MORGANTOWN — Morgantown businessman James Giuliani told The Dominion Post on Tuesday that he’s dropping out of the race for the city’s 1st Ward council seat.
The announcement comes a day before the start of early voting and two weeks before the city’s April 25 election, meaning Giuliani’s name will remain on the ballot.
“It’s just not going to happen. I just feel very disenfranchised,” Giuliani said. “There’s too much hate. There’s too much divisiveness. There’s people who just don’t want to work together.”
Morgantown City Clerk Christine Wade said she has not heard from Giuliani regarding this decision.
Giuliani was challenging incumbent Joe Abu-Ghannam for a four-year term in the seat.
In the event Giuliani wins the seat and opts not to be sworn in, council will essentially have a replay of the 2021 election, in which Patrick Hathaway won the 1st Ward seat but could not serve, ultimately leading to council unanimously appointing Abu-Ghannam from a field of five applicants on July 28.
As previously mentioned, early voting begins Wednesday and runs through April 22 in one location, the Historic Train Depot at Hazel Ruby McQuain Park, 185 Garrett St. Hours will be 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays.
TWEET @DominionPostWV
