photo by: Joe Lovell

Wheeling mayoral candidates, from left, Dennis Magruder, Councilwoman Rosemary Ketchum, Vice Mayor Chad Thalman, Beth Hinebaugh, JT Thomas and Carl Carpenter offer their ideas on issues facing the city during a debate Thursday at West Virginia Northern Community College, organized by The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register and WTRF-TV. (Photo by Joe Lovell)

WHEELING — A standing-room-only crowd packed West Virginia Northern Community College’s B&O Building Auditorium on Thursday night to hear from six candidates who are vying for the seat as the next mayor of Wheeling.

Hundreds on hand got the opportunity to get a good feel for each of the candidates’ positions on issues ranging from economic development to infrastructure investment, leadership, social issues and the city’s ongoing dilemmas with its homeless population.

The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register hosted the mayoral debate along with media partner WTRF-TV7 for a two-hour question and answer session that dug into a variety of these and other important issues that are seen as being key to the future of the Friendly City.

All six candidates in the race participated in Thursday night’s event. Wheeling’s mayoral candidates include Carl Carpenter, Beth Hinebaugh, Rosemary Ketchum, Dennis Magruder, Chad Thalman and J.T. Thomas. Voters in the city will choose the winner during the upcoming municipal election – which coincides with the West Virginia primary election – on May 14.

Candidates randomly drew the order for answering questions, and with each question asked, the first opportunity to respond continued to rotate to the next candidate.

“I have a great passion for Wheeling,” said Magruder, who kicked off introductions. “Wheeling has been extremely good to me. I’ve also had a long and rewarding career in jobs that are related to city government and local government. I think I’ve learned a lot about what to do, and maybe more importantly, what not to do.”

Magruder retired from his position as executive director of the Greater Wheeling Sports and Entertainment Authority, where he oversaw operations of WesBanco Arena and the Capitol Theatre.

As a result of his retirement, he said he now can redirect his time and invest his experience into the job as the city’s next mayor.

“I ran in 2020 on a grassroots campaign focused on issues like infrastructure, housing, public transit, homelessness – one of the biggest issues that we’re facing, and small business, and in this campaign, we’re doubling down on those issues,” said Rosemary Ketchum, the current Ward 3 city council member. “I believe that we are at an inflection point, and that we’ve never experienced momentum like we have now, and that my government experience will prepare me for the next four years as your mayor.”

Ketchum said she has a background in mental health, serving as the associate director of a mental health facility in Wheeling for many years. This gave her an opportunity to directly see the challenges that the community’s most vulnerable members face, she said, adding that her ward includes some of the neighborhoods — Center Wheeling, South Wheeling, East Wheeling and Mozart – seeing the most growth and momentum.

“In 2016, people thought that Wheeling was beyond repair — a lot of people thought that our best days were behind us and that decline was our only future,” said Vice Mayor Chad Thalman, who has served Ward 1 as city councilman and as the city’s vice mayor for the past two terms. “Over the last eight years, under the leadership of Wheeling City Council, we’ve helped turn that around, and today our city is making a comeback.”

Thalman said that instead of hearing people talk about the past and what Wheeling has lost, people are talking about what is taking place today and what is possible for the future. This change in attitude has come about as a result of hard work, having a plan and having strong leadership, Thalman said, vowing to “continue the comeback” for Wheeling as the next mayor.

“I’m running because I believe in the potential of Wheeling, and in the citizens of our city, as well,” said Hinebaugh, a mother of eight, grandmother of 13 and owner of four businesses and more than 50 properties in the city. “I want to be an advocate for our community and for our citizens. I’m a leader who is not afraid to roll up my sleeves.”

Hinebaugh said that “we need to finish cleaning up the city” — not just the mud from the floods, but “the bureaucracy as well.” She said her experience — not only as a business owner but also as a former law enforcement officer, volunteer firefighter and EMT – gives her a unique perspective on how to run the city, offering a common-sense approach to working in city government as the next mayor.

“I have a lot of pride, a lot of passion and a lot of energy for this city,” Thomas said, noting that his family has been blessed to be a part of Wheeling for generations. “But what have we done to give back to the community that has given us everything?”

Thomas said he and his wife now had adult children in their early 20s.

“Now we have the time to give back what we feel is necessary in order to do this job correctly,” he said. “I’m not a politician, I’m just one of you — your friend, your neighbor, looking to make a difference.”

Carpenter noted that he was the “unknown, unconnected and unfunded” candidate of the six.

“I’ve never had a prestigious job, I don’t run a business, I just live here,” Carpenter said. “I moved here in 1991, and I finally decided that I’d had enough was going to run for mayor, because first of all, I just want to make Wheeling paved again. I also think that I could use some practical common sense to guide the city in the future rather than having delusional aspirations that Wheeling is a big city — it’s really not. We’ve always had to live within our means.”

If elected mayor, Carpenter said he wanted to make Wheeling a “nice, friendly, small city where we can all live together.”

The full house at WVNCC was clear evidence that the community was interested in getting to know those involved in the race to become Wheeling’s next mayor, many of the candidates and guests observed, as the crowd filled all available seats and lined the back of the room standing several people deep.

“This just does really show how important this race is for Wheeling and its future,” said John McCabe, editor of The Intelligencer, who served as the lead moderator for the debate. “Opinions can differ, but I feel a lot of really positive momentum in Wheeling right now, with a lot of good things happening, and a lot of challenges, as well.”

Magruder said Wheeling has a long history of harboring dreamers and idealists — from Betty Zane to those who built National Road through the city, making it a new gateway to the West.

“In 1863, the dreamers and idealists in this town met across the street — next door — and they created this great state, the only state born out of the Civil War,” Magruder said. “Now I look out here tonight, and I see a lot of the dreamers and idealists. I know that they are across our city. I say to them: I salute you all. I hope you’ll join me so that we can turn Wheeling’s dreams into a reality.”

Ketchum said it has been the honor of her life to serve as a member of city council for the past four years, and that she planned to continue focusing her time and effort on some of the most important issues facing the city of Wheeling.

“I wouldn’t be up here if I didn’t believe that we need new leadership — that we needed bold and thoughtful leadership to carry the ball forward,” Ketchum said. “I believe that Wheeling has the greatest opportunity than perhaps any city in America to lead an economic and social revival focused on infrastructure, housing, small business, arts and culture and parks and recreation. These are issues that I hope to double down on as your mayor.”

Thalman said he firmly believes that Wheeling is on the right path and has great momentum, and that the city should not “change horses in midstream” while so many positive improvements are taking place.

“I just have a simple question — is Wheeling better off now than it was eight years ago? Are we on the right path? I believe that we are heading in the right direction and that good things are happening,” Thalman said. “I don’t have to learn on the job — I can keep working for you on day one. I have the knowledge, the experience and the relationships to keep things moving forward and to continue Wheeling’s comeback.”

Hinebaugh asked for the voters’ trust and for their partnership in helping to forge a new future for Wheeling.

“I’d like to be your mayor because I want to be your advocate,” Hinebaugh said. “I need your support, your ideas and your participation. I feel that together, we can create a Wheeling that thrives economically, fosters a sense of community and protects our environment. I’d like to work hand-in-hand with all of you to bring a brighter future to make Wheeling shine and to be the great city that we know it is.”

Thomas said he has the energy, passion and collaborative ability to lead the city into the future.

“If you like to continue to kick the can down the road and think that status quo is the future of Wheeling, then I’m not your guy,” Thomas said. “But if you want somebody who is just like you – a concerned citizen who wants to effect change, somebody who is very passionate for the city and has the ability to recruit outside business to the city … I’m your guy.”

If elected, Carpenter vowed to serve diligently, honestly and faithfully” to the best of his ability.

“There are five other candidates that will do a good job as your mayor … if you want to continue down the road we’re going,” Carpenter said. “If you agree with me that it’s time to be practical and show common sense, then I think I’m the one clear candidate.”