WEIRTON Three of the seven seats on Weirton’s City Council will be claimed by unopposed candidates in the 2015 municipal election, and one of those three is a newcomer.

George Ash Sr., 3125 Orchard Street, was first elected to represent Ward 4 on city council in 1991.

“In six elections this is the first time I am running unopposed,” he pointed out, “I wasn’t planning on running, but at the last minute I heard that no one had stepped up in my ward to take my place. I wasn’t going to let the ward go unrepresented.”

Ash was a strong voice in favor of the business and occupation tax expansion during budget workshops last year as city officials searched for a plan to solve a budget shortfall, but he said that historically he has been opposed to the tax.

“I’ve always been against it, since I started on council. But the fact is that the state does not give cities enough options to generate revenue, and that was the best solution for Weirton at the time,” Ash commented. “I was on council for 18 years before the B and O was expanded. Everyone was so worried about businesses not coming in because of it or leaving because of it, but we didn’t have any huge influx of businesses happening before it was expanded either. So I don’t think that is even a legitimate argument.”

Ash said the West Virginia Home Rule program could benefit the city, but also has potential for abuse.

“Home Rule looks good on the surface, but only time will tell. As long as city council now and in the future doesn’t allow nepotism and favoritism, it could work out fine. I think we all need to keep open minds and see how it goes in other cities before we make any final decisions on our ordinances,” he said. “I was pleased to see code enforcement ordinances included in our application. Our code officials are the ones working to eliminate slums and blight. This should help them.”

Ash said he wanted to remind constituents that even though he doesn’t participate in social media like Facebook, he is always just a phone call away and is always willing to help residents resolve issues.

Enzo Fracasso, 156 Church St., is set to become the new Ward 6 representative.

Current Councilwoman Angelina Dickson, who had been appointed following the resignation of former Councilman David Dalrymple, pulled herself from the election on March 12, according to City Manager Valerie Means. Her name will still be featured on the primary ballots, which were already printed at the time of her resignation, but not on the general election ballots in June, Means explained. Dickson did not return calls seeking a comment.

Fracasso immigrated to the Ohio Valley from Italy with his family when he was just a baby, and he has made Weirton his home for the 59 years since. He worked in the steel industry for 43 years, eventually reaching the position of committeeman for the United Steelworkers Union.

“I’ve always liked trying to help people. I want to help bring back industry and make this town somewhere young people can return to and raise families here,” he said. “Once I get in there, I plan on learning from those who went before me, and I’ll be happy to offer my input.”

Fracasso said he thinks the B and O tax issue has been magnified out of proportion.

“You have to make so much per quarter, like a threshold, to even be required to pay the tax, and we don’t have all that many businesses here who are above that level. So I’ve talked with businessmen who say it’s not as big of a deal as they thought it would be. People made a bigger thing of it than it really was,” he said. “A sales tax would be more fair because everyone pays it instead of just business owners.”

Fracasso said he wants to make Weirton friendlier for young families by adding or upgrading recreational areas. He said that he supports Weirton’s participation in the Home Rule program, and he wants to see more milling and paving completed as the city recovers from recent years of harsh winters.

“I would like the residents of Ward 6 to know that I’m not a professional politician. I’m just a regular, honest hard working man with a sincere desire to help our community. I can promise each citizen that I will listen and leave no stone unturned to resolve any issue they may have and to keep them informed. Everyone’s opinions do matter and it takes communication and brainstorming to make positive changes. Together with the residents of Ward 6, I would be honored to represent the city and diligently work towards any improvements to help Weirton thrive again,” Fracasso stated. “It won’t be easy, but it is possible.”

Chuck Wright, 140 Grimm Way, was elected to represent Ward 2 in 2011. He ran before that in 2003 but was defeated by Harold “Bubba” Miller, a current candidate for mayor. Wright has served on the Hall of Fame Committee and also sat on the city Sanitary Board for eight years, serving as vice chairman at the end of his last term.

“I believe over the course of this last term we’ve really got things in Weirton moving in the right direction,” he commented. “I think that one of the best moves we made was hiring Valerie Means as city manager. She was finance director for 12 years before that, and she’s very professional and knowledgeable. It’s my hope that she’ll continue to help us steer the city forward.”

Wright addressed his vote on the B and O, noting that many business owners were “upset” with his change of heart from opposing to supporting the measure.

“Initially I was not in favor of it. No one likes taxes. But at the end of the day we had to look at the numbers. It pained me to make that vote,” he recalled. “That being said, I don’t think that businesses have been hurt as badly as they thought they would. If you’re under the threshold of $125,000 per quarter, it doesn’t affect you. It’s become a sort of fear. The city was in bad shape. We had to get the money somewhere, and I do not support the idea of cutting services because the safety of citizens should always be the number one priority.”

Wright said he supports the Home Rule program and believes the code enforcement provisions will be a big help to Weirton in particular.

“The thing that frustrates me about government is how long it takes to get anything done. This will help up streamline the process of removing dilapidated buildings,” he said. “There are checks and balances built into the program to prevent abuse, so I think it’s a good thing for this city.”

Even though he is unopposed, Wright encouraged residents to get out and vote in the primary and general elections this year.

“Every registered voter should make themselves aware, research the candidates, and get out there and make it happen,” he said.

The primary is set for April 7, with polls open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Early voting began Wednesday and runs through April 4.

To take part in early voting, voters must visit the Weirton city clerk’s office anytime from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office also will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 28 and April 4.

Applications for absentee voting by mail currently are available in the city clerk’s office. This is for those registered voters who are unable to vote on election day or during the early voting period because of physical illness, disability or hospitalization, absence from the city because of personal or business travel, military service or college attendance, or incarceration but not under conviction of a felony.

The deadline to submit an application for absentee voting is April 4.

As part of the Weirton primary election, voters will select from candidates for the city’s mayor as well as city council seats.

In addition, the ballot will include a proposed five-year levy, raising $347,700 for each year to support the operations of the Weirton Transit Corp.

The general election is scheduled for June 9. For more information about voting procedures, contact the city clerk’s office at (304) 797-8500.

(Dalrymple can be contacted at sdalrymple@heraldstaronline.com)