HAGERSTOWN, MD — On Tuesday, Hagerstown Mayor Emily Keller announced she will leave office January 31st to take a position with Maryland Governor Moore’s administration.
Mayor Emily Keller revealed the news after being appointed Maryland Governor-elect Wes Moore Special Secretary of Opioid Response.
The current Mayor of the City of Hagerstown will be resigning her elected position within the next two weeks in order to join the new Governor’s team in Annapolis.
A press release of the announcement quoted Keller as saying, “I am extremely honored to represent Maryland in this new role as Special Secretary of Opioid Response. I applaud Governor-Elect Moore’s emphasis on creating a Maryland where no one is left behind. By focusing on the recovery and health of those struggling with substance use disorder, as well as creating more robust prevention methods for youth and adults alike, we can work to absolutely achieve a Maryland where no one is left behind,” Keller said.
Keller was elected the first woman Mayor of Hagerstown in 2020 following a term as Councilmember from 2016-2020. She is the owner-operator of the Emily Keller Insurance and Financial Agency – Farmers Insurance.
In her two-plus years in office, Keller worked to assist people with a substance use disorder and find innovative ways to help solve the substance use crisis the country faces, according to the release.
For several years she has been the Co-Chair of Washington Goes Purple, a community movement to educate the youth and community about the dangers of drugs, the importance of making healthy choices, and celebrating those in recovery. She is currently on the Board of Directors for the Phoenix Foundation, which has the only Recovery High School in the State of Maryland.
Keller’s resignation is effective January 31.
The City Council will determine her replacement as mayor.