(Photo Illustration/MetroCreative)

PARKERSBURG — There’s no incumbent in the race for Parkersburg City Council’s member from District 1, but whoever takes the seat in January won’t be a rookie.

Nancy Wilcox won the May primary race over fellow former council member Sam Henry and faces Dave McCrady, who was unopposed in the Republican primary, in the Nov. 5 general election.

Wilcox represented District 1 from 2009 to 2016 and was unseated by McCrady in the 2016 Democratic primary. McCrady lost to sitting Councilwoman Jesse Cottrille, who opted not to run for a second term, in the 2020 general election.

McCrady, who said he supported an effort in 2018 to make council races nonpartisan, said his first choice would have been to run as an independent but he felt like he needed to register with a party to get his name out during the primary.

“The district I live in, it’s 71% Republican or independent,” he said. “Independents and nonpartisans in District 1 outnumber everybody.”

McCrady said he’s running for council again because he enjoys the job.

“It’s a way to serve my area, my community” he said.

McCrady said he knows the department heads very well and understands how the city’s processes work.

If elected, McCrady said he wants to work on getting a new outlet for traffic around Martin Elementary, since more students will be going there after Fairplains Elementary closes. He said he’d also like to encourage more property owners around Walmart to decide to annex into the city.

“I think we need a fire station out that way, out beyond there, if we keep growing,” McCrady said.

Wilcox said she’s seeking a return to council “because our city is getting to the point that it looks trashy.”

There are a number of rundown or poorly maintained properties headed toward dilapidation and, eventually, demolition, she said. On council, Wilcox said she would want to make sure the administration and employees are addressing those issues before they get too far gone to correct.

Council also needs to get back on track, Wilcox said, “listening to the people and help trying to solve problems in their districts.”

Wilcox said she has a background in finance, both in her career and now serving as the treasurer for Holiday in the Park.

“I try to be frugal with the money but yet do what we’ve got to do,” she said. “I think it’s time we take a new look at the user fee and (see) if we can either lower it or do away with it.”

Wilcox said she would like to see the city more involved with events like Homecoming and Winterfest.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com

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District 1 Candidates

Dave McCrady

* Age: 74

* Address: 915 Erie St.

* Party: Republican

* Occupation: retired union pipefitter

* Past offices: one term on council, member of the Police Civil Service Commission

Nancy Wilcox

* Age: 73

* Address: 4307 16th Ave.

* Party: Democrat

* Occupation: retired credit union manager

* Past offices: two terms on council