Eight seek Bethany Council seats

BETHANY - Bethany voters will be asked to choose from eight candidates for five seats on Bethany Town Council in the town's June 9 general election.

Because the town isn't divided into wards, the five council members are considered representatives of all of Bethany.

The eight are: Challenger Linda Chivers of Main Street, incumbent James Forrester of 103 Logan Court, challenger Bill Hicks of 101 Roosevelt Ave., incumbent Helen Moren of 202 Pendleton St., challenger Ted Pauls of 117 Roosevelt Ave., challenger Rebecca Rose of 303 Ross St., challenger Charles "Red" Schwertfeger of Church Street and incumbent Patrick Sutherland of 101 Point Breeze Drive.

Current Councilman Gray Williamson chose not to seek re-election and Jay Eisenhauer, also a Bethany councilman, is competing with John Cole for the mayor's seat.

A lifelong Bethany resident and graduate of Bethany High School, Chivers has worked in the food service industry for 40 years.

She said she hasn't served a public office but has a sincere desire to improve the town and serve its residents.

She said if elected, she would push for the cleanup of clutter and debris; encourage Bethany Police to do more patrols, particularly in the summer and possibly on foot as well as in their cruisers; and encourage officials and residents to work together for the betterment of the community.

Chivers said she would be available to hear all concerns and complaints, large or small, and work to make it an attractive place for visitors and new residents.

A graduate of West Virginia University, where he earned a doctorate in political science, Forrester taught the subject for 37 years at West Liberty State College and has written books on West Virginia politics and municipal government.

He has served on Bethany Council for more than 15 years, serving with Mayors Gary Larson, John Cole and Sven deJong, and as acting town recorder, a position comparable to city clerk, for a time.

Forrester said if re-elected he will continue to support upgrades to the town's wastewater treatment system; continue to work with other Bethany officials to improve the town's ordinances; and push for stricter enforcement of the town's speed limit laws, particularly on state Route 88.

An associate biology professor at Bethany College, Hicks is a graduate of Bloombsburg University, Miami University and Oregon State University, where he earned degrees in biology, botany and forest science, in which he holds a doctorate.

He has served for three years on the Bethany Planning Commission.

Hicks said if elected he will continue to evaluate existing Bethany laws to make sure they are current, useful and enforceable; maintain the services the town provides; and listen to the community to address future needs.

A graduate of Bethany High School and WLSC, Moren is a retired postal clerk. She has been a Bethany Council member for four years and was town recorder for 17 years. She is a member of the board of directors of the Brooke-Hancock-Ohio-Marshall Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, member of the Bethany Playground Association and member and past president of the Bethany Woman's Club, a chapter of the General Federation of Woman's Clubs-West Virginia, for which she has been a district president and member of its state board and councils.

Moren said if re-elected she would encourage residents to beautify their property and the community as a whole, work closely with Bethany officials to see that town ordinances are enforced and seek a grant to complete renovations to the Bethany Community Building.

A professor at Wheeling Jesuit University, Pauls is a graduate of Brooke High School and WVU, where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration and is working on his doctorate.

He worked previously as marketing director for Greer Industries and as a stockbroker.

Pauls has served three terms on Bethany Council and is a member of the Brooke County Solid Waste Authority.

He said if elected he would push for stricter enforcement of existing ordinances, work to improve relations between council and Bethany's fire and police departments and actively seek input from citizens about how the town could be improved and hear their concerns.

Rose is a graduate of Bethany College, where she earned a bachelor's degree in communication, and has served as media relations assistant and presently, as director of communications.

She worked previously as education coordinator for the Gatetway Clipper Fleet in Pittsburgh and as a retail manager and has experience in Web site design.

In the last two years she has worked with others to organize and promote the Bethany Community Picnic.

"I decided to run for council to try to give back to the community in which I live and work. I would like to work to continue the beautification of Main Street and to help promote Bethany as the beautiful, historic setting that it is," Rose said.

Schwertfeger is a graduate of Bethany High School and Navy veteran of World War II, during which he served 40 months aboard a submarine.

A retired Weirton Steel employee with 38 years of service, he has served on the Bethany Park Board for 40 years, with 20 of them as president, and as a Little League baseball and youth basketball coach.

He said if elected he'd "return Bethany to the small, friendly town it once was."

Schwertfeger said he would reduce the town's police department from its current staff of eight, which he said is excessive, and push for year-round cleanups of Bethany's streets and alleys and enforce ordinances addressing unkempt yards.

Sutherland has been a professor for 20 years at Bethany College, where he is chairman of the communication department and general manager of the campus radio station.

He is a graduate of Marquette University, the University of Florida and Ohio University and holds degrees in speech communication. He has a doctorate degree in mass communication.

An Army veteran, he worked for Armed Forces radio and television in Germany and for 14 years as an announcer in commercial and public television and radio.

Sutherland served about six years on Bethany Council, has been a member of Bethany's Zoning Appeals Board and was president of its planning commission for three years, during which he worked with others to complete the town's comprehensive plan.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com)