MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Canvassing for the 2023 Morgantown Municipal Election has been completed and no major changes have been announced. During the Morgantown City Council regular meeting Tuesday City Clerk Christine Wade told council members no recounts have been requested but the statutory window remains open.
“We have 48 hours for someone to request a recount and that has not happened yet,” Wade said. “So, we have until tomorrow around noon before the 48 hours is over.”
The final vote totals presented Tuesday were in the First Ward Joe Abu-Ghannam had 993 votes to 592 for James Giuliani. Louise Michael ran unopposed in the Thrid Ward and earned 1,224 votes. In the Fifth Ward, Deputy Mayor Danielle Trumble ended with 1,193 votes to 441 for Marly Ynigues. Incumbent Brian Butcher won in the Fifth Ward with 889 votesto 762 votes for Ben Mayle making it the closest race in the election.
Wade said voter turnout was nearly 13 percent, but she said 6,000 voters have dropped off the voter rolls since 2019.
“I think I need to have a conversation with the county clerk’s office to find out why that is, or may the West Virginia Secretary of State,” Wade said about changes in registered voters.
This year, Star City voted to get on a path to align their elections with the state cycle and Westover is the latest to consider the move. Star City officials said they expect to significantly increase voter participation with the move.
“I really kind of bristle at that, in that what it does is remove the importance of local government, local government, local issues and turns it into something more partisan,” First Ward Councilors Bill Kawecki said.
Wade said the early voting location at the Historic Train Depot operated very efficiently as well as polling locations on election day. Wade had high praise for her staff and volunteers that worked throughout the process.