Editor’s note: This opinion piece from Wheeling resident J. Arnold Roxby appeared in the Tuesday, Feb. 10 print edition of The Intelligencer.

What is the face of Wheeling this year? The triumphant new Fire or Police headquarters? The collapsed Washington Avenue bridge or the crumbling stretch of National Road at McColloch’s Leap? Or is it the ground-level Market Street parking garage storefront — an $11 million public investment sitting empty, symbolizing both our development ambition and fragility?

A year has passed since the last State of the City address, when I acknowledged the incoming Magruder-Sklavounakis administration faced unusual weaknesses: no clear voter mandate and the tempting opportunity to ride coattails rather than build. A year and a half in, and it’s fair to ask again whether the administration has built representative coalitions and sustained Wheeling’s forward momentum.

Did We Vote for This?

With nearly twice as many Wheeling voters voting against Mayor Magruder as for him, it was pointed out how odd it is that Magruder did not select as vice mayor the councilor who received the most votes — Ty Thorngate (1,079 votes) — choosing instead Jerry Sklavounakis (894 votes). Magruder and Thorngate together represent a majority of votes cast; Magruder and Sklavounakis do not.

That gap between electoral sentiment and governance showed up starkly during the holidays with the homeless camp closure. After much public opposition, from both citizens and homeless service providers, the city closed and bulldozed the city-established encampment on the morning of a major snowstorm, while disparaging local charities, and arrested a volunteer. Even some who agreed with closing the camp found the implementation repugnant.

And the vote totals reflect this disconnect: the three city leaders who opposed the 2023 homeless ban and the December 2025 camp closure together have received more votes than the seven leaders who passed them. 7,033 votes from former Mayor Glenn Elliott (4,293 votes), Rosemary Ketchum (1,661), and Ty Thorngate (1,079). The seven leaders who supported the measures have together only received 6,889 votes – Magruder (2,675 votes), Palmer (1,114 in 2020’s uncontested race), Thalman (1,074), Sklavounakis (894), Assaro (530), Seidler (400), and Cain (202).

And after a year and a half, several obvious coalition partners that could further help remedy this remain on the sidelines. Rosemary Ketchum, the top mayoral runner-up (whose 1,661 votes along with Magruders do reach a majority), has not been appointed to any new city commission. Neither have third and fourth runners up, JT Thomas or Chad Thalman. Is the administration forming coalitions that represent and secure the backing of the majority of Wheeling residents?

Walking and Chewing Gum at the Same Time

Wheeling needs to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time; sustain the momentum of past administrations, without tripping over itself. As I wrote last year, simply taking credit for prior successes is costly regression. Ribbon-cuttings and photo-ops are pleasant, but we can’t miss layups while ooo-ing and awe-ing at a few big 3-pointers.

And credit where credit is due: the current administration is successfully continuing much of the previous administration’s work — the new Police and Fire facilities, the City-County Building renovations, Streetscape, Gateway Visitors Center, the WVU Cancer Center, the Allen Waterfront Hotel, the Suspension Bridge, the 1400 Block, the Bridge Tavern & Waterfront Hall, and others. These are wins for Wheeling and deserve celebration — and continued stewardship.

But the vacant Market Street storefront tells at least a more nuanced story. The heavy spending is done ­– a tax-payer funded, custom-built storefront, with 300 built in parking spaces. Now we’re at the last, critical, revenue-generating step: find a tenant and activate the space. This administration even reinstated an Economic Development Specialist to do just this. Let’s use that expertise to finish the job and make this a downtown success story.

Because instead as it stands now, Eleven Million Dollars and more than a year later, the contribution being made with this investment is… another vacant downtown storefront.

That disconnect undermines confidence, wastes taxpayer investment, and sends a dubious message.

In closing, Wheeling has so much going for it. We have committed leaders, engaged citizens, and a pipeline of amazing projects. But if Wheeling’s face this year is to be one of genuine progress, let it be a face that truly represents Wheeling voters, one that finishes what we’ve started, and let’s make the Market Street parking garage storefront be an example of what Wheeling can do together.

Roxby is a Wheeling resident.