Mayoral candidates debate future of Wheeling
Candidates met on Thursday, April 18, to discuss several issues facing the city of Wheeling.
Wheeling, W.Va. — The six people vying to become Wheeling’s next mayor met on the campus of West Virginia Northern Community College to lay out their vision for the city. Candidates were asked for their opinions on issues on homelessness, housing stock, diversity, development, and city administration.
Hosted by WTRF-7 News, The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register, and moderated by John McCabe, candidates answered more than twenty questions during the two hour debate in front of more than 250 residents.
From left to right sat Denny Magruder, Rosemary Ketchum, Chad Thalman, Beth Hinebaugh, JT Thomas, and Carl Carpenter.
HOMELESSNESS IN WHEELING
Responding to a question about their support for an urban camping ban passed by the city council in November 2023 candidates were divided on support for the ordinance. Ketchum and Carpenter opposed the ban, which threatens fines against individuals sleeping on public property.
America is facing a historic rise in homelessness affecting some 653,000 people. The Supreme Court of the United States will hear arguments challenging a Ninth Circuit ruling that declared bans on camping on public property unconstitutional.
Ketchum, who voted against the ordinance, said the ban was “poor policy” that she could not support. Carpenter said the treatment of homeless people during the January 18 camp demolitions was “the most callous way possible” to deal with the situation.
When asked whether candidates supported the homeless liaison position, currently held by Melissa Adams, all but Carl Carpenter said they would likely not support its continuation. The position is set to expire on June 30 and would need to be reapproved by the council.
Candidates were asked for their opinions on how the city of Wheeling has handled the homelessness crisis.
Magruder said “health and safety [come] first” citing fears of criminal elements at the camps and a worsening mental health and addiction crisis. He stated that residents were scared to go to area parks for fear of “feces covered” streets or finding needles on the ground.
Hinebaugh said the issue is “complex” deserving of a “multi-faceted approach.” She said many people are “kicked out of care facilities whether they’re ready or not” and said legislators should work to tighten requirements for treatment and how patients are discharged. Hinebaugh said the situation needed to be handled with “compassion,” but stated that the city “cannot sacrifice its identity or commerce [potential]” when dealing with homelessness.
Thalman said he strongly disagreed with the “idea that anyone can camp anywhere.” He said he and other members of council were “appalled” by bulldozers destroying homeless camps on January 18, but that he is “confident council made the right decision” when it passed the urban camping ban.
Despite the council’s alleged outrage at the city administration bulldozing camps there has been no publicly-acknowledged disciplinary action related to January 18.
Ketchum was the only candidate to speak in support of a low-barrier shelter, which would allow homeless individuals to seek services no matter their addiction status or their prior criminal record. She stated that the city has handled homelessness “poorly.”
On whether or not candidates supported the current city administration–a veiled question about city manager Robert Herron–most agreed that they did, including Thomas, Magruder, and Thalman.
Hinebaugh said she supports some members but not others. Carpenter, citing what he calls “years of unnecessary destruction” said he did not support the administration. Ketchum said she had faith in the city, but that she believed new leadership was needed.
SOCIAL ISSUES AND DIVERSITY
Candidates were asked whether they would consider repealing anti-discrimination ordinances or the CROWN Act, which protects culturally black hairstyles from discrimination in housing or employment. All candidates except for Magruder said they would not consider a repeal.
Magruder said the CROWN Act “isn’t a good thing” and stated he didn’t want Wheeling to be a “sanctuary city.” He said he would consider advocating for a repeal of the ordinances if elected.
City council has never considered an ordinance making Wheeling a ‘sanctuary city.’
Related to this question, candidates were asked whether they support adding more diverse voices to the city’s committees, commissions, and boards, to which every candidate agreed.
Magruder said “you don’t just appoint your friends” to advisory panels and suggested creating more boards and commissions. Thalman advocated for more inclusivity, but added the city faces a lack of applications for open positions.
DEVELOPMENT IN WHEELING
Several questions asked at the debate were related to redevelopment in the city. The downtown Streetscape project, Market Street parking garage, and suspension bridge rehabilitation project were discussed at length.
Candidates were asked if they believed the city got ahead of developers when they funded the Market Street parking garage. The garage was approved, in part, to accommodate the Wheeling-Pittsburgh Lofts redevelopment project which hasn’t seen progress in years due to inflated costs and supply-chain issues faced by Coon Restoration.
Thomas, who was first to answer the question, asked if the city had been “duped again” as it relates to the Wheeling-Pittsburgh lofts project. “Is this another Roxby situation?” Thomas queried, to which many in the crowd gasped, booed, or otherwise expressed disapproval of the comment.
Roxby Development bought several properties in Wheeling starting in 2020. The company’s head, Jeffrey Morris, could now face several years in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and failure to pay tax charges.
Ketchum pushed back against the comments, saying that “comparing Coon [Restoration] to Roxby [Development] is disrespectful,” adding that Coon Restoration has a good record in the city. She went on to say the project was in response to business owners pleading for parking. Ketchum noted that the structure would host several new retail spaces as well as parking.
Carpenter said he opposed projects that “encumber the city of Wheeling with debt” to support private businesses. Magruder said he thought the city “put the cart before the horse.”
Hinebaugh cited parking as a consistent issue for downtown and the investment was good for the city. Thalman said the project was needed as there is a “high likelihood” more development, including housing, will come to downtown in the coming years.
When asked whether the city should continue to play a role in redeveloping properties, Carpenter stated the city should give up the “delusion that we’re a big city.” Ketchum rebuked this comment stating that the city is the fifth largest in West Virginia and that we should “act like it.”
A peculiar question from moderator McCabe asked candidates if they would support constructing a new bridge to connect Wheeling Island to downtown, citing an anticipated decision from the West Virginia Division of Highways to keep the suspension bridge closed to vehicular traffic.
While many candidates supported the idea the obvious concern was funding. A new bridge could cost upwards of $100 million, and where it would be located is unclear.
Thalman said we should find creative ways to use the suspension bridge theorizing businesses could set up shop on the historic river crossing. Magruder noted that the lack of access points for the island is a safety concern and a negative influence for developers.
According to recent studies to guide Wheeling through its revitalization, a commonly cited concern is a lack of housing stock. Candidates weighed in on how to encourage more development.
Carpenter said affordable housing is a “major national problem, not just in Wheeling.” He took issue with a project that “put public money in private hands,” alluding to WODA Cooper Company’s construction of residential buildings throughout the city. He said zoning laws should be updated to allow property owners the “right to use [their property] in the most economic way.”
Hinebaugh, who owns several properties in the city, said the city needs to start rebuilding homes after a “record number of homes” have been torn down. She said most people want single-family homes, a sentiment Magruder agreed with.
Ketchum noted that West Virginia has seen the sharpest decline in population nationwide, saying this was a “mandate to do something differently.” She and her council colleague, Thalman, touted programs in the city that assist homeowners in funding the remodeling of their property.
CONCLUSION
Ultimately, Wheeling’s next mayor will be decided by the voters on May 14. The results will almost certainly be close. No matter who wins, it’s important to understand that the mayor is just one vote on a seven member council. Who is elected to represent the city’s six wards will have a greater impact on what the next council will or won’t do over the next four years.
Voters have until April 23 to register to vote, update their address, or change their party.
To watch the full debate visit WTRF-7 News.
Thank you Devon Snider for use of the photographs included in this article.