PARKERSBURG- Members of the Wood County Democratic Executive Committee learned Thursday the party might not contest the fourth district Parkersburg City Council seat in November's election.
Harold Brown, chairman of the Wood County Democratic Executive Committee, said since the death of the party's nominee, James Myers, no one has come forward to run.
Myers died on July 21 at the age of 70. Myers previously served a term on city council from 2005 to 2008.
Myers was to run against incumbent Republican Councilman John Sandy, a retired Parkersburg firefighter.
Brown said he was told by two council members of one potential candidate, but that person was not interested. He said a second potential candidate who contacted him did not live in the district.
"Unless someone comes to my door it is very likely we will not have a candidate for the fourth district," Brown said Thursday night. "That person will have to be interviewed by committee members; we will not run just anybody for this office."
Anyone interested in running for the seat must live in precincts 10, 13, 17 or 71, he said. Brown said the interested person can contact him at 304-422-4345 by 1 p.m. today.
In other matters, committee members discussed the location of a possible party headquarters for the 2012 campaign.
Brown said in past years they have rented a building at the corner of 19th Street and Murdoch Avenue. However, Brown said the party has another problem to address- having funds to pay the rent.
"We've used this location in the past and it's being cleaned out for our possible use," he said. "The rent will be about $3,000 which is higher than last time but this time they will include utilities in the rent."
Committee members authorized Brown and other officers to sign a rental agreement contingent on the party having the funds. Brown said the party would possibly use the building from the last week of August until Nov. 7, the day after the election.
Committee members had a visit from Sue Thorn, the Democratic nominee for the 1st Congressional District. Thorn will face incumbent U.S. Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., in November.
Thorn said she has been running a grassroots campaign and asked committee members to help her campaign. She said her campaign is looking for volunteers to hand address postcards to send out to Democrats and non-affiliated voters.
Thorn and McKinley were unopposed in their respective party primaries.
