MORGANTOWN — Challenged incumbents Rachel Fetty and Mayor Bill Kawecki won returns to the Morgantown City Council for another two-year term Tuesday.
In a repeat of 2017, Fetty defeated former council member Ron Bane 1,000 votes to 583 to hold her First Ward seat for a second term.
Kawecki faced a tough challenge from Barbara Parsons in the 2nd Ward, but prevailed 878- 702 to earn a fourth term in what was the closest race of the evening.
“I like Barbara very much and she was a very formidable opponent. I have a great deal of respect for her and I knew this was not going to be an easy race,” Kawecki said. “I’m just pleased there are people out there who think I can do the job for them and I promise that I will do my best.”
Fetty offered her thanks to Bane for what she said was an interesting, but clean, campaign. She said she’s ready to turn her focus back to the work of council.
“I’m so relieved the campaign is over. It was a very complicated and interesting campaign with a lot of interesting characters,” Fetty said. “I’m also relieved because it looks like we’ll be able to keep working for the things that are really important to the residents of Morgantown — better parks, better, safer streets. I’m just really looking forward to the future.”
Both Fetty and Kawecki said they were pleased that all of the current council members seeking reelection were victorious.
“Over the past two years, and I’ve said this before, I think this council has made progress together with this administration, that I haven’t seen in a very long time. I think it’s very encouraging to see that people are recognizing that and I like the idea of having much of the same team come back,” Kawecki said.
“It’s like having a bunch of seniors coming back and not having everybody graduating on you. Better team, better outcome. That’s what I’m looking for.”
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