Resident Adam Starkey was the final individual to file to run for City Council in the June 11 Bridgeport Municipal Election. Starkey became the sixth individual to file to have his name on the ballot.

 

The first day to file a certificate declaring candidacy was Jan. 14. That process was open through Thursday, April 11 of this past week. Starkey was the fifth applicant in the Council race with only one person seeking the seat of City Recorder.

 

Two Council members will be elected, as well as a new city recorder to four-year terms. Elected in June of 2015 for four-year terms were Council member Jeff Smell, Council member Lowell “L.J.” Maxey and Recorder Dr. Hank “Harry” Murray.

 

Smell filed for re-election to Council, while Murray has filed for re-election to City Recorder. Donnie Tate, Don Burton and James “Jim” Yeater have also filed to run for Council along with Starkey.

 

Starkey is currently in-between jobs, but many may know him from his past work experience. He worked at the Prescription Shop from 1999 to 2013 where he served as one of the owners. Following his time there, the lifelong Bridgeport resident worked at the Manchin Family Pharmacy in Fairmont to 2018 and then followed that up recently working at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center.

 

The 1994 graduate of Bridgeport High School also holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree from West Virginia University. He has one child with his wife Donna and two step children. He also has eight grandchildren.

 

To run for one of the three positions, certificates had to have been filed with the City Clerk’s office accompanied by a $25 filing fee no later than 4 p.m. this past Thursday, meaning the field is closed. The election is nonpartisan, and any person who is a qualified voter of the City of Bridgeport was allowed to 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.