MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A small business owner with a history of local activism wants Morgantown voters to give her consideration for the Second Ward city council seat.
Jodi Hollingshead is on the campaign trail as she makes her pitch to voters in the weeks ahead of the Morgantown Municipal Election on April 29. A mother and photographer who was heavily involved in city-related topics such as the cancelled move of firearms store Big Daddy’s Guns and the recent discussions over the municipal camping ban, Hollingshead hopes voters view her as someone who deeply cares about the community when they hit the ballot box.
“We’re in an unprecedented moment in political history, and I really, truly believe that locally is where real change can happen, and then we can build from there,” said Hollingshead on her mindset heading into the election.
Hollingshead hopes to find ways to improve the relationships between the city and constituents if she’s elected onto the Second Ward Morgantown City Council seat. Since her increased activity in municipal-related issues that started at around 2021, the South Park neighborhood resident has witnessed several developments related to a downturn in communications between the city and Morgantown first responders, which she feels need to be greatly improved upon. If elected, Hollingshead hopes to start fresh along with what will be two new members of council with the impending departures of current Second Ward Councilor Bill Kawecki and Sixth Ward Councilor Dave Harshbarger.
“We’ve got a couple of seats that are about to turn over in the city council, and I’m really hoping that we can all see that as sort of a fresh start,” said Hollingshead on WAJR’s Talk of the Town related to first responder conversations with the city. “I’d like to approach this with the knowledge of the history of the relationship, but also with fresh eyes.”
As a vocal advocate for unsheltered individuals, Hollingshead was also vocal in looking to find ways to address affordable housing options in the Morgantown area if she’s elected onto the council. Aside from vocally supporting the repeal of the municipal camping ban on city property that is placed on the ballot for the Morgantown Municipal Election, Hollingshead called for exploring grant opportunities and community-based programs to support housing for what is around 100 unsheltered individuals in the Morgantown area on a yearly basis.
“I really like to see the city adopt a housing-first approach that meets the basic needs of people experiencing homelessness,” Hollingshead said.
Jodi Hollingshead will be the only name on the ballot for the Second Ward Morgantown City Council seat when voters cast ballots in April, but she will technically not be running unopposed. City resident Jason Reed was confirmed to be a write-in candidate by Morgantown City Clerk Christine Wade in the weeks following the final candidate list for Morgantown City Council being released in February. Despite Hollingshead being expected to get support from organizations such as Mountaineers for Progress and being guaranteed to be the only name on the ballot for Second Ward, the South Park resident hopes voters see her as someone who is willing to listen and learn to help Morgantown grow.
“The most impact you can have is right here in your community,” Hollingshead said. “So voting in these municipal elections is so important, voting for elected officials and voting on any measures that come up.”