Martinsburg’s mayor has an opponent and all seven city council seats are contested in a municipal election that has attracted 19 candidates.
“Hopefully, the number of candidates will give us a large voter turnout,” City Recorder Gena Long said as Tuesday’s 5 p.m. candidate filing deadline approached.
Regardless of the outcome in the June 12 election, there will be at least two new council members because incumbents Councilwoman Betty Gunnoe in Ward 5 and at-large Councilman Rodney Woods opted not to seek re-election.
Four people are vying for Gunnoe’s seat, including former Councilman Glenville Twigg, according to Long, the city’s chief election officer. Three candidates are vying to either win Woods’ seat or defeat incumbent at-large Councilman Gregg Wachtel, who filed for re-election.
Mayor George Karos is opposed by Michael Bochinski.
Long said she believed the number of candidates this year may be the largest ever, if not one of the largest.
Sharon Flick, Long’s predecessor, agreed.
“I have never seen this — never,” said Flick, who retired last year after more than 20 years as city recorder.
“Once in a while you get two people running for mayor, but very rarely.”
The races are nonpartisan and no primaries are held.
The following people have filed for Martinsburg City Council:
Mayor
George Karos, 304 N. Delaware Ave.
Michael Bochinski, 701 Mill Race Drive
Ward 1
Dennis Etherington, 501 S. Georgia Ave.
Travis Bishop, 1025 W. King St.
Ward 2
Kevin Knowles, 127 W. South St.
Richard L. Yauger, 300 Silver Lane #517
Ward 3
Max Parkinson, 803 Honeysuckle Drive
Larry Rogers, 825 Honeysuckle Drive
Ward 4
Stephen Snowden, 312 W. Burke St.
Roger Lewis, 518 W. Burke St.
Nick Nelson, 325 Carroll St.
Ward 5
Keven Walker, 308 Legion St.
Jason Baker, 809 N. High St.
Terrence Crim, 1506 Yorktown St.
Glenville Twigg, 208 Karla Court
At-large
Donald Anderson, 505 Edgemont Terrace
Kevin Santana, 312 E. Liberty St.
C. William Hayes, 1006 Candi Court
Gregg Wachtel, 605 Foxcroft Ave., Apt. 1D
