Trending
MARTINS FERRY — Martins Ferry City Councilman Rick Rodgers will retain his Fourth Ward seat after defeating his challenger during Tuesday's primary election.
According to unofficial totals, Rodgers received 41 votes and his challenger, Pamela Shrodes, received 20 votes. Both are Democrats.
"I am happy the voters in the Fourth Ward have confidence in me, in my integrity and my accountability," Rodgers said. "I will continue to pursue their wants and their desires. I am always open and I listen with my ears and my heart."
Rodgers said for his new term he would like to see Ninth Street repaved and he plans to work together with council and Mayor John Davies to find grant funding to do so. He also is looking forward to pursuing a possible project that would involve the installation of a new waterline that would reach Shadyside and Rayland. Such a line would be useful if the city needs backup on its water supply, he said.
Tuesday's election was Shrodes' first time running for political office.
"It was a learning experience and I was happy to be a part of it," she said.
Rodgers' name will appear on the next general election ballot; he will have no one else to compete against then, he said.
Rodgers, 70, has been a member of council for the past seven years and currently serves as president pro tem. He also has served on the finance, audit, annexation, code administration and safety committees, the public relations committee and is currently the chairman of the street committee. He works as a private health care provider.
The Fourth Ward race was the only contested race in Belmont County. For this race, 13 people voted absentee (in-person and mail) and 49 people voted on election day, Tuesday. There are 1,113 registered voters in the Fourth Ward and 152 total registered Democrat voters.
The votes from this election are expected to be certified at 4 p.m. May 17 at the Belmont County Board of Elections Office in St. Clairsville.
There is one absentee vote still out. It would have to be postmarked with Monday's date and received in seven days to be counted.
Staff Writer Robert DeFrank contributed to this report.