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Take time to learn about your candidates

The Weirton municipal primary is coming up fast, and I acknowledge I haven’t been able to provide as much coverage as I would have liked.

Early voting begins this Wednesday for those interested in casting your ballots before the April 2 primary. It will be held in Room 212, located on the top floor of the Weirton Municipal Building. For more information on the schedule, including days and times, voters can contact the City Clerk’s Office during regular business hours.

To help better inform Weirton’s voters, we at The Weirton Daily Times usually send out a questionnaire to the candidates. I was finally able to get one out on Thursday, so, hopefully, by Monday each candidate will have received it in the mail.

My hope is to have all of these answers published sometime during the week of March 24, so I am asking candidates to return their answers as soon as they possibly can, along with a “mugshot” photograph they would like included. Answers can be submitted to my e-mail address: chowell@weirtondailytimes.com.

In the event you have not received the questionnaire, I have listed them below. There are only a few, but I felt they are important given current events in the city.

In addition to the candidate’s name, along with a mailing address and phone number (which will not be distributed, it’s only for our use in the event we need to contact you on election night), I have asked the following questions:

1. What is your reason for seeking elected office in the city of Weirton?

2. What do you feel the main focus of the city of Weirton should be over the next 10 years?

3. What are three goals you have if elected?

4. What improvements/changes do you feel could be made in the city?

I also ask for some background information about each candidate, to better explain some of your history and experience.

As I said, I’ve fallen behind schedule on my plans for coverage of this election. I’ll make no excuses, because this is an important event in the city and it deserves better. You, the voters, should know who your candidates are and what their plans and thoughts for the city are.

As a reminder, these are those on the ballot:

• Mayor: Harold “Bubba” Miller and George Village

• Ward 1: Jonathan Curenton, Tim Connell and George G. Brandenburg

• Ward 2: Mike Adams and Ralph Cunningham

• Ward 3: Fred S. Marsh

• Ward 4: George E. Ash Sr.

• Ward 5: Jesse G. Lamone, George J. Charnie Jr., Flora M. Perrone, Jonathan Reitter and Richard K. Ford

• Ward 6: Enzo Fracasso

• Ward 7: Terry Weigel and Shanon Schuetzner

The top two finishers in each election will be moving on to the June 11 general election, which means most of the races will remain the same. Only the elections for Ward 1 council and Ward 5 council will see any candidate eliminated.

Thankfully, there have been opportunities for residents to learn more about those on the ballot.

The Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce held a “meet the candidates” event a couple of weeks ago, and almost all of the candidates were in attendance. I can tell you from that event, there are diverse thoughts from each of those on the ballot.

This Wednesday, the Marland Heights Community Association is hosting a forum for the those running for Ward 5 council. In addition, a few candidates have held their own meet-and-greet events.

To the voters, this is your city and it is your vote. Do everything you can to learn about your candidates and make your voices heard.

(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter @CHowellWDT)

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