Mark Zatezalo

WEIRTON – The battle between a long-time incumbent and a political newcomer is the lone contested race for local representation in the West Virginia House of Delegates in the May 12 West Virginia primary election.

Zatezalo, a Republican from Weirton, currently is in his fifth term representing the Second District of the House of Delegates. He is challenged by Tony Viola, also a Republican from Weirton, who is seeking elected office for the first time.

Zatezalo feels his experience, both in the Legislature and in his career as a geologist, give him an advantage in the race.

“I believe that my experience with energy, infrastructure, and economic development make me the best choice,” he said.

In the Legislature, he serves as vice chair of the House Energy and Public Works Committee, and is a member of the Appropriations, Banking and Insurance, and Finance committees, as well as the interim committees for Forest Management Review Commission and Judiciary.

Tony Viola

“My priorities will be to continue infrastructure improvements, especially water systems and roads. We also need to use energy advantage to help bring jobs to our area,” Zatezalo said. “As Vice Chair of Energy and Public Works, I can make best use of my experience to improve outcomes for all.”

Zatezalo says he wants to focus on improving the economic future of the region for future generations.

“The biggest issue is providing opportunities to bring jobs for our children to live and prosper in the Northern Panhandle,” he said. “I continue to work to improve the economic future for my children and grandchildren, all of whom live in Weirton.”

Viola is a Real Estate Broker and owner of Howard Hanna Mortimer Realty, saying his background gives him an understanding of the people in the community.

“I understand the reasons they choose to be here and I understand their concerns about the future of this area,” Viola said. “I truly believe our representation should reflect and be versed in the times we live.

I understand economic development. I also understand having the right infrastructure in place — clean water, better roads, more neighborhoods, shovel-ready sites — is what drives economic development.

With being a business owner and a board member of several civic and non-profit organizations, I understand how to work on a balanced budget and make those decisions that affect the people of our community. We must have representation that will do what’s best for us and put our community first.”

Viola said he wants to focus on infrastructure, if elected, including the importance of safe and affordable water systems, with an eye toward securing state and federal grant funding for ongoing projects to keep the cost as low as possible for residents.

“Another infrastructure issue our community is facing is the lack of available housing,” he said. “It’s hurting our local and state economy. For the last six years, we simply do not have enough supply to meet demand. Some of our major employers, more than 50 percent of their workforce lives out of state. That’s money being made here that’s being taken out of our community and into Ohio and Pennsylvania.”

He pointed to his work in assisting the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle in getting much of the area designated for housing development projects through the Build West Virginia Act.

“If we’re able to address our housing needs, more people who make their money here will spend their money here,” Viola said. “Think about it. The money stays here. Our business will benefit, our economy will benefit, our community will benefit.”

Viola also notes the need to diversify the local economy.

“Our proximity to an international airport, plus access to highways, rail lines and the Ohio River make us primed for more light manufacturing and distribution centers; companies like Bidell, Pietro Fiorentini and Premium Guard, Inc.,” he said. “There are hundreds of acres of developable land here. We need to make sure we’re doing all we can to work with landowners and attract companies to our community.”

The winner of the Republican primary is set to face Democrat Daniel Joseph Day, of Weirton, in November. Day is unopposed in the Democratic primary for the District 2 House seat.

All other local House of Delegates races also are unopposed in the primary.

Those include Quincy Wilson of Weirton, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for the District 1 House of Delegates seat, and Republican Pat McGeehan of Chester who currently holds the seat.

The same scenario is set for the House of Delegates District 3 seat, with Republican incumbent Jimmy Willis of Bethany and Democrat Mike Robinson of Wellsburg seeing no competition in their respective primary elections.

McGeehan will face Wilson for the District 1 House seat, and Willis will face Robinson for the District 3 House seat in November.