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City elections in Follansbee and Wellsburg on Tuesday will decide one race for mayor and others for several council seats while also giving voters a chance to weigh on the appointment or election of three city positions.
Polls in both cities will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Voters in Follansbee's 1st and 2nd wards will vote at the City Building, while those in its 3rd, 4th and 5th wards will vote at the Community House near Follansbee Park.
Polling places in Wellsburg include Wellsburg United Methodist Church for the 1st Ward, the Wellsburg Banquet Hall on 12th Street for the 2nd Ward, Wellsburg First Baptist Church for the 3rd Ward, and Community of Christ Church on 26th Street for the 4th Ward.
Follansbee voters will be asked to choose from challenger Alexis Russell of 1426 Walker Road, currently 4th Ward councilwoman; and incumbent David Velegol Jr. of 400 Heather Moor Drive.
Also on the ballots will be the following races:
ö Second Ward council seat: incumbent Charles McCoy of 945 Jefferson St. and challenger Stephen A. Varlas of 1099 Jefferson St.
ö Fourth Ward council seat (currently held by Russell): Bill Chiodo of 126 Scenic Drive and Frank Pederson of 826 Terika Drive.
ö Fifth Ward council seat: Incumbent Wendy DeAngelis of 218 Highland Hills Drive and challenger Joe Kafton of 104 Piper Place.
● Council at large seat: incumbent John Casinelli of 1015 Virginia Ave. and challenger Natalie Rocchio of 813 Donegal Drive West.
Unchallenged are City Attorney Michael Gaudio, City Clerk Dave Kurcina, City Police Chief Larry Rea and 3rd Ward Councilman Nick Cekinovich.
Voters also will be asked whether they want the city's police chief to be elected by the public or appointed by the mayor, pending council's approval.
Council has agreed to place the question on ballots to measure the public's wishes to determine whether it should adopt an ordinance establishing the chief as an appointed position.
No ordinance has been drawn at this time, and one would require two readings and a public hearing before it may be passed.
In Wellsburg, however, voters will determine whether the city clerk and city collector-treasurer will be appointed positions.
Duties for the collector-treasurer include bookkeeping for the city's revenue and payroll for city staff and submitting various financial data to the state auditor's office.
The city clerk oversees the city's elections and takes minutes for council meetings.
Both officials currently serve a four-year term.
Mary Ann Habbit, the current collector-treasurer, is unchallenged for the office. She was appointed to the role in 2021 after her predecessor resigned to accept another position.
Amanda Dudley, the current city clerk, has announced she will resign following the election, and no one has filed for the office.
Also on Wellsburg's ballots are the following races:
● First Ward council seat: Theodore J. "Jerry" Nichols of 337 Charles St. And Eric Matthew Smith of Rear 716 Commerce St. Nichols was appointed to the seat in 2021 after its holder, Dan Dudley was elected mayor.
● Second Ward council seat: incumbent Paul T. Billiard of 1321 Commerce St. and challenger Scott Caldwell of 1100 Pleasant Ave.
● Third Ward council seat: incumbent Randy Fletcher of 1904 Charles St. and challenger Matt Cox of 2000 Marianna St.
Fourth Ward Councilwoman Della Serevicz has chosen not to seek re-election, and Fred Marino is unchallenged in his bid for the seat.