Tom Gaudio

WELLSBURG — Two candidates are vying for a seat representing the city’s 3rd Ward on Wellsburg Council.

They are incumbent Tom Gaudio of 1913 Main St. and challenger Jeff Hawkins of 1911 Charles St.

Gaudio is a graduate of Wellsburg High School and West Liberty State College, where he majored in business, and a retired employee of Weirton Steel, where he served on the joint study committee that negotiated the Employee Stock Ownership Plan buyout of the Weirton mill.

He said if re-elected, he would push for all city ordinances to be enforced to ensure the city is clean and safe, for the city to be run like a business to ensure it is financially secure, and for continued improvements to the city’s parks and playgrounds.

He noted as council’s parks and recreation chair, he worked with others to establish pickleball courts at the Betty Carr Recreation Site.

Jeff Hawkins

Gaudio said as he and other city officials pursue further improvements to its water treatment system, they will need to secure outside funds and other assistance while they should consider temporary tax breaks and other incentives to attract new businesses.

A native of Mingo Junction, Hawkins has lived in Wellsburg for more than 20 years, He is a graduate of Mingo High School and Jefferson County Vocational School and a retired employee of the W.H. Sammis Power Plant, where he served as an electrician and hazardous materials safety director.

As past potentate of the West Virginia Osiris Shrine, he led the fraternal organization in various charitable projects, and is current third vice president of the Mid-Atlantic Shrine Association.

Hawkins said he has received instruction from marketing schools for five years and if elected, would “work on getting council to work as a team and work on ways to bring new businesses to town.”

“I go by (author and motivational speaker) Zig Ziglar’s three Cs of life: choices, chances and changes. You have to make the choice to take a chance and make a change. And that’s what we need to do in Wellsburg.”