I was surprised several months ago when I learned former Parkersburg City Councilman Jim Knapp was running for re-election again as a candidate for city council in the 8th district. His opponent is Councilman John Rockhold who defeated Knapp in 2008.
Knapp had some serious problems with the Wood County prosecutor before the general election four years ago. His problems involved criminal charges for shoplifting. Knapp pled guilty to those charges, receiving a suspended sentence, 12 months probation and paid a fine. The notoriety from the news coverage of those events may have cost Knapp the election in 2008. And now he's back in the Parkersburg political arena.
Aren't we lucky!
Knapp also challenged his opponent's residency in the 8th District a month ago. Rockhold owns a home in the 8th and pays real estate taxes on his home in the 8th and has his mail delivered to his home in the 8th. He's also registered to vote in the 8th. No doubt about it. Rockhold is a resident in the 8th. And city council was forced to waste valuable time dealing with Knapp's bogus complaint. Council dismissed the complaint.
I hope the voters in the 8th District are paying attention and have their memory in gear when they cast their vote for city council on Nov. 6.
Ralph Chambers
Parkersburg
