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Noland, Reed running for District 7 seat

PARKERSBURG — Republican Robert Noland and Democrat John Reed are vying to replace District 7 Councilman Warren Bigley, who chose not to run.

Noland said his work as an efficiency manager can bring accountability to city departments.

“There’s been a lot of mismanagement in the city,” he said. “If council would’ve simply been doing their job and asking questions … a lot of that stuff could have been avoided.”

No one person is to blame for issues like falling behind on the maintenance of the city’s parks, Noland said.

Despite the revenue generated by the 1 percent municipal sales tax, Noland said fees should be reduced gradually, not immediately eliminated.

“That way we always have something to fall back on, just in case,” he said.

Noland said a potential bond issue to replace three aging fire stations should be voted on by citizens.

“That’s the only way I would be for a bond,” he said.

Reed served on council from 1982-85.

He said they accomplished important things like paving the way for a parking garage and apartments on a previously overgrown parcel of downtown property.

“We found that all of us had differences … but we were all able to work together as a team,” he said. “There are ways that people can have differing viewpoints and accomplish the same goals.”

Reed said he does not favor reducing municipal fees in 2017.

“For at least the first year, we need to sit back and look” before making cuts, he said.

Reed said he agrees with funding new fire stations with a bond.

“If a bond would take care of updating all the facilities at one time, that might be a better approach than piecemealing it,” he said.

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