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WEIRTON -- The first week of candidate filings has seen a mix of incumbents, newcomers and previous officeholders step forward with the hope of representing area residents in a variety of elected positions.
The candidate filing period will take place until Jan. 27, with applications for candidacy accepted through your local city clerk in the case of municipal elections, or county clerk's office for other local positions. Those seeking statewide or federal office must file through the Secretary of State's Office.
The City of Weirton will hold its general election Nov. 5. There will be no primary election.
As of 4 p.m. Friday, three have signed on in the hope of being selected as Weirton's mayor. Incumbent Harold E. "Bubba" Miller will be seeking his third, consecutive term in the Nov. 5 general election. Set to face him, so far, are current Ward 5 Councilwoman Flora Perrone and former Weirton mayor Dean M. Harris.
In addition to the mayoral race, Weirton's election will see the selection of all seven members of city council. Currently, those signed up include former councilman and legislator Ronnie Jones, who is seeking a return to the dais in council chambers, this time to represent Ward 3; Rick Stead, a retired city police captain, who has filed for the Ward 4 seat currently held by George Ash, incumbent Enzo Fracasso to represent Ward 6, and, in Ward 7, Bob Wyatt and current Ward 2 Councilman Chris Jonczak.
As part of the city's recent ward and precinct redistricting, Jonczak's residence will be included in the city's seventh ward beginning in 2025.
Elections in Hancock and Brooke counties are, so far, filled with mostly familiar names, according to the available listing in the Secretary of State's Office's website at 4:30 p.m., Friday.
In Brooke County, incumbent county commissioner A.J. Thomas, of Follansbee, will seek re-election to his seat, while Weirton resident and current assistant prosecutor Allison Cowden is seeking the seat of county prosecuting attorney.
Others currently set to go before the voters in May are Sheriff Richard Beatty of Follansbee, county Assessor Thomas Oughton of Wellsburg, Brooke County Magistrate Daniell Diserio, and Antoinette Perkins, of Follansbee, who will seek another term on the Brooke County Board of Education. In addition, Eric Freeland, of Wellsburg, is seeking office as conservation district supervisor.
In Hancock County, meanwhile, Chester resident Tony LaScola was the first to register for a seat on the Hancock County Commission currently held by long-time commissioner Jeff Davis. Steven E. Dragisich of Weirton will seek re-election as county prosecutor, and J. Scott Gittings will seek to return as county sheriff. Joseph M. Alongi hopes to continue serving as Hancock County assessor.
Three have filed for seats as county magistrates. Ralph Fletcher, with a long career as a magistrate and law enforcement official, is asking voters to return him to the bench, while Omeka Petteway and Steve Svokas are each hoping to be elected to their first full term. Petteway and Svokas were both appointed to the magistrate court last year following the retirements of Scott Hicks and Mike White.
Incumbent Chris Gillette and former state legislator Randy Swartzmiller have registered for election to the Hancock County Board of Education. Two of the five seats are up for grabs this year.
In addition, Chuck Glenn of Chester, has registered his candidacy for conservation district supervisor.
At the legislative level, state Sen. Ryan Weld, Del. Pat McGeehan, Del. Mark Zatezalo, and Del. Jimmy Willis, have all opted for re-election to their current offices.
In other court races, two local circuit judges have put forth their filings, with Jason A. Cuomo of Follansbee seeking election to the 1st Circuit, Division 3 seat, while Michael J. Olejasz of Wheeling is aimed for his 1st Circuit Division 4 seat. Joyce Dumbaugh Chernenko of Wellsburg, will seek re-election as Family Court Circuit 1 Division 1 judge, while Heather A. Wood of Weirton will seek the Division 2 seat.