When Todd Nock enrolled at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 2008, little did he know his experience would lead to him making history some 15 years later.
It was here where the Pocomoke City, Md., native first learned the meaning of serving others, community involvement, and the importance of leadership.
“UMES was the first real place actually I actually served in different organizations,” he said. “Prior to that, I just went through high school, did my thing, did a little singing, and stuff like that.
“(At UMES), I was on the business student advisory board, I was in the drama society, the gospel choir, I did Hawk Radio. All of those things showed me what leadership really is, and because of that, I’m able to use those things in my current role.”
That current role is now becoming the first Black mayor of Pocomoke City. Nock, who ran unopposed, was officially sworn in on April 11, at Pocomoke City Hall and will serve a four-year term.
Nock’s ascension to the role of Pocomoke City’s chief executive was the next step in a journey that started in 2015, when he became a member of the city’s board of elections supervisors, followed by being elected to the Pocomoke City Council in 2018.
Something Nock attributed to his success was his grass-roots work by canvassing Pocomoke residents about the issues concerning them.
“I have this saying and I say it all the time and people don’t know what it really means, but people always say “Knock the vote,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what race I’m running in, or what race we’re running in, but we knock on everyone’s door, we get everyone’s input, we get everyone’s opinion, and that’s the same thing I even tried to do going into this office without an opponent. Knocking on the doors, meeting with citizens, and talking about their needs.”
Nock, who received his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2020, said it was during his time as a student in the Department of Business, Management, and Accounting that he also established long-lasting relationships in addition to his interest in politics.
“Having an awesome professor like Dr. Nicole Hollywood who really pushed me; and of course, Dr. Leesa Thomas-Banks always pushing us in our business law classes … they all opened up my eyes and I’ve realized I made a great decision here to study business administration,” Nock said. “I have a family over at the business department even though I’ve been gone for a very long time.”
Nock, who described the experience of becoming mayor as “more than I ever expected,” said the best piece of advice he can give to anyone aiming for a goal or challenge is not to compromise themselves.
“Stay true to yourself and stay true to the people that you represent; remember where you came from,” he said. “If you came from the hood, remember you came from the hood. If you came from the wrong side of the tracks, remember you came from the wrong side of the tracks. If you came from the right side of the tracks, remember that.
“Never forget the people whose shoulders you’ve stood on to get where you are, because they’re the same shoulders you’ll have to lean on when you get weak. They are the same people who will continue to hold you up.”
