Martinsburg will see a woman on the City Council

March 04, 2004|by CANDICE BOSELY

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The Martinsburg City Council's all-male monopoly will be shattered on July 1 since a woman is running unopposed in the June 8 election for one of the council seats.

Shari Knadler Persad is the only person running for the Ward 1 seat held by Christopher Baker. Baker, who did not file paperwork to seek another term, could not be reached for comment.

A woman has not served on the council since 1996, said city recorder Sharon Flick.

Persad is one of two women seeking one of the seven council seats. The other, LaRue Virginia Frye, is running for one of the council's two at-large seats. She will face incumbents Gregg Wachtel and Donald Anderson, both Democrats.

Persad and Frye are Republicans.

Aside from Baker, all the current city council members and Mayor George Karos have filed paperwork to seek another term.

Running unopposed are Karos, a Democrat; Councilman Richard Yauger, a Democrat who represents Ward 2; Councilman Max Parkinson, a Democrat who represents Ward 3; and Councilman Roger Lewis, a Democrat who represents Ward 4.

Councilman Glenville Twigg, a Democrat who represents Ward 5, faces a challenge from Frank "Tex" Idoni, a Republican. Idoni mailed in his paperwork, along with signatures of 25 people who are registered to vote within the city, on Saturday, Feb. 28 - the last day to file. The list of signatures is required to run for a council seat, Flick said.

Council members and the mayor serve four-year terms, which begin on July 1.

Polls for the June 8 election will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

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