VIENNA — Five candidates are running for a vacancy on Vienna City Council caused by the death of a councilman.

Mike Elam died at Marietta Memorial Hospital on October 14, 2021. Elam served on council for five years. The vacancy of his seat was announced in January, which opened the filings for his seat.

On the primary election ballot are Kelly Sassi Craft, Chad Emrick, Alice Goodwin, Christopher Mancuso, Jim Miracle, Chuck Noffsinger and Rod Smith. They interviewed for a temporary position on council with Noffsinger receiving the appointment on Feb. 1.

Craft, Smith, Goodwin, Mancuso and Miracle have all signed up for candidacy in the primary election occurring on May 10. The winner will relieve Noffsinger of his temporary appointment, and finish Elam’s term.

Mancuso is a Vienna native, who has not previously held or ran for a position on council. He recently moved back to the city from Denver, Colo. He said he came back because he sees potential in the city and its community. Mancuso, who has a Master’s in Architecture from the University of Kentucky, said he has a lot of experience working with cities and businesses through development.

“I’m running to serve my community,” he said. “I want to serve you all and hear what your needs are and what you guys want. And I want to freely share my unique knowledge and experience and expertise with the community and help keep the city moving forward and growing.”

Smith, a lifelong resident of Vienna, received his Bachelors of Science in Mathematics at Marshall University. This is his first time running for Vienna City Council, but he has been a member of Friends of Vienna and the Tree and Beautification committee.

“I want to foster teamwork where we can strive together and do things great,” he said. “This city has a lot to offer.”

Smith recently retired from Highmark with over 32 years of service. Smith has a wife who he has been married to for 38 years, Teresa, two kids, Chase and Kaycee, and two grandkids, Charlottee and Monteville.

He said he would like to have a say in the city decisions and bring in new businesses and employment to Vienna.

Goodwin has lived in Vienna for over 20 years, and is originally from North Carolina. She said she has worked with West Virginia Secondary Schools Activity Commission for over 20 years. This is her second time running for a position on council, she also ran in 2020. Goodwin said she plans to work hard and bring teamwork to the council, which she feels is lacking.

She said her husband and father were both civil servants in the fire department, and believes that it is her turn to share her thoughts and help the city.

“My goal is to be able to set attainable goals and realistic goals, and timelines for completion,” she said, “That means water lines, sewer lines, storm drains, could be sidewalks, and repaving of roads, but doing it in a manner or so that if you replace a waterline or sewer line you replace the whole section and then repave the road.”

Goodwin said one of the most important things to her is the accountability of council and the transparency of where council spends money.

Craft is a Vienna resident who has lived in Vienna for 38 years. She said she has been married to Robert Craft for 38 years, and they have raised three kids together, Derik, Tyler and Mallory Cash. Craft has worked in management for 30 years. This is Craft’s second time running, she said the first time running gave her the opportunity to listen to the community and hear other’s opinions in order to represent that opinion. She said she plans to continue representing the people’s opinion if she is elected to a position on the council.

“That’s what I want to do, is to bring your voice back to the city council,” she said.

Miracle has lived in Vienna for 27 years. He held a seat on council for eight years. He is a retired U.S. Navy veteran, and has been employed as a substitute teacher and by the Parkersburg and Wood County Public Library. In the past Miracle has also served on the Tree Commission, Planning Commission and the Utility Board of Vienna. He said he works for the people of Vienna, and is ready to work with council as a team.

“I don’t work for me, I work for the people,” he said.

James Dobbs can be reached at jdobbs@newsandsentinel.com