KINGWOOD — Voters in seven Preston County towns go to the polls today to elect city officials.
According to the West Virginia Secretary of State, polls must be open 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. today. That cannot be changed by city ordinance.
Voters in Albright, Brandonville, Kingwood, Masontown, Newburg, Terra Alta and Tunnelton will elect a mayor, recorder and five council members.
Kingwood voters will also decide whether to amend the town’s charter so its elections will fall on the same years and days as county elections. The town will save about $5,000 per election through the change, the mayor said. Some other Preston towns already do this.
The change also would extend the terms of those elected this year from the current two years to three years, so that their offices will be on the same schedule as county elections. Term lengths will revert to two years afterward, unless council enacts other changes.
The timetable for Kingwood’s special levy elections will not be affected by the change. The levy helps fund storm sewers, parks and recreation, paving and the library.
On the ballots are:
Albright — Mayor: Jamie Lee Russ and Roger B. Titchenell; recorder: Jane Ann Stanton; council: Lori Beth Lewis, Robert M. McVicker, Linda S. Miller, Brian K. Snyder, Michael W. Stahl and Ryan K. Stevens.
Brandonville — Mayor: Robert Hunt; recorder: Tammy K. Webster; council: Joseph Alan Blankenship, Andrea Friend, Sarah Herring, Morgan Hunt, Wesley Ridenour, Vivian Ryan and Frances M. Sines.
Kingwood — Mayor: Jean-Manuel Guillot; recorder: William “Bill” Robertson; council: Josh Fields, Karen Snyder Kurilko, Mike Lipscomb, Dick Shaffer and Michelle Whetsell.
Masontown — Mayor: Roxie Ann Turner; recorder: Arthur Centofanti; council: James A. Cottrell, Libby Debardi, Mike Mayfield Jr., Emily Rose, Tom Shillingburg and Mike Turner.
Newburg — Mayor: Edgar E. Fortney; recorder: No candidates; council: Myrtle Joyce Bolyard, Rhonda Lynn Myers, Mary Ellen Sheets and James Weaver.
Terra Alta — Mayor: Mark A. Ball and Robert DeLauder; recorder: John Burns; council Ward 1: Jason Myers; council Ward 2: Chester Fitchett Jr., James “Monk” Tasker and John Trembly; council Ward 3: Chad Reese; council Ward 4: Chester Fitchett; council Ward 5: Cecil Royce.
Tunnelton — Mayor: Brian Harris; recorder: April Wright; council: Walter (Lee) Moats, Christi Stephens, Rose Wright and Donna
Zeigler.
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