Joseph Earley Files to Run for Seat on City Council
By Jeff Toquinto on March 18, 2025
The fifth name to fill one of the seats on City Council in the upcoming Bridgeport Municipal election is in place. This past Friday, March 14, Joseph “Joe” Earley filed seeking his first four-year term.
The election is on June 10, 2025. On the ballot are the position of mayor and three seats on City Council.
Earley is a Montgomery, West Virginia native who served 20 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a First Sergeant. His Army career included /Council%209-13-21%20Inside%20Earley.jpg)
leadership roles in armored combat units, specialized assignments in Military Intelligence, and Armored Combat Operations, as well as Military Training Cadre at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
leadership roles in armored combat units, specialized assignments in Military Intelligence, and Armored Combat Operations, as well as Military Training Cadre at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Post-military Earley transitioned into cybersecurity, earning international cyber and project management certifications including CISSP, CGRC, and PMP. Currently, he works as a cybersecurity strategy and risk management professional and operates his consulting firm, Pinnacle Cybersecurity Solutions.
“I’ve always been driven to public service on one form or another,” said Earley. “… Another big reason to get involved is give back to the community and continue public service and use my skills and attentiveness to contribute to the city.”
If elected and given a chance to provide public service in an elected capacity, Earley said he will key into a few areas.
“I will focus on economic development and the responsible use of revenues to make sure projects, particularly infrastructure projects, stay focused on the original scope so as to not waste money that can be utilized for other municipal purposes, ” Earley said. “I’m not saying there is waste happening, but that type of attentiveness is one of the key values I will be adding running for an open seat on Council.”
Earley holds a B.S. in Occupational Training & Development from the University of Louisville and a M.S. in Information Security from Marshall University.
The 64-year-old is a 1978 graduate of DuPont High School. He moved to the city in 2009.
Earley is married to the former Stephanie Shaffer-Marks. He has three children and two stepchildren – all adults – along with six grandchildren.
Already, Clayton Rice and Robert G. Matheny have filed for the seat of mayor. Jon Griffith had filed to run for mayor, but announced he is dropping out of the race land resigned, effectively immediately, from Council on Wednesday, March 5.
The Council seats of Griffith, John Wilson and Jason Campbell are also up. Campbell and Wilson filed to run for a another term, while Jesse Isner and Jaclyn Rominger have also filed.
Filing fee to run is $25 and due at the time of filing. The filing period began Monday, Jan. 13. Candidates have until 4 p.m. on April 10 to file, which is 90 days from the start of the filing period.
Additional information on filing requirements and procedures, absentee voting procedures, and other information can be obtained from the City Clerk’s Office. Individuals looking to become poll workers can also contact the City Clerk’s Office. City Clerk Lauren Rogers can be reached at 304-842-8235 or via email at lrogers@bridgeportwv.gov.
Information on the election can be found at the city’s Website by clicking HERE.
Editor's Note: Candidates filing for office can inform City Clerk Lauren Rogers to provide a phone number to Connect-Bridgeport and you will be contacted. Candidate stories will be done in the order in which they were filed if able to be contacted.
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