MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Sixth Ward representative on the Morgantown City Council will not seek another term in office.
Councilor Dave Harshbarger announced that he will not seek a third term ahead of the start of campaigning for the 2025 Morgantown Municipal Election. Harshbarger, who is the third longest-tenured member on the council, made the announcement during the closing minutes of the council’s regular meeting Tuesday.
“I just want to formally say that I won’t be seeking a third term,” said Harshbarger. “It’s been an honor to serve our community, and I will look for other ways to continue to do so,” he said.
Harshbarger has been a part of the Morgantown City Council since 2019, where he was originally elected to a two-year term. During that time, he became one of three members, along with Second Ward Councilor Bill Kawecki and Fourth Ward Councilor Jenny Selin, who were the first council members elected to four-year terms in 2021 following a change to the city’s charter. As a council representative for at least three organizations, Harshbarger will fondly reflect on his time serving the city and will stay a part of city-based programs.
“I will look for other ways to continue to do so after June 30, some of that will be the Mon River Trails Conservancy,” said Harshbarger. “And as we move into July with the new council, I would be willing to serve on MUB, if the council so desires,” he said.
During his three terms, Harshbarger has served as the council representative on the Mon River Trails Conservancy and the Morgantown Utility Board. As a wellness professional for over 30 years, Harshbarger has also served on the West Virginia University Medicine Wellness team and has served on the Wellness Council of West Virginia. Despite his plans to no longer serve on the Morgantown City Council, Harshbarger still plans to remain involved in city activities and encourages other residents to take part in civil service.
“Democracy works best when more people participate, so I want people to know there is a vacancy in the 6th Ward,” Harshbarger said.
Councilor and Morgantown Deputy Mayor Jenny Selin also announced that she will run for re-election during the closing minutes of the council’s regular meeting Tuesday night. First elected in 2007, Selin ran unopposed in her last election in 2020 and will have spent 18 years as a member of the council by the time her term ends on June 30. While Selin appears to have a firm footprint in the council, she called for residents to consider her when the election takes place on April 29.
“I am going to run for city council again, I started off back in the day with my fresh, new ideas, similar to other people who are looking to run with their fresh, new ideas,” said Selin, encouraging voters to consider her at the voting booth. “Now I have some of the, sort of, knowledge about how things have been,” she said.