MORGANTOWN — Morgantown City Council selected a new mayor Tuesday, and soon it will select the body’s 1st Ward representative.
In its first meeting together the new council tapped Jenny Selin to serve as the city’s mayor for the next year.
Selin is starting her 15th year representing the city’s 4th Ward and has served as mayor on two previous occasions.
Fifth Ward representative, and city council newcomer, Danielle Trumble was selected as deputy mayor.
Once down to business, the body voted 4-2 to appoint someone to fill the 1st Ward opening rather than hold a special election.
Councilors Ixya Vega and Brian Butcher voted in the minority.
Patrick Hathaway, who won the seat in April’s election, ended up unable to serve. Per the city’s charter, council has 30 days from the date of the July 1 vacancy to fill the seat or a special election is triggered.
“I would advocate in probably just about any situation to let the voters decide as to who represents them in that ward. As a matter of principle and just my opinion on it, I would advocate for an election,” Butcher said.
While a majority of council supported the notion of the more democratic method, they also noted the charter mandates the special election be held in a 30-day window between 90 and 120 days from the occurrence of the vacancy, meaning the election wouldn’t be held until Sept. 28 at the earliest.
That would leave the 1st Ward without a representative for the first 89 days of a two-year term.
“It feels more democratic,” Selin said of the special election, “But they’re without representation for that time.”
City Clerk Christine Wade said a special election would be held following the same procedures as a regular municipal election, which, it was noted, would likely cost about $31,000.
It was also pointed out that Hathaway was unopposed on the ballot in April, and that pulling together a second election this year would be a strain on a two-person clerk’s office.
“If we pay for a special election and do that, and there’s one name on the ballot, that will have been for naught,” Trumble said.
While council didn’t spell out exactly how it will go about selecting the 1st Ward representative, it’s likely it will follow an application and interview procedure similar to that used by the previous council in March to fill Zack Cruze’s 3rd Ward seat.
While Tuesday’s meeting was the first time this iteration of council has convened, it will be the last time the body meets virtually, at least for the time being.
Council was unanimous in its desire to return to in-person meetings, beginning with its July 20 regular meeting, but it did ask city staff to explore the idea of hybrid meetings, which would allow participation both in-person and online.
City council has met virtually since March 2020.
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