photo by: Craig Howell

Chester Mayor Ed Wedgewood, left, talks with County Commissioner Paul Cowey, right, during Monday’s county commission meeting, while Commission President Eron Chek signs the memorandum of understanding for operations of Chester’s municipal elections. County Administrator John Klee also is pictured.

Working ahead of the requirements under a law enacted earlier this year, the City of Chester and Hancock County Commission approved a memorandum of understanding Monday which would see the two entities jointly conduct the city’s election.

As part of their regular meeting, held Monday afternoon, commissioners unanimously approved both a resolution to “jointly conduct the City of Chester’s Municipal elections with the County-run elections,” as well as the formal memorandum of understanding.

The agreement would begin with the primary election set for May 2026.

“We certainly appreciate the county’s cooperation,” Chester Mayor Ed Wedgewood said, explaining the move is an attempt to get an early start on meeting the regulations of Senate Bill 50, which was approved by the West Virginia Legislature in April and signed into law by Gov. Patrick Morrisey.

Under Senate Bill 50, any city, town or village whose charter requires elections have until July 1, 2032 to adjust their election schedule to fall in line with elections already conducted by their local county.

Under the terms of the law, municipalities must share in the costs of holding elections. Municipalities also may adjust the terms of their current office-holders as part of the rescheduling, provided any extension is no longer than 18 months.

Commission President Eron Chek thanked Wedgewood and City Clerk Tara Ayers for the city’s work in addressing the requirements of the new law.

“We look forward to the collaboration,” Chek said, offering appreciation to the efforts of the County Clerk’s Office for its part in the process.

Three municipalities in Hancock County have elections for positions, including mayor and council. Weirton previously realigned its election schedule as part of a 2019 charter change.Those changes also lined up Weirton’s municipal election with the presidential election.