Connect Bridgeport
Ad
FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTubeRSS
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Community
    • Community News
    • Anniversaries
    • Announcements
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Calendar
    • Churches
    • Clubs & Organizations
    • Directory
    • Farmer's Market
    • File Complaint
    • Greeting Cards
    • Library
    • Lost And Found
    • Obituaries
    • Parks & Recreation
    • Sponsorships
  • Trading Post
    • For Sale
    • Local Deals
    • Services
    • Yard Sales
  • Visitors
  • Relocation
  • Education
  • Jobs
  • Alumni

Barry Balon Files to Run for Seat on City Council

By Jeff Toquinto on January 12, 2023

The filing period to run in Bridgeport’s June 13 city election began Monday. On Tuesday, the first candidate put their name into the hat.
 
Barry Balon, who ran for Council in 2021 and barely missed making the cut, became the first individual to file for one of two seats up for the municipal election in June. The position of city recorder is also up for election. His reason for running, he said, is simple.
 
“To be honest, I absolutely love everything about the city. The citizen who want best for their families and the community and the economic opportunities that are afforded here that many other cities can only dream of,” said Balon. “I travel from Wheeling to Bluefield with my work regularly and comparing most of the areas between those two points to our city lets me know we are blessed.”
 
Professionally, Balon works in corporate management for Shoe Show, Inc. Most know that locally as The Shoe Department, which has a location at Meadowbrook Mall. Balon oversees that location and 13 others, 11 of which are in West Virginia.
 
The 57-year-old Balon has been with the company just shy of 30 years. Twenty-five of those years he has served in executive management.
 
Now, he would like to help in managing the city from a policy standpoint on Council. And there is at least one key thing he would like to focus on.
 
“There are several thing that I’d like to see take place if elected. If you look at the city councils from the past, what they have done is nothing short of amazing,” said Balon. “I want to be involved in continuing that, but also to really focus on support for children and the economic opportunities that are available.
 
“I think it is important to pair up with our local colleges and university to make the most of those opportunities,” he continued. “By doing that, we can match careers with the jobs we’re bringing to the area already and the jobs we’re looking at bringing to the area.”
 
Balon is the father of two. He has a son Alec, 26, and a daughter Erica, 22.
 
Two Council seats, those held by Jeff Smell and Don Burton, are up for election, while the position of City Recorder, held by Harry M. “Hank” Murray, is also in play. While the outcome of the election will not be known until June, there will be at least one new face on Council.
 
Recently, Smell announced he will not seek another term on the city’s governing body. The father of triplets, Smell wants to be able to spend more time partaking in his children’s activities.
 
Bridgeport residents who wish to file to run for recorder or council in the June 13 election can file to run through Thursday, April 13, 2023. Certificates must be filed with the City Clerk’s office (515 W. Main Street, Bridgeport, WV 26330) accompanied by a $25 filing fee no later than 4:00 p.m. on April 13th.
 
The election is nonpartisan and any person who is a qualified voter of the City of Bridgeport may file. A qualified voter is anyone who is a minimum of 18 years of age, a resident of Bridgeport, and not under conviction of a felony or other disqualification. Candidate packets and certificates declaring candidacy may be obtained at Bridgeport City Hall, 515 West Main Street, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
 
Anyone living inside the city limits of Bridgeport may also register to vote in order to be eligible to vote in the upcoming election. You may either go to the Harrison County Courthouse, 301 W. Main Street, Clarksburg, WV 26301 or you can go online, print out the form, and mail it to: Attn: Voter Registration Office, 306 B. Washington Avenue, Clarksburg, WV 26301. Please visit www.harrisoncountywv.com/ViewForm.ashx?Id=13to print off the form. You can contact voter registration at 304-624-8614 with any questions.
 
For information, contact Andrea Kerr, 304-842-8209 or akerr@bridgeportwv.com.

Share

Leave a Comment
Login or register

Leave a Comment

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up/stay connected

Create your profile to start adding photos, posting comments, and more.

SIGN UP

Ad
Ad

Related Articles

  • Callahan Updates Council on Successes, Future Plans at The Bridge Sports Complex, Citynet Center
  • Don Burton Seeks Second Term for City Council Seat

Blogs [ view all ]

  • Photo

    From the Bench: Tribe Finalizes '23 Foot...

    For those who follow Bridgeport High School football, here is a little bit of news you might be interested in. The 2023 fo...

    Posted by Jeff Toquinto

  • Photo

    Time Travel: Construction of Bridgeport ...

    Does this look familiar? If so, it is because it is still standing in Bridgeport. This photo, from 1921, shows the fi...

    Posted by Dick Duez

  • Photo

    Off the Shelf: The Debut of New Programs...

    The library is debuting some new and exciting programs for the month of February! We will be offering something new fo...

    Posted by Savanna Draper

  • Photo

    The Grapevine: Talk on Anise Seed and th...

    If you happen to be associating with local ladies who like to bake, especially those who want to make Easter Bread, th...

    Posted by Rosalyn Queen

  • Photo

    It's Happening: Glamming it Up for a 192...

    The UHC “Roaring 20s” Holly Ball is just a few days away. For attendees wanting to glam it up to reflect t...

    Posted by Julie Perine

  • Photo

    ToquiNotes: Best Long-Time Italian Resta...

    A lot of times I like to get a good debate going on here. The easiest way to do that is to talk about the best types of fo...

    Posted by Jeff Toquinto

  • Photo

    Why Bridgeport? The Importance of the NC...

    How important is the North Central West Virginia (NCWV) Airport to Bridgeport and our region?   A 2019 economic im...

    Posted by Jon Griffith

Calendar [ view all ]

Thu
16

Lions Club Meeting

Sat
18

Rotary's Wellness Blood Screening

Sat
25

Rotary's Wellness Blood Screening

 



Bridgeport, WV
Editorial Board Advertise Privacy Policy Contact Us
FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTubeRSS

©2014 Connect Bridgeport.