ELKINS — A Meet the Candidates event has been scheduled for the incumbents and challengers of Elkins City Council’s Fourth Ward and Fifth Ward seats as the June 10 municipal election swiftly approaches.

The Meet the Candidates event, hosted by the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce, will take place on June 3 at 5:30 p.m. at the West Virginia Wood Technology Center at 10 11th St. in Elkins.

“As part of our commitment to community engagement and informed citizenship, the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a nonpartisan Meet the Candidates Evening for the upcoming Elkins City Council election,” The Chamber said in a statement. “While the Chamber does not endorse any candidates, we believe in providing space for residents to connect directly with those seeking public office.”

The event will feature a moderated session where the City Council candidates from the Fourth and Fifth wards will answer questions “focused on the future of Elkins.”

The Fourth and Fifth wards are the only two contested seats this election.

Incumbent Fourth Ward Council Member Nanci Bross-Fregonara faces a challenge from Jon Clingerman, who teaches the mill and cabinetry high school program at the Randolph County Technical Center. Incumbent Fifth Ward Council Member David Parker, meanwhile, faces opposition from challenger Burley Woods, who has served as the director of executive service for the Nellis Group Enterprise, and the director of internal sales for Legacy Elevated.

After the moderated session, the Chamber said they plan to transition into a “speed-dating” style format, which will allow all attendees a “brief, one-on-one opportunity to speak with each candidate.”

“This ensures that each community member has a chance to ask their own questions and leave better informed — without long lines or monopolized conversations,” The Chamber said. “Our goal is to foster a respectful, accessible forum where every voice matters and every voter can make a confident, informed decision.”

Five of the 10 Elkins City Council seats are up for election this year, including the First Ward seat held by Rob Chenoweth, the Second Ward seat held by Lisa Severino, the Third Ward seat held by Erika Plishka, the Fourth Ward seat held by Fregonara and the Fifth Ward seat held by Parker.

Councilmembers serve four-year terms. All of the five council members have filed for re-election. Chenoweth, Severino and Plishka run unopposed.

On the Fourth Ward ballot, challenger Clingerman will be listed first on the ballot while Fregonara will be listed second. On the Fifth Ward ballot, Parker will be first on the ballot with challenger Woods being listed second.

There will be no race for mayor in the 2025 election, according to the Elkins City Hall website, due to the 2021 charter change, which states that the mayor of Elkins now has a four-year term limit. Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco’s current term, which began July 1, 2023, will not expire until 2027.

Absentee ballot applications for the June 10 election began being accepted on March 18. Applicants have until June 4 at 4 p.m. to send for an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots will be sent out starting mid-April and must be delivered by:

• June 9, the final day for hand delivery of absentee ballots to the Office of the Elkins City Clerk.

• June 11 for absentee ballots that arrive by mail but are not postmarked.

• June 16 for absentee ballots postmarked on or before election day.

Early voting will run from May 28 until June 7.