Come July there will be a new look to Bridgeport City Council, but with a lot of familiar faces. The one change that was for certain was in the race for mayor as the current mayor opted to run for for one of the Council seats.

 

The voters of Bridgeport opted to put in political newcomer in for the position of mayor. Lang finished with 1,182 votes to get past current City Council member and mayoral candidate Diana Marra. Marra finished with 785 votes.

 

The Council race saw two incumbents retain their seats in Dustin Vincent and John Wilson. It also saw current Mayor Robert “Bob” Greer, who opted to run for Council, fill a seat as well.

 

Vincent led the way on the Council side of the table. He finished with 1,335 votes, while Greer was next at 1,175 votes. Wilson rounded out the race to fill a seat on the city’s governing body with 1,120 votes.

 

Challenger Kerry Hess was unsuccessful in his first run at political office. Hess finished with 947 votes.

 

Lang, who was joined by his wife Lisa and his daughter Miranda at the Bridgeport Municipal Complex this evening, was thrilled with the outcome.

 

“I’m real pleased with results and I think it was a real fair campaign on both sides,” said Lang. “I really appreciate all the support from my family and friends. I’m really looking forward to doing the job.”

 

Lang, as well as trio of members that will serve as Council members, will officially become members July 1. Often, the swearing in ceremony takes place at the first Council meeting and that falls on July 10. The exact day of that ceremony will be determined at a later date.

 

“I’ll be a full-time mayor and I’m ready to dig into this thing,” said Lang. “I’m ready to spend time with the County Commissioners, spend time with the legislators, spend time here in the city building and learn the ropes real fast.”

 

As for what he’d like to address early on, Lang said he’d hope the Council would revisit a decision on how a member to the recently formed Tactical Diversion Squad of the DEA is addressed. The city’s governing body decided in a narrow vote to provide up to $40,000 annually as part of an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Clarksburg and the Harrison County Commission to fund an officer for the squad through the Sheriff’s Department.

 

 Lang would like to see the City of Bridgeport fund the appointment on its own.

 

“I would say the (Tactical Diversion Squad),” said Lang when asked what he would like to focus on immediately. “I’d like for City Council to go back and revisit what the DEA asked for in the beginning with supplying an officer.”

 

Bridgeport had a 32 percent voter turnout. A total of 2035 voters turned out. The number, which still was not close to the 50 percent threshold, was much higher than the previous two elections.

 

In 2015, Bridgeport had 1,157 voters turnout at the polls or voting early for a total of 18 percent turnout. In 2013, there were 1053 voters for 17 percent.

 

Check back later to Connect-Bridgeport for comments from the winners on the Council side of the race. Precinct by precinct results are below. The totals include all early votes, according to City Clerk Andrea Kerr.

126 - Johnson Elementary School Music Room

 

123 - Simpson Creek Baptist Church-Family and Life Building

 

MAYOR

 

 

 

129 - BHS Home Economics Room