The City of Point Pleasant’s GOP faithful have nominated candidates for the upcoming city election on May 8. Pictured, front row (from left) Janet Hartley, council-at-large, Mayor Brian Billings, mayor, City Clerk Amber Tatterson, city clerk, Charles Towner, council-at-large; second row (from left) Doug Tawney (first ward), Mary Perdue (third ward), Keith Sargent (fourth ward); third row (from left) Councilwoman Elaine Hunt (fifth ward), Councilwoman Linda Smith (sixth ward); back row (from left), Bob Rulen (seventh ward), Rick Simpkins (eighth ward). Not pictured, Councilman Bob Doeffinger (second ward).

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POINT PLEASANT —The GOP faithful in Point Pleasant have spoken (and voted), nominating Republican candidates for the upcoming city election on May 8.

The nominations were made Friday evening at the City of Point Pleasant Republican Party’s Convention with Buster Riffle, former mayor of Point Pleasant, elected as the convention’s chairperson and City Clerk Amber Tatterson elected as the convention’s clerk.

The convention was an evening of incumbents and newcomers jumping on the GOP ticket. Accepting his party’s nomination for Mayor was Incumbent Brian Billings while Incumbent City Clerk, Amber Tatterson, also accepted her party’s nomination. Incumbent council members also accepting nominations were Councilman Robert Doeffinger (second ward), Councilwoman Elaine Hunt (fifth ward) and Councilwoman Linda Smith (sixth ward).

Two new faces have thrown their hats into the ring for the two council-at-large seats and are Janet Hartley and Charles Towner. These two council-at-large seats are currently held by Gary Cotton and James Bowles.

New faces will also take a shot at winning their city wards with the following accepting nominations for council seats: Doug Tawney (first ward), Mary Perdue (third ward), Keith Sargent (fourth ward), Bob Rulen (seventh ward) and Rick Simpkins (eighth ward). Tawney accepted the nomination for the seat currently held by Councilman Marshall Bonecutter; Perdue accepted the nomination for the seat currently held by Councilwoman Leota Sang; Sargent accepted the nomination for the seat currently held by Councilman William Park; Rulen accepted the nomination for the seat currently held by Councilman Sam Juniper; Rick Simpkins accepted the nomination for the seat currently held by Councilwoman Barbara Brown.

City GOP also once again elected Mike Shaw to lead the City of Point Pleasant’s Republican Committee.

Also attending the city convention were Republican candidates for state and county offices and included John C. Casey (R-Apple Grove), candidate for 14th District House of Delegates; Tracy Sturgeon Doolittle (R-Point Pleasant), candidate for Mason County Commission; Garry Peck (R-Leon) candidate for Mason County Commission; Jim Butler (R-Gallipolis Ferry) candidate for 14th District House of Delegates.

At the conclusion of the convention, Mayor Billings urged the party to rally to win in May. This year’s city election is the first of its kind in that it will be held on the same day as the county’s May primary and will be included on the county’s ballot. Voters voted in this charter change to get the city election in sync with the county election schedule.

Currently, the GOP has a stronghold when it comes to city government. Mayor Billings, Clerk Tatterson, Council Members Bonecutter (first ward), Doeffinger (second ward), Sang (third ward), Hunt (fifth ward), Smith (sixth ward), Brown (eighth ward) and Councilman-At-Large Gary Cotton, are all Republicans. Councilman Park (fourth ward) and Councilman-At-Large Bowles are Democrats while Councilman Juniper (seventh ward) is an Independent.