs more coverage during morning and afternoon school bus routes. She also would try to hire more part-time officers for more weekend and evening coverage.

Candidate Linda Reeves is a past councilwoman who has resided in Bethesda for 16 years. She said if she is elected as mayor, she wants to help restore the hometown atmosphere and support law enforcement in its battle against drugs and crime.

“I’m tired of seeing everything that’s going on in town, and I don’t have a voice to do anything about,” she said.

She said she would seek input from residents and encourage cooperation.

“I’m for the people. … I want to know what kind of changes they want,” Reeves said.

She believes Pete Busack would be the best fit as the next police chief, as he improved the department during his tenure as acting chief. She believes the majority of Bethesda’s residents want him helming the department. She said she and many residents have unanswered questions about why council has not made his interim position permanent.

She also hopes to resume several abandoned projects such as a beatification initiative that was launched during her last term in office.