Trending
Knierim
Sklavounakis
Clutter
WHEELING -- Three candidates in the upcoming municipal election are vying for the open seat on Wheeling City Council representing Ward 4.
Candidates Crissy Clutter, Jeff Knierim and Jerry Sklavounakis are in the race for the council seat currently occupied by 4th Ward Councilwoman Wendy Scatterday, who is not seeking re-election in the June 9 election.
Clutter, of Woodland Drive, is a former television news reporter and anchor who has covered a variety of news stories across the Mountain State. She and her husband own a small energy business, which her husband operates. She is currently a stay-at-home mom who volunteers for several organizations. She also co-chairs her late father Pat Clutter's memorial scholarship golf event.
"I intend to spend the rest of my life here and raise my family here, and I want the best for my friends, family and neighbors," Clutter said. "I love being involved in the Wheeling community, and I want to be a voice for my neighbors. I want to work to get their issues and problems resolved."
Issues like flooding, poor road conditions and the drug epidemic deserve some attention now, Clutter said.
"I have attended hundreds of city council meetings locally and across the tri-state area," she said. "I know how the process works, and I know how to get things done. I have the time and resources to help my neighbors now."
The people who call Wheeling home are the city's greatest asset, Clutter said, noting the way people come together in times of crisis is inspiring.
"Keeping young people here, attracting new residents and helping small businesses thrive," Clutter said are some of the biggest challenges facing the city today. "City officials need to continue to bring new business and growth to our area. The potential of an ethane cracker plant in Belmont County provides hope for the Ohio Valley. The development would mean thousands of good-paying jobs for the area. In turn, Wheeling and other municipalities could flourish from the huge investment/industrial project."
Clutter said the area's natural resources can attract more business and jobs to the area.
"Wheeling needs to be an intricate part of the expected boom," she said. "Local residents need to profit from the development by being part of this ever-growing workforce."
Clutter said she wants residents to get answers and solutions about their flooding problems and other concerns.
"I am a fresh voice for Wheeling," she said. "I will work hard for my family, friends and neighbors to make sure our city is the best it can be. I will always be available and willing to help my neighbors."
Knierim, of Edgwood Street, started his business career in 1972 after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh. He was president of Cooey-Bentz Co., executive director of the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley, chief development officer at West Liberty University, vice president for community engagement at WLU and an account executive at WTRF-TV.
Currently, Knierim works as a real estate agent. He also is a member and past president of the Rotary Club of Wheeling and a member of the city's traffic commission. He has served on the boards of The Salvation Army, Easters Seals, Oglebay Institute, Wheeling Health Right, OVMC, United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley, Wheeling, Marshall County and St. Clairsville Area Chambers of Commerce and the Ohio County Board of Education.
"I'm running since I feel that my qualifications would be an asset to city council," Knierim said. "With 48 years of business and community service, I would bring an experienced perspective to council."
Wheeling has a proud heritage which its citizens embrace, Knierim said, noting that its people are the city's greatest asset.
"Education, healthcare, recreation, entertainment and cultural activities make our city a very desirable place to live," he said.
The city's greatest challenge is declining population, according to Knierim.
"I believe that our city leaders are pulling in the right direction in running the city with the best interests of its citizens in mind," he said. "Growing a community is a difficult task. If elected, I would work with all stakeholders in addressing needs that would help our city grow."
Knierim said creating jobs is the place to start in reversing population decline.
"I am pro-business and would work with current businesses in addressing their needs and concerns as well as working with city and community leaders in supporting a strategy to attract entrepreneurs who would like to invest in our city," he said.
As a real estate agent, Knierim said his schedule is flexible, which will allow him to devote as much time as possible to council duties.
"I'm a candidate that would bring much experience to council," Knierim said. "It is my goal to address all city issues in a responsible manner in order to make the city prosper benefiting all residents."
Sklavounakis, of Poplar Avenue, was born and raised in Wheeling. He graduated from undergraduate and law school at West Virginia University. For nearly 20 years he has been an attorney in Wheeling and is a lifelong member of Saint John the Divine Orthodox Church.
"I am proud of my service to our community," he said. "Ward 4 needs a public servant who will advocate for the best interest of its residents. I have a proven track record of being a hard-working, effective and decisive advocate. I have spent a career defending the rights of children, working class people and the most vulnerable citizens of our city."
Wheeling has many great assets, including its people, a sense of community, a beautiful park system and an advantageous geographic location, said Sklavounakis, who cited aging infrastructure and the shrinking population are part of the biggest challenges facing Wheeling.
"I believe city government needs to get back to basics and should focus on infrastructure improvements, maintaining streets and ensuring our first responders have the tools necessary to do their jobs," he said. "One of the residents' biggest concerns is the aging infrastructure, specifically the sewer system. Fixing and upgrading the sewer system will be one of my priorities. We also need to remove blight by addressing dilapidated and abandoned buildings."
Sklavounakis said he will work with federal and state governments, as well as private entities, to bring back mental health services to the area.
"On a daily basis, through my job, I see the need for more mental health providers," Sklavounakis said. "The opioid crisis and the lack of a secure mental health hospital is negatively affecting our community and fixing those issues will be one of my highest priorities."
The city needs to promote economic development in Ward 4 and downtown by supporting responsible developers at every stage, according to Sklavounakis.
"The city must focus on increasing its population by promoting developments like affordable housing and good paying jobs to keep our youth home," he said.
Sklavounakis said he has concerns about the proposed GC&P mixed-use village development above Woodsdale.
"I am opposed to modifying any law or zone change that would allow a rock quarry in Ward 4. I have spoken to countless residents, and not one person is in favor of this development, even if it is packaged as something else, in this case a 'mixed-use' facility," Sklavounakis said. "The very fact that the public is not even aware of any plans for a performance bond shows how shoddy the plans for this development are. A performance bond would guarantee the satisfactory completion of the job. Without this legally binding agreement, the property owners could walk away at any point, leaving a destroyed property located in the middle of one of our neighborhoods."