Local Leaders Strongly Opposed to Partisan Municipal Elections
WHEELING — City leaders in Wheeling and Moundsville voiced universal opposition to proposed legislation that would force West Virginia municipalities to hold partisan elections.
“House Bill 4080 is simply a bad piece of legislation,” said Wheeling Councilman Dave Palmer. “This bill is being pushed by the nationalRepublican Party as a way to interject itself and take away local autonomy, and quite frankly, it’s disgusting.”
The city of Wheeling holds its municipal election every four years, typically in May, when seats for the mayor and all council members are up for grabs in non-partisan races.
“Local issues are just that and should not be decided by whether you have an ‘R’ or a ‘D’ next to your name,” Palmer said. “We as city council members are responsible for our streets, our water, our sewage and our public safety, and we do not need to be dragged into national issues.”
https://www.theintelligencer.net/news/top-headlines/2026/01/local-leaders-strongly-opposed-to-partisan-municipal-elections-2/