Roles for Beckley officials to change this election

Jan. 19—Whether they're incumbents or newcomers, those seeking election to the mayor's office or to the common council in the 2024 election will be stepping into a role that is new to city governance.

With the passage of the city manager ordinance by the Beckley Common Council in early January, Beckley's next mayor will have a vastly reduced role in the city's operations, while those elected to council will hold more responsibility for how the city is governed.

These new roles will take effect July 1 when the newly elected officials from the May election are sworn in.

Under a city manager government, also referred to as a weak mayor form of government, the mayor serves mainly as a figurehead.

Before council passed the ordinance that marks a pivot in the city's history, Beckley operated under a strong mayor form of government where the mayor served as the administrative authority for the city and was heavily involved in the city's day-to-day operation.

With a city manager government, those responsibilities will transfer to the city manager, who will be hired by council.

As of Friday, Beckley Mayor Rob Rappold said he had yet to decide whether or not he would seek reelection under the new form of government.

He said that while he'd like to see the continuance of several city projects started under his two terms as mayor, he also has his family to consider.

"Right now, I'm still kind of on the fence," Rappold said. "I'm very ambivalent from the standpoint of some really good things that we've accomplished over the past eight years that I would hate to see not be honored or even tried to reverse."

Rappold said his age is also a factor he needs to consider.

"I'm 76 years old. We have eight grandkids. My wife has been very cooperative over the years to support me," he said. "In the old days, she'd actually drive me through the neighborhoods and let me pop out of the car and knock on doors to campaign, but she said, 'Those days are over.' She said, 'I'm not doing that anymore.' So she's out of the campaign mode, and I don't blame her. She's been a great partner.

"So anyhow that's kind of where I am."

Thus far, two others have filed to run for Beckley mayor — Robert Dunlap, who serves on council and voted for the change in governance, and Michael Enrique Smith, a newcomer to Beckley politics.

Dunlap announced his intention to run for the mayor's in October, just as the city manager ordinance began to make its way to council.

He said the potential shift in government played a significant part in his decision to run for mayor.

His bid for mayor leaves his Ward 3 seat open.

Two candidates have filed to run for Ward 3 — Arran Adams and Tom Moseley.

Moseley ran against Dunlap in 2020 for Ward 3 and finished third out of the three candidates.

In Ward 1, incumbent council person Tom Sopher has filed for reelection.

In Ward 2, incumbent council person Bob Canter said he had "no comment" when The Register-Herald asked about his election plans.

In Ward 4, incumbent council person Kevin Price said he will not seek reelection.

"I just came in with a plan to run two terms, and that's what I did," Price said.

There have been no filings for Ward 4 as of Thursday.

In Ward 5, incumbent Janine Bullock said she remains undecided.

If Bullock chooses to enter the race, she will face at least two opponents.

Tina Pannell and Mary West have both filed to run for Ward 5.

Pannell is involved in several community organizations and is also the organizer of Beckley's annual Juneteenth celebration.

West has made a name for herself at council meetings, where she is always the first to speak during the public comment portion. Her comments typically involve asking council and the mayor for improvements to the street where she lives.

Both incumbent at-large council members, Sherrie Hunter and Cody Reedy, confirmed Friday that they will file for reelection.

Reedy, who is in his first four-year term on council, said he felt pursuing reelection as an at-large council member was the best way that he could serve the city.

"I wanted to run for reelection just to be the constant voice for the citizens that I have tried to be," he said.

As an at-large council member, Reedy is tasked with reviewing all the bids before council for a vote. With a background in construction gained from working at his family's business, Reedy Construction, Reedy said his experience is vital to the at-large council position.

"Being in the construction industry, I feel like it gives me a little advantage of knowing what things should cost and ultimately get the best deal for the city of Beckley on all bids," he said.

Reedy was one of three council members who voted against the city manager ordinance and said its passage had him considering running for other offices within the city.

"At the end of the day, I feel like more than ever, the city and the citizens need a voice out there that will always vote for what they believe in and I believe is the best for the city, no matter where they lie on different major politics," he said. "At the end of the day, this isn't about left and right; it's about the city of Beckley and doing what's best for it."

Hunter and Bullock also voted against the ordinance, but Hunter said she had planned to run regardless of how council voted on the city manager issue.

"I still had the fire in my belly to come to the table to be relevant for the citizens of Beckley and my constituents," Hunter said. "And I believe that listening and collaborating and looking at different perspectives is paramount. ... I feel the desire to still be a servant and to be a public servant to our citizens." Hunter said she and Reedy plan to file together next week as a show of solidarity and support for each other.

"While we don't always agree with each other, we are civil with one another, and we respect one another," Hunter said. "And because we are the at-large for the city, I think that shows a cohesiveness and a collaboration between the two of us that we're running, and we're there to be the voice for our constituents."

The final day to file for the election is Jan. 27.

Email: jmoore@register-herald.com