New Cumberland adjusting municipal election schedule
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NEW CUMBERLAND - New Cumberland Council has taken steps to realign the city’s election schedule in order to meet changes to state law.
Council met in regular session Monday, where it voted, 5-0, on the second reading of an ordinance adjusting the terms of office for current members.
"This is the ordinance to comply with the state statute, that requires us to be on the same schedule as the countywide elections," explained City Solicitor Kevin Pearl, referring to Senate Bill 50, enacted by the West Virginia Legislature in April 2025.
New Cumberland has traditionally had staggered terms for its municipal elections, with residents able to vote every two years. One election ballot features the mayor and three members of the six-member city council, with the next election including the remaining three members of city council.
The city’s last election was held in May 2025, where Mayor Will White was re-elected. The city’s next election would have been held in 2027, to fill three council seats; however, the county’s next election - following this year - will not be until 2028.
"As a result, we have to amend the terms for the 2027 and 2029 elections," Pearl said.
Under Senate Bill 50, any city, town or village whose charter requires elections have until July 1, 2032, to adjust their election schedule to fall in line with elections already conducted by their local county.
Under the terms of the law, “Municipalities are required to share in the administrative costs of holding elections with county commissions, but those costs shall not exceed the municipality’s pro rata share of voters registered in the municipality compared with the total voters registered in the county.”
Municipalities also can adjust the terms of their current office-holders as part of the rescheduling, provided any extension not be by more than 18 months.
In Hancock County, Chester made its adjustments in 2025, to be effective with its election held earlier this year. Weirton made adjustments to its election schedule in 2019, prior to the legislation’s passage, to realign its city elections to run with the presidential election.
In Brooke County, Follansbee is in the process of amending its city charter to meet the statute’s requirements.
(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com)