photo by: Joe Lovell

Wheeling mayoral candidates, from left, Dennis Magruder, Councilwoman Rosemary Ketchum, Vice Mayor Chad Thalman, Beth Hinebaugh, JT Thomas and Carl Carpenter offer their ideas on issues facing the city during a debate Thursday at West Virginia Northern Community College, organized by The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register and WTRF-TV.

WHEELING — Voters soon will have the chance to cast their ballots, as early voting will begin Wednesday through May 11. And in the city of Wheeling, the mayoral race is front and center among the contests from which city residents can choose.

Six Wheeling residents will have their names on the ballot, a robust slate vying for the opportunity to step in for departing Mayor Glenn Elliott, who is term-limited.

Ohio County residents can cast their ballots from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday in the municipal courtroom of the City-County Building, 1500 Chapline St., Wheeling.

The 2024 municipal election offers a diverse slate of mayoral hopefuls — Carl Carpenter, Beth Hinebaugh, Rosemary Ketchum, Dennis Magruder, Chad Thalman and J.T. Thomas.

Thalman owns the most experience in governance among the field, serving as Wheeling’s vice mayor for the last eight years. He also has served as the city councilman for Ward 1, representing his home neighborhood of Warwood along with North Park and the upper section of Glenwood.

Ketchum also sports experience as an elected official, having served on Wheeling City Council for the last four years. She represents Ward 3, which encompasses the East Wheeling, Center Wheeling, South Wheeling and Mozart neighborhoods.

While Magruder hasn’t served Wheeling in an elected capacity, he recently retired as a longtime city employee. Magruder concluded his career as executive director of WesBanco Arena and the Capitol Theatre in October 2022 after more than 36 years in the role.

Thomas is well-known through his years of work in the private sector. The former coordinator of sports physical therapy for 26 years at Wheeling Hospital, Thomas is now a commercial insurance agent with Glessner, Wharton & Andrews Insurance, LLC.

Hinebaugh also has made her mark in private business in the city. She and her husband, Ed, own and operate several businesses and properties in the city, including Noah’s Ark Child Care and Learning Center on Wheeling Island, Fulton Fun Factory, Hinebaugh Athletics and Hinebaugh Properties.

Carpenter is a newcomer to Wheeling’s political scene. He said he decided last year to throw his hat in the ring for Wheeling’s mayoral seat, and calls himself the “unknown, unconnected and unfunded” candidate for the office.

Whoever earns the seat will become the leader of a city on the brink of emerging from its rust-belt roots and stepping into a new era, with a new downtown streetscape on its way to completion, a new WVU Medicine regional cancer center on the way and many other major developments on the horizon.

Early voting will begin Wednesday throughout the state. It will take place from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. in Brooke County; from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Hancock and Marshall counties; and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Tyler County.

In Wetzel County, early voting is set to take place Monday through Wednesday and on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Early voting takes place at all courthouses in the Northern Panhandle, and the polls will be open at all locations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.