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James J. Stakem
James J. “Jim” Stakem was elected to the Office of Allegany County Commissioner in 1998, re-elected in 2002, and re-elected in 2006 for a third four year term. He has served as the President of the Board of County Commissioners for two terms (2002- present time).
Commissioner Stakem earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Education at Frostburg State College (now Frostburg State University), Frostburg, Maryland. A native of Allegany County, he is an Allegany County public high school graduate. Commissioner Stakem is also a graduate of the University of Maryland’s Academy for Excellence in Local Government.
Commissioner Stakem had a distinguished professional career in education. He was a teacher in the Allegany County Public School System and taught high school level academic classes in government, American history, geography, and psychology. Commissioner Stakem retired after serving the public school students of Allegany County for 36 years. Devoted to teaching, he also was an adjunct instructor for 38 years at Allegany College of Maryland, Cumberland.
Commissioner Stakem has served and continues to serve in many organizations positively impacting Allegany County.
During this term of office, Commissioner Stakem and his fellow County Commissioners serve on the Allegany County Board of Education (each County Commissioner is an ex-officio member for one 16 month term; Stakem served from December 2006 through March 2008). Stakem also served on the Board of Education during his first term from 1998 to 2001.The County Commissioners also serve on the Allegany County Board of Health and the Cumberland Allegany County Industrial Foundation, Inc. (CACIF) Board of Directors (advisor). Through CACIF, Stakem is a member of the PACE (Positive Attitudes Change Everything) Committee.
Commissioner Stakem is involved with the Tri-County Council for Western Maryland, Inc. (TCC) and serves on both the TCC Board of Directors (Secretary/Treasurer) and the TCC Executive Committee. Through TCC, Stakem is a member of the Rural Maryland Broadband Coordination Board of Directors.
For the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo), Commissioner Stakem serves on the Legislative Committee (alternate) and its associated Education Subcommittee.
Commissioner Stakem serves on the State of Maryland Department of Juvenile Justice Senior Advisory Board, is involved with SALT (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together) in Allegany County, and is a member of The Greater Cumberland Committee’s Regional Responses for Optimal Growth Work Group.
In the community Commissioner Stakem is a long-time member of the Fraternal Order of Police, the Moose Lodge, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Knights of Columbus, and the B.P.O. Elks. He volunteered to coach basketball and other sport teams for many years in Allegany County.
Commissioner Stakem and his wife, JoAnn, reside in Frostburg. They are parents of three adult children and have six grandchildren. |
