MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — One way or another, the next Democratic nominee for Monongalia County Commission will have experience serving Commission.
While challenger Andrew Price runs unopposed for the GOP nomination, incumbent Democrat and current Commission President Tom Bloom will try to fend off a challenge from former County Commissioner Betty Wiley next month.
The two primary candidates joined Morgantown AM on Monday to discuss the issues.
Challenger Betty Wiley, a Monongalia County native, Clay-Battelle High School graduate, and WVU graduate, cited her gumption and forward-thinking, claiming she “wanted to put a chicken in every pot.”
“You just have to write a lot of letters and reach the right people and inspire the public to write a lot of letters,” she said. “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.”
Bloom, a Philadelphia native who has lived in Morgantown since 1971, praised his hands-on style and ability to work with anybody, including the two Republicans — Ed Hawkins and Sean Sikora — currently serving on Commission.
“It is something that people will say they may not always like how I do it, but they know that I will try and get it done,” he said.
Now in his first bid for re-election, Bloom — a former UHS guidance counselor and Morgantown City Councilman — also touted the success, comparitively speaking, of the Monongalia County local economy during the stewardship of this Commission and its recent predecessors.
“Our economic prosperity, we continually grow,” he said. “And we’re the beacon for businesses to come into West Virginia.”
“Keeping low property taxes and at the same time providing excellent quality of life has really made Monongalia County the place to live.”
Wiley, now running her sixth race for County Commission, discussed some of the past successes when she was in Commission in 1994, particularly an ordinance that banned indoor smoking.
“I wanted to include bars in that ordinance, but nobody else did,” she said. “They were all chicken, but of course now bars are included in the ordinance.”
Wiley also suggested she had concerns with runaway, uncontrolled economic growth.
“I don’t know that that is considered to be stable economic base,” she said. “When they build another mall, stores close in the other malls.”
Bloom acknowledged that he is capable of ruffling feathers, but also believes that the community has seen his work in action.
“I believe my hands on approach style, my willingness to tackle the difficult issues, and really my passion and understanding about the problems we face in the county has brought me closer to the citizens,” Bloom said.
Early voting begins April 25. Election Day is May 8.