The race for the three seats on Bridgeport City Council that are up for election has another entrant. And once again, an incumbent has thrown their name into the mix.

 

This time, however, the individual that filed this morning for a four-year term on the city’s governing body will be doing so in a position they’re currently in. Dustin Vincent, who is nearing the end of his first four-year term on the Bridgeport City Council, filed the paperwork at the office of City Clerk Andrea Kerr to officially thrown his hat into the ring.

 

“Honestly, I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed the last three and a half years,” said Vincent. “I think our group has done many positive things throughout Bridgeport, but we know and I know that there is still work that needs to be done. I’m hoping the residents give me the opportunity to continuing finishing working on the projects we have before us and move on to other opportunities that are available.”

 

Vincent’s filing is the third since the filing period opened Jan. 9. Already incumbents Robert “Bob” Greer and Diana Marra have filed. Greer, the mayor, filed to run for Council. Marra, a Council member, has filed to run for mayor. Vincent, as noted, will look to stay in his existing seat.

 

During his four years, Vincent said there are numerous areas where he believes he’s had an impact. He pointed to the ongoing process of the Bridgeport Indoor Recreation Complex as well as his involvement from the city’s side on the new Johnson Elementary School.

 

“I’ve actually been involved with the goal of seeing a new Johnson Elementary School prior to my time on Council for perhaps 10 years on various boards and committees,” said Vincent. “Right now, I’m a representative of the city on the steering committing that works with the architects and engineers on the project to see how the city can help with the process and how the city’s interests can be met to meet the needs of the community and children that will go there.”

 

Vincent said he was a member of the Harrison County Board of Education’s 10-year Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan committee. That plan, required by the state BOE, lists the needs of all the schools in the county and also worked on committees pertaining to bonds and needs for JES and other educational demands in the city and the county.

 

Vincent’s background in engineering, he believes, has served him well on Council. He currently works for MarkWest Energy Partners, which has an office situated at the White Oaks development in Bridgeport. The company is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Vincent serves as the manager of engineering and pipeline construction for the company.

 

Vincent is married to the former Ginny Iaquinta. They have three children – Vaughn who is 14, Brock at age 12, and Graham is their youngest at age 7.

 

The city will hold its election on June 13. The seats up for election, along with Vincent’s Council seat, include two additional Council seats held by John Wilson and Marra along with Greer's seat as mayor. Wilson has confirmed he will run for office in 2017, which could include running for mayor.

 

While the election is in June, the filing period began Monday. The filing period ends Friday, April 14, 2017 at 4 p.m. Kerr said the certificates have to be filed with her office and there is a filing fee of $25.

 

Click HERE for a story on the election that ran previously on Connect-Bridgeport with additional election details.