KINGWOOD — Full slates combining new candidates and incumbents are on the ballot in four Preston County communities.
Filing ended at midnight Saturday for candidates for city office in Albright, Brandonville, Kingwood, Masontown and Terra Alta. Filings postmarked by midnight Saturday would also be accepted.
Each town will elect a mayor, recorder and five council members.
Terra Alta
Terra Alta candidates all waited until Saturday to file. Incumbent Mayor Mark Ball is opposed by former city Officer Robert DeLauder, who is currently in a lawsuit against the town that includes allegations that Ball lied about his residency in order to get elected.
John Burns is the only candidate for recorder.
In council, the candidates are: Ward 1 — incumbent Jason Myers; Ward 2 — Chester Fitchett Jr., James “Monk” Tasker and John Trembly; Ward 3 — Chad Reese; Ward 4 — Chester Fitchett Sr.; and Ward 5 — incumbent Cecil Royce.
Kingwood
Incumbent Mayor Jean-Manuel Guillot; incumbent Recorder Bill Robertson; and incumbent Council Members Josh Fields, Mike Lipscomb, Dick Shaffer and Michelle Whetsell filed, along with new council candidate Karen Kurilko.
Kingwood voters will also decide whether to change the length of council terms to three years, instead of two, so that the city will be able to run its elections at the same time as the county. If the measure passes, terms will revert back to two years, after this term.
Brandonville
In Brandonville, Mayor Paul Webster, who has been involved in city government since 1990, chose not to seek re-election. Robert Hunt filed to run for mayor in Brandonville.
Incumbent Recorder Tammy Webster also filed, along with incumbent Council Members Allan Blankenship, Vivian Ryan and Frances Sines. New on the ballot for council are Andrea Friend, Sarah Herring, Morgan Hunt and Wesley Ridenour.
Masontown
At Masontown, Mayor Roxie Turner, Recorder Art Centofanti and Council Members Elizabeth DeBardi, Mike Mayfield Jr., Emily Rose, Tom Shillingburg and Mike Turner, all incumbents, filed. Jimmy Cottrell, a former town recorder, filed to run for council as well.
Information about Albright’s candidates was not available in time for this report.
