Dailey vs. Fox for Parkersburg City Council District 9
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PARKERSBURG -- In the only Parkersburg City Council race to include an incumbent and past member, Councilwoman Cathy Dailey is seeking a full term against former Councilman Jeff Fox.
Although Dailey is a member of council, this is her first campaign after she was appointed to a vacant seat in December following the resignation of Ray Eubanks, who himself had been appointed to the seat after Councilman Austin Richards stepped down because he was moving out of the city.
Dailey defeated Alisa Prince in the Republican primary in May.
"I felt privileged to have been appointed," she said. "I enjoy serving the community."
Dailey said she's learned the main role of council is "just to make sure that essential services are maintained." That includes addressing and removing blighted properties.
Concerns she's heard from constituents include stop signs and lighting issues.
"If I don't know the answer, I always find someone to help them," she said.
The work of council doesn't just happen at its twice monthly meetings, Dailey said, noting members get a lot of information behind the scenes and prior to those gatherings.
"I think sometimes it looks like we just come to vote," she said.
Dailey said the skills she's developed over 30 years as a physician serve her well in the role of council member.
"I have the ability to communicate and really be an active listener to see what the community wants and what the community needs to move Parkersburg forward," she said.
Fox served on council from 2017 to 2020, losing in the general election to Richards.
Unopposed in the Democratic primary, he said he's running again "to put my experience back to work for District 9." He noted he worked on four municipal budgets and has served on council's Finance, Personnel, Public Works and Stormwater committees.
Fox said he was able to work with the administration, suggesting an expansion of the splash pad plans to include improvements to the City Park pool area.
"My common sense was if we're going to build a million-dollar splash pad, we need to do something with the 90-year-old pool that's going to sit beside it," he said.
Fox said he never missed council or committee meetings during his term.
"It's a job, and it's important to show up for work," he said. "It seems like there's always two or three councilors absent. That's embarrassing to us as a city."
Among the challenges facing the city, Fox said, are the need for good jobs, home ownership and solutions to the addiction crisis. He said a partnership between the city, the Wood County Board of Education and the Parkersburg Marietta Building & Construction Trades could help address all three of those areas.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com
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Parkersburg City Council District 9 Candidates
Cathy Dailey
* Age: 61
* Address: 55 Meadowcrest Drive
* Party: Republican
* Occupation: physician
* Past offices: appointed to council in late 2023
Jeff Fox
* Age: 62
* Address: 3315 Clement Ave.
* Party: Democrat
* Occupation: retired electrician
* Past offices: one term on council