JAMES KUDLAK

MOUNDSVILLE — Former Moundsville Police Chief James “Jim” Kudlak says he will seek a seat on the Marshall County Commission in 2026.

Kudlak, 65, is presently the chairman of the Marshall County Republican Party. He retired from the Moundsville Police Department in 2011 after 32 years on the force, spending the last 10 years there as chief.

Since retiring, Kudlak has served as a bus driver for Marshall County Schools.

His candidacy announcement comes after current Commissioner Scott Varner, a Democrat, announced he would not be seeking re-election in 2026.

“I have been watching the commission, and with (Republican commissioner) Dave McLaughlin being elected, I think they are headed in the right direction,” Kudlak said. “What I am most concerned with is the public getting access to meetings.”

Marshall County Commission meetings are not livestreamed, and he added the commission’s website isn’t the easiest to navigate and find information.

“The meetings are at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays, and if a person is at work, they don’t have access,” Kudlak said. “I would like to see them go to streaming the meetings live, or maybe changing up the dates and times.”

He suggests scheduling an occasional night meeting might be a good way for the commission to be more accessible to the public.

“I would also love to see a website that is easier for our seniors to use as most of our population is aging,” Kudlak added.

Kudlak has an extensive public service background. He currently serves as secretary of Little Prince Lodge 79 Knights of Pythias, secretary of Amir Saghir Temple of the Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan, and Secretary of the Grand Lodge of the Knights of Pythias of West Virginia

He is also a member of Moundsville Lodge #75 Fraternal Order of Police, a commissioner on the Moundsville Firefighter’s Civil Service Commission, and a small business owner operating Kudlak Inc. Campground.

Jim and his wife, Penny (Pelaez) Kudlak, reside in Marshall County. They have one daughter, Sydney, who is currently a student at West Virginia University.

If elected, Kudlak’s priorities will focus on reducing the tax burden by lowering the levy, adding transparency to county government, and making government more accessible by streaming meetings and scheduling them at times more convenient for working residents.

He also plans to improve county infrastructure, including water, sewer, and internet access; upgrade and expand recreation opportunities; address and remove dilapidated structures; and enhance enforcement of county trash and dumping ordinances.

Kudlak said too often the public doesn’t know how local government operates, and people come before the commission asking for their assistance in matters where commissioners have no authority.

The commissioners direct the person elsewhere.

“I want to change the attitude from ‘It’s not something we do’ to ‘Let’s see what we can do,'” Kudlak said. “Marshall County deserves leadership that listens, collaborates, and works for positive progress in every community.”