WHEELING -- Wheeling businessman Jeff Knierim terms himself "pro-business" and a "fiscal conservative," and he wants to bring his 47-year resume of business experience to Wheeling City Council.
Knierim, a Woodsdale resident, filed this week for the 4th Ward seat on council.
"I know, you've got to make the cash register ring," he said. "We have a population of about 27,000 people, and we're probably getting smaller. We need to attract more people, and more business."
Knierim, 69, started work at his family's business, the Cooey-Bentz Co., in 1972, and served as its president and general manager at the time of its closing in June 2002.
After this, he went on to serve as executive director of the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley until December 2007, then he went on to work as chief development officer at West Liberty University. He stayed on to work as vice president for community engagement at WLU until June 2015.
Following a couple of years in media sales, Knierim is semi-retired and now works as a realtor.
He previously was elected to the Ohio County Board of Education, and served there from 1996 to 2004.
Kneirim is a member and past president of the Rotary Club of Wheeling, and also a member of the Wheeling Traffic Commission.
He also has been affiliated with local boards for Easter Seals, the Wheeling Salvation Army, Ohio Valley Medical Center, Oglebay Institute, Wheeling Health Right, Mt. DeChantal Visitation Academy, and the West Virginia Education Alliance.
"My qualifications would be an asset to city council," he said. "I have 47 years of business and community involvement, and I would bring an experienced perspective to the of Wheeling.
He contends the city must improve its infrastructure, describing the streets as being "like a washboard."
"We have to take care of people who are here," Knierim said. "We have dilapidated buildings, and that doesn't look good when you come across the island."
He has been closely watching the city's efforts to purchase property and build a public service building at 19th and Jacob streets owned by Frank Calabrese.
"I agree we need it, but I'm not sure the Calabrese property is the right location," he said. "We don't want to buy a toxic waste dump. I'm more concerned about environmental issues there than the actual price."
As for the city service fee enacted by the current council to pay for the building, Knierim isn't opposed to it.
"I'd rather not be paying that, but there's obviously a need," he said.