Published: August 07, 2008 12:47 am      

12 running for seats on Fairmont City Council

Four districts will have races

FAIRMONT — Following the close of the city’s month-long filing period Wednesday afternoon, a total of 12 candidates will be bidding for four Fairmont City Council seats in November.

Districts 2, 4, 6, and 7 will all be hosting races this year, and City Clerk Janet Keller said officials are happy with the turnout of interested applicants.

“This shows there is a good many people interested in city government and wanting to serve the citizens of Fairmont,” she said. “We are really glad about the outcome.”

Official results show that the candidates will be Robert F. ”Bob” Sapp and Daniel Jones II in District 2; Bill Burdick, Anthony “Tony” Stingo, Richard A. “Rick” Stutler, and Ronald Chaney in District 4; Dora Grubb, Daniel K. Weber, and Patrick F. Roche in District 6; and Scott Sears, Dennis Hermosilla and Robert Garcia in District 7.

Currently, District 2 is represented by Sapp, who was selected to fill Burley “Butch” Tennant’s expiring term July 22; District 4 is represented by Burdick; District 6 by De’Andrea Bussey, whose second term will end Dec. 31; and the seat in District 7 is held by Sears, who is presently the mayor.

The filing officially began July 7 and ended at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

And on Tuesday, Aug. 26 at 9 a.m. in the county commission chambers, a drawing to determine the order the names will appear on the ballot will be officially held. The order of the names for the county commission race will also be determined at this time.

Keller said the state sets this date and time and that later that afternoon the paper ballots will be printed and the electronic machines will be set with these results, thus officially beginning the election.

Eligible candidates for all seats were required to live in the specified district and be a registered voter of the city.

According to city maps, District 2 includes Morgantown Avenue, the Suncrest area, Hoult Road, and from Alta Vista Avenue to Morgantown Avenue. Other streets include Kentucky, Delaware and parts of Pittsburgh, Maryland, East Park avenues and Fairfax Street.

District 4 is the entire Bellview area, including Pennsylvania Avenue, Jackson Addition, Ogden Avenue, Chicago Street and Washington Street.

District 6 is on the city’s West Side and includes Virginia Avenue to Hillcrest Road and from Fairmont State University to Field Street. Other streets in this district include View Avenue, College Park, a portion of Locust Avenue, Oliver Avenue and the area from Fifth Street to Seventh Street.

District 7 is also on the West Side and includes FSU to Broadview Avenue, the Fairmont General Hospital area, a portion of Locust Avenue, Peacock Lane, Hillside Drive and the area around Fairmont Senior High School. It also includes parts of Seventh Street to Ninth Street.

The election will be held in conjunction with the General Election on Nov. 4 and candidates will likely begin campaigning very soon, Keller said.

E-mail Mallory Panuska at mpanuska@timeswv.com.