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WEIRTON -- With the 2020 presidential election fresh in mind, Weirton officials already are looking forward to 2024.
During the 2019 municipal election, city voters approved 11 changes to the city charter. Among those changes was to realign the city's election cycle to fall in line with the national presidential election. Under those terms, the current mayor and city council were granted a term of five years, and the next city election was moved to 2024.
The charter amendment was passed with a vote of 1,016 in favor and 650 against.
The issue of the election schedule was raised by officials Wednesday, near the end of a council workshop, with Ward 3 Councilman Fred Marsh noting coordination will be needed between the city and elections officials in both Hancock and Brooke counties.
"We have four years to work with the counties," Marsh said. "It needs to move to the top priority."
Under the language of the charter change, the current administration will hold office from July 1, 2019 to Jan. 1, 2025, with the winners of the 2024 election taking office Jan. 1, 2025 and all following elections being for four-year terms.
City Attorney Vince Gurrera suggested the efforts begin in early 2021, with meetings possibly in January or February.
"I think we had talked about a small committee," Gurrera said, offering to serve as part of the coordination, and recommending some members of council also be a part.
The change had been suggested as a cost-saving measure for the city, as well as a way to improve voter turnout.