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Write-in hopeful mounts late campaign

ELKINS — An unofficial write-in candidate for the Elkins Municipal election said he is trying to send a message by mounting a last-minute campaign for a Third Ward seat, although he acknowledged this week that he is aware votes for him will not count.

Clark Martin, a marketing professional and former radio broadcaster, said Tuesday he thinks all City Council members need to “pay attention to their wards.”

Martin said he had hoped to be appointed to the vacancy left open by the departure of Mark Scott, who resigned after winning a Randolph County Commission seat. Christopher C. Lowther was appointed to fill that vacancy, and he will serve until March 31, 2019.

The deadline for official write-in candidates was Jan. 17, according to information on the City of Elkins website, which includes the following statement: “W.Va. state law does not permit the counting of election day write-in votes. In uncontesed (Sic) races, the incumbents will automatically be elected to new terms.”

“This is truly a long shot,” Martin said Tuesday afternoon in regard to his unofficial write-in candidacy.

Martin said, hypothetically, if he would receive more votes than incumbent Third Ward Councilman Carman Metheny, maybe authorities could rule that the votes for Martin could count and it would let his message be heard.

“I just feel we need a new perspective. There’s more that needs to be done that I don’t see being done. … I hope to make others (on City Council) think twice about their wards and start listening,” Martin said.

The municipal election is March 7, with early voting running today through March 4.

Council members are elected to four-year terms, with two people serving in each of the city’s five wards. Municipal elections are scheduled to take place every two years.

Elkins City Clerk Jessica R. Sutton confirmed Tuesday that West Virginia State Code 3-6-4a prevents any votes for unofficial write-in candidates to be counted. She said any vote for Martin would not count.

“The state code, which the City of Elkins prescribes to, requires that a write-in candidate file a certificate of announcement at least forty-nine days prior to the election. This deadline was Jan. 17, 2017, and no such certificate was submitted by Mr. Martin,” Sutton said in an email.

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