Editor’s Note: After Casey Corliss’ biography and response was printed in last week’s Wetzel Chronicle, Cris Jenkins called to say he had sent his response by mail, although we’ve never received it. He then provided his information via e-mail. In the interest of fairness and public information we are running both candidates’ responses this week.)



Incumbent Casey (Marikay) Corliss and Cris Jenkins are both seeking to represent the Sixth Ward on New Martinsville City Council.



Casey (Marikay) Corliss has lived in West Virginia for over 40 years and has been a resident of Wetzel County for over 35 of those years. She graduated from Fairmont State College (now Fairmont State University) in 1968 with a degree in elementary education. She received her Master’s Degree in gifted education from West Virginia University in 1991.

She has been an educator in Wetzel County for over 35 years. Presently Corliss teaches sixth grade at Paden City Elementary School. As a teacher, she has written over a dozen grants benefitting Wetzel County Schools. Currently she serves as secretary of the Faculty Senate. Corliss attends First Christian Church.

At present, Corliss serves on the Parks and Recreation Committee and is chairperson of the city of New Martinsville’s Finance Committee. Corliss has three children: Cody, a law student at Cornell University; Chad, who is at Wheeling Jesuit University earning his doctorate in physical therapy; and Molly, a junior at Clemson University.

Cris Jenkins was born in Glen Dale and raised in Paden City until he moved to New Martinsville. He has lived in the Sixth Ward since 1993. Jenkins and his wife purchased their home in 1996 and still reside with their daughter Zoey. “We love our little quiet neighborhood,” said Jenkins.

He graduated from Paden City High school and attended the Wetzel County Career Center’s electrical class. He attended West Virginia Northern Community College. Jenkins started working at Miles (Bayer Corp.) as a process control designer, then was hired into Bayer Corp. as a Local 566 Technician in the Polyol process Unit. Later Jenkins was awarded a Local 65 position as a security officer at Bayer Corp.

When at work he enjoy traveling with his family. He is also a captain in The New Martinsville Fire Department. Jenkins joined the fire service in 1996 as a firefighter. “I have worked hard and countless hours in the classroom and responding to emergency calls,” said Jenkins. He has held and currently hold positions of captain, training officer, board of review, and treasurer and responds out of the Steelton station.



If you were given $50,000 to spend on the city in any manner you wish, what would you do with it and why?



Corliss: If council were given $50,000 to spend on the city, I would strongly encourage them to appropriate the entire amount to the Street Department to improve our roads and city streets. The reason I would invest the whole amount is obvious. Our streets are in a sad state of disrepair. This observation does not in any way discredit our fine street department. Gary Lemons and his workforce are incredibly talented men who do a remarkable job with an inadequate budget. I commend them, and feel confident they would maximize those monies to improve our streets.



Jenkins: I would spend the money on expenses already established. We have expenses that we could get rid that may bear interest.



What would you do to try to get more businesses to locate in New Martinsville?



Corliss: Although this may sound naive, I would do a series of things. First, I would contact our state legislature and work with them to see if they could appropriate money for repairing and perhaps widening state roads through New Martinsville. Council may offer a three-year Business and Occupational Tax break as incentive to relocate here. Lastly, I would work with Governor Manchin’s state business committee to offer other incentives for companies to locate in our town in the ways of remodeling any vacant building that could house that particular business.



Jenkins: This is one of the hardest ventures we got against our area. We have multi-million dollars businesses that have been attempting this for years. We could offer infrastructure assistance and offer small tax breaks until businesses were established and running. Our city needs new companies and business to move to our area to secure a better future for our town and supply stable jobs. We have to prove that we have an intelligent, strong, and safe along with reliable work force.



Name one city issue you would like to see addressed and how specifically you would work to rectify it.



Corliss: The one city issue we need to address is the lack of money to do what we’d all like to do for our employees and citizens. We are currently on the threshold of selling our hydroelectric licenses. These monies we could use to retire the $2,000,000 loan still remaining on our City Building. Once we accomplish this, we could focus on other issues. Rising health care for our employees continues to be a problem. Last fiscal year we spend over $690,000 for health care coverage. I do not expect these costs to go lower, but a wellness program for our employees would be quite helpful for all and could perhaps contain our costs.

We also need to make an effort to find the necessary funds for the repair of City Hall and establish a reserve account to be used for emergencies only. Above all we must be fiscally responsible and do our best to control spending so we do not have to burden our citizens with more fees or taxes.



Jenkins: One issue that is brought up and I hear so often is traffic problems. Everyone who tries to drive through New Martinsville during rush hours of school and work traffic feels anger. This is a subject that can’t be cured overnight. The Department of Highways has done studies of traffic patterns in our town. We could approach DOH and maybe come up with a few ideas that may reduce the grouping of cars due to traffic light patterns. During off peak hours we have many lights we could evaluate and maybe change them. Although it would be great if we could establish a five-year and 10-year plan to get the city in better money situations.