Two seek Wellsburg’s 3rd Ward Council seat
Paul Billiard
Scott Caldwell
Paul Billiard
Scott Caldwell
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WELLSBURG -- Voters from Wellsburg's 3rd Ward will be asked to select one of two individuals to represent them when they go to election polls on June 13.
The two are incumbent Paul T. Billiard of 1321 Commerce St. and challenger Scott Caldwell of 1100 Pleasant Ave.
A Wellsburg councilman for 20 years, Billiard is owner of AIM Assurance LLC and PB Rentals, Storage, Property Management & Lawn Care.
He has been a member of the Wellsburg Lions and Wellsburg and Weirton Moose lodges and has been behind Christmas decorations at Central Park and an ice skating rink at the Betty Carr Recreation Site.
Asked goals or issues he'd address if re-elected, Billiard said, "As a council person, you are one vote of eight, so to have a personal agenda is not what's best for the city."
He said because Wellsburg has a city manager form of government, "the true job of council is to manage the budget and make sure the city manager is working to stay within budget and do what we can to assist."
He said attracting businesses and paving streets and alleys are valid goals but can't be accomplished without the support of all council members.
Billiard said while each council member has a right to place items on the agenda and vote on them, "I would not be doing justice if I said, these are the three items that I can do or make happen. It takes all of council."
He said, "Anyone who knows me, or knows how I am as a council person, knows I understand our charter and the operations of the city."
Billiard said those who call him with a problem will get an answer and normally have their problem resolved, and he encourages residents to do so.
Caldwell is general manager for the Tire America Service Center, where he has worked for 10 years. He also has worked for 13 years at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where he spent many years as an operations manager, overseeing personnel and management of more than $1.6 million in medical equipment; and three years for King Filtration, managing inventory and logistics for operations at the Cardinal Plant in Brilliant.
Caldwell is a Wellsburg firefighter and medical first responder, member of the Wellsburg Masonic Lodge and El Toro Grotto in Wheeling and has built soapbox derby style cars for Wellsburg's Oil Can Derby.
He said, "I have always relied on an open-door policy in all aspects of my careers. I believe that everyone should be well informed and given the chance to voice their opinions. I want to achieve the goals that we set, and we must be able do so through transparency and the confidence of our community. I am also a firm believer in leaving everything we touch better and committed to keeping Wellsburg a safe and wonderful place to raise a family, open a business, or retire."
Caldwell said if elected, he'd propose features at local parks that could be enjoyed by children on the autism spectrum and explore measures to prevent vandalism there; and push for improvements he feels have often been overlooked, such as broken or uneven sidewalks and low hanging trees and potholes.