Hi! My name is James “Jim” Musgrave and I am running for Town Council and would appreciate your vote!
My wife, Rose and I have owned a home here in West Union for over 25 years and both have family roots in Doddridge County. We chose to settle here because of the friendly people and the abundance of historic buildings that give it the potential to be restored to its former success.
I believe it is important to be involved in the community and to be part of the solution and not just complain about problems.
I am an active member of the Lion’s Club and on the Board of Directors for the Doddridge County Chamber of Commerce, North Bend Rails to Trails Foundation, Doddridge County Emergency Squad, and Starting Points. I also strive to attend most County Commission meetings and Town Council meetings to stay aware of relevant issues and to familiarize myself with how and what they are dealing with.
I know the Town requires a source of income to deal with a lot of the infrastructure issues and I was for the 1% tax and against the B&O tax, which would penalize already struggling businesses and deter new business. With the revenue from the 1% tax and grants that the town has recently applied for, the residents will begin to see improvements in the appearance of the town and the reliability of the water. I believe there needs to be transparent accountability for those funds and spending.
I also think the council members should strive to be more involved in the community and have project goals, and there should be more interaction with other local agencies, such as the Chamber and County, to work towards one vision for the community.
While I am an advocate for historic restoration and want to see the town enforce some building codes to hold property owners accountable to their community for upkeep of their businesses/downtown buildings and homes, I also want to ensure they are provided with viable options to achieve those goals. The expense and effort can be overwhelming, so the goal should not be to punish them and cause hardship, but to offer solutions, such as: grants, tax credits, loans, and local agencies that are available to volunteer. We just need to work together to provide the best options for each circumstance and make sure it is in everyone’s best interest.
So, I would like to encourage everyone to attend some meetings, meet your mayor and council members, and share some ideas and opinions on what you want to see in West Union.
I would appreciate your vote so that I can work for you to help make those goals happen!
Sincerely,
James “Jim” Musgrave