Commissioner moves back to proper district

January 19, 2008|By TRISH RUDDER

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - Thomas R. Swaim, the Morgan County Commissioner who in 2005 moved out of Magisterial District 3, which he represents, returned to the district in December.

Swaim said he moved back into District 3 because he feared the issue would put a cloud over the candidacy of Commissioner Glen Stotler, who is running for re-election this year.

Stotler represents Magisterial District 2, the district in which Swaim had been living until last month.

"I did not want to resign, and I have no intention of running again," said Swaim, who has two years left on his term. His position will be up for grabs in 2010.

Swaim now resides at 2478 Fairview Drive in Berkeley Springs, he said Tuesday, noting that his wife did not move with him to the new address.

"I live there and I plan to live there through December '08," he said.

He said he has a one-year lease on the property.

"It's the right thing to do," he said. "I'm the one that messed up."

Swaim said that when he realized he moved into District 2, "I came to the commission meeting and announced it, and when the time came it was a problem, I would remedy it, and I have."

"I want to see an election for this Morgan County Commission race that's about issues and not over eligibility issues," he said.

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