Fayette voters to decide on excess levy; candidate filing ongoing for May primary

By Steve Keenan

Fayette County residents can vote up or vote down a special excess levy on Saturday, Feb. 6.

The five-year levy, which if passed would be a continuation of a levy already in effect, supplements fire protection, law enforcement and libraries in the county.

About 30 voters cast their ballots on the first day of early voting last week. Early voting will be accepted at the Fayette County Courthouse until Wednesday, Feb. 3. Votes can be cast from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, but that will be extended to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

In 2005, over 70 percent of voters approved each of the three segments, County Clerk Kelvin Holliday said.

Passage requires at least 60 percent of ‘yes’ votes from residents.

If passed, $953,729 would be approved for law enforcement salaries and benefits, $435,654 would go to the library system, and $1,416,856 would be allocated for fire protection and services.

Holliday says taxes won’t increase since the levies are already in place.

On election day, voting will be staged during normal hours at the usual precincts. There have been a couple of changes in precinct location, Holliday stresses. Precinct 12, for which voting was formerly held at now-closed Oak Hill Elementary, will now be staged at the Lewis Community Foundation Christian Community Center, along with Precinct 11. And, two former precincts — 8 and 15 — that were at East End Elementary will now be at the Oak Hill Church of the Nazarene Annex.



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Along the election lines, a handful of candidates has filed to seek office in Fayette County in the May 11 primary.

John Lopez, a current county commissioner from Smithers, filed earlier to seek another term in office. Last Tuesday, Ronnie Swyers, a Democrat from Kanawha Falls, filed to oppose Lopez.

Holliday, the incumbent county clerk who resides in Oak Hill, has also filed for another term in office.

Also certifying his candidacy for another term was incumbent Circuit Clerk Danny Wright, of Oak Hill.

Last week, Springdale resident Montgomery Johnson made official his intentions to seek a seat representing the New Haven District on the Fayette County Board of Education. Current board members Dave Arritt, of the New Haven District, and Steve Bush, of the Plateau District, have filed to maintain their seats. A third incumbent board member, the New Haven District’s James Workman, is also up for re-election.

Other recent filings included:

* Judith Mackey, Oak Hill, Plateau District — Fayette County Republican Executive Committee; and

* Fred Neudek, Oak Hill, Plateau District — Fayette County Democratic Executive Committee; district executive committee, both delegate and senatorial.

Candidates can file until Saturday, Jan. 30. The clerk’s office will be open from 9 a.m. to noon on that day to accommodate last-minute filers. Prior to that, candidates can file on weekdays at the clerk’s office.

Filings postmarked on Jan. 30 or before will also be accepted.

Those wanting to register to vote in the primary can do so by April 20.

For more information, call 304-574-4226 or 304-574-4235.

— E-mail:

skeenan@register-herald.com

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