Each of the 10 candidates who applied to be the next mayor of Dunbar will have the opportunity to present their case and answer questions before the city council tonight.
Council members voted during a special meeting Monday to invite each applicant to speak during an open meeting Tuesday at city hall. Applicants will be selected at random to speak for five to six minutes before answering questions from council members. The discussions will begin at 5 p.m.
Interim mayor Steve Arnott said council members will nominate candidates to be considered for the position at the Aug. 21 meeting, based on their interviews. Council members also will vote for the next mayor at that meeting, he said.
Council developed the procedure in a 30-minute executive session.
"We did not want to exclude anybody, so we agreed to let all 10 come make their case why they want to be mayor," Arnott said.
The candidates are: Lanny R. Coberly Sr., the pastor of a Dunbar church; Councilman Bill Cunningham; Mark Halburn, the operator of a Putnam County news website; former councilman Dana K. Hayes; Councilman Rev. Gregory Hudson, pastor of Dunbar Church of the Nazarene; Virginia Nesselrotte, a Verizon retiree, private art teacher and former candidate for city council; Councilman Mike Scipio; Sierra Sovine, a former candidate for city council; Lisa M. Wilkinson; and former mayor Jack Yeager.
Coberly, Halburn and Yeager were not present at the meeting Monday.
The next mayor will replace former mayor Terry Greenlee, who resigned late last month.
Also at the meeting council members voted to approve an agreement with Kanawha County for Shawnee Park.
"We're gong to manage the pool, shelters, basketball court and tennis court," Arnott said. "The county is taking control of the golf course, which is going to become the sports complex and the clubhouse."
Arnott said the city of Dunbar is excited about the potential the complex has to be an economic boost for the area.
"These soccer tournaments and events they have at [places like this complex] - It's unbelievable the amount of people they bring in."
Reach Carlee Lammers at Carlee.Lammers@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-1230 or follow @CarleeLammers on Twitter.