After a round of candidate interviews Tuesday night, the Dunbar City Council is closer to choosing a new mayor.
During an open meeting, the city council Tuesday interviewed eight of the people who have expressed interest in replacing former mayor Terry Greenlee, who resigned last month.
Applicants were given five-minute allotments to tell the council about themselves and what they would do as mayor. They also answered questions from council members.
One candidate, former mayor Jack Yeager, sent his wife, Barbara Yeager, to present on his behalf. Yeager's letter to council said he was recovering from a medical procedure and couldn't make it to the meeting. Another, Rev. Lanny R. Coberly Sr., was out of state Tuesday, interim Mayor Steve Arnott said. The council's interview of Coberly has been scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday, Arnott said.
Common themes among candidates' goals included cleaning up the town, attracting businesses and people, and increasing recreational opportunities for young people in the city.
Councilman Rev. Greg Hudson, pastor of Dunbar Church of the Nazarene, said if he's appointed mayor, his goals will include working with the Kanawha County Commission on the Shawnee Park sports complex, funding the city' fireman pensions, making the city business-friendly and having activities for the city's youth.
Yeager, in his letter, said the city should not take on the responsibility of helping the county run the Shawnee Park sports complex without being able to share in the profits. Yeager said his goals include developing recreation opportunities for the city's young people and recycling where the city can. The mayor must be a person of action and an efficient manager who's focused on economic development, he said.
Former councilman Dana Hayes, said as mayor he would want to convene a council of young people to develop ideas about what the city can do to better offer youth activities and programs. He also wants to improve the appearance of the city, including streets and street signs.
Councilman Mike Scipio, a councilman of 24 years, said the city needs to manage its money, maintain equipment for the police and fire departments, improve recreation opportunities for youth, among other things.
Councilman Bill Cunningham, the city's former building inspector and a current city volunteer, said he's supportive of the Shawnee Park sports complex and wants the city to re-purpose some of its land to give people a reason to want to come to Dunbar while they're in the area visiting the sports complex.
Sierra Sovine, a former candidate for city council, said the city needs more jobs and economic development. She said she would use social media and events like concerts at Wine Cellar Park to market the town to bring in more people.
Virginia Nesselrotte, a Verizon retiree, private art teacher and former candidate for city council, said she wants to see city property owners take better care of their property so that the city can attract more businesses and people to it.
Mark Halburn, the operator of a Putnam County news website, said if he's appointed, he wants the city to put small public parks on vacant land in an effort to keep out registered sex offenders.
Lisa Wilkinson, who told council she'd never held public office before but had 32 years of experience working for West Virginia state government, said she would like to see the city use some of its empty buildings for dormitory space for homeless people. She also wants to see the city take advantage of traffic coming to the proposed nearby sports complex by having events in town when people are at the sports complex.
After hearing the candidates speak, Arnott said he was still torn about who to vote for.
"I thought they were all good," he said after the meeting. "I really did. I wish we could accomplish everything they want to accomplish."
After Thursday's meeting with Coberly, the council will meet again at 7 p.m. Monday, when they will nominate finalists and vote on who will be the city's next mayor, Arnott said.
Reach Lori Kersey at lori.kersey@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-1240 or follow @LoriKerseyWV on Twitter.