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WHEELING -- The municipal election in Wheeling has a two-man contest in the race to serve Elm Grove area residents in Ward 6 for the next four years.
Incumbent Wheeling Councilman Dave Palmer is running for a third term as Ward 6 councilman. He is facing challenger Nicholas McCort in the race that will come to a head on May 14 -- municipal election day in Wheeling, which coincides with the West Virginia primary election. Ward 6 includes the neighborhoods of the Elm Grove area and a portion of Springdale.
Palmer was elected to two four-year terms on council. He was the only candidate who was unopposed during the city's 2020 municipal election, but McCort is challenging him in 2024.
A former deputy sheriff, police officer and firefighter, Palmer retired in 2012 after many years of service at the Wheeling Fire Department, including service as chief fire investigator. In retirement, he has worked as a bus driver for Ohio County Schools.
Palmer, 62, said a lot has been accomplished over the past eight years, and a lot of work still needs to be done.
"Some things have not been completed yet in Ward 6," he said. "The former TCI building on National Road and Junior Avenue -- I want to work towards either having that renovated or removed, one or the other."
As a key city council voice that helped bring the plan for WVU Medicine's regional cancer center to the former Ohio Valley Medical Center campus, Palmer said he is eager to see continued progress on that venture and others.
"I'd really like to see that project move a little bit further forward while in office," Palmer said of the regional cancer center. "And I'd like to continue to grow things that we've done in Elm Grove."
Working closely with the Elm Grove Business Association, there has been more activity and community involvement in the neighborhood, Palmer noted.
"I think that with Kristy Ferguson leading that group, I think it's going to continue to grow," he said.
Infrastructure projects -- including paving, storm sewer separations and rehabilitation of the bridges in Elm Grove -- are among top priorities if re-elected, Palmer said.
"I want to continue to do beautification projects and economic development projects in Elm Grove," he said. "Quite frankly, I enjoy it when people call me and email me with a problem or a question and I can get them an answer. They might not always like the answer, but I believe in answering the questions, and when I can help people out, that's what I enjoy the most."
Palmer has served as the Finance Committee of Council chairman since 2020, and he said his experience and knowledge of city finances gives him an edge as the best candidate for the job on council.
"I think we've done a good job," Palmer said, noting that council has been fiscally responsible.
In recent years in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city's coffers have flowed with federal pandemic relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act and other one-time windfalls.
"I think moving forward, as we get away from the COVID and the ARPA funds, things are going to get a little bit leaner," he said.
The biggest challenges of the next four years will be getting through all of the construction that has been going on in Wheeling.
"It causes inconvenience for the citizens, but in the long run, patience is what's needed," Palmer said of all the street and bridge work taking place. "We suffered through the Interstate Bridges project, and now we have a free-flowing interstate that is safe. We need to see these projects through. I'm sure, when they're done, there are more that are going to come up."
McCort, 35, is also involved with community activities in the Elm Grove neighborhood, where he resides with his family.
"I completed my studies with Ohio County Schools from grade K-12," McCort said. "I'm married to my high school sweetheart, Sara, and have three wonderful boys: Brantley, 9, Chris, 11 and Carson, 16. I work for a railroad contracting company that has me placed in Natrium, W.Va. We live in Elm Grove and spend time outside, teaching our boys and at our local YMCA. I've helped coach flag football in the past."
McCort said he is seeking the position as the next Ward 6 city councilman because he is a concerned resident who believes there should be a change in Wheeling's elected leadership.
"I feel I have a fresh set of eyes coming in with no affiliation with anyone in city government," he said. "I personally have no agenda, I just love my city and want to take care of it and its residents."
According to McCort, the city of Wheeling needs to yield the spending of taxpayer dollars and take a new approach to addressing the homeless dilemma.
"Our homeless population is growing with no real changes being made to reach out to help those who need it," McCort said. "We need to keep our younger generation here and spread the 'beautifying' to all of Wheeling, not just downtown."
McCort indicated that Wheeling should not be shutting the door on industrial development just because industries of the past have shut their doors.
"We need to stop rezoning our industrial properties to housing," he said, adding that divisive politics have no place in city government. "We need to bridge gaps within Wheeling. This isn't a 'right' or 'left' issue."
The winner of the Ward 6 race -- along with the winners of the rest of the ward races in Wheeling as well as the winner of the mayoral contest -- will begin a four-year term on July 1.