What started out as potentially the biggest headache City Clerk Andrea Kerr may ever have to deal with in her current position during an election has worked itself out. Kerr said that all issue related to precincts that were up in the air early this year for the upcoming June 9 municipal election are now in order.

 

“We’ve got everything taken care of,” said Kerr. “It all worked out in the end.”

 

Initially, Kerr was faced with the prospect of moving multiple precincts from Bridgeport High School and Johnson Elementary. That was due to the fact that snow days this year moved the final day of school past the time of the June 9 election. However, Kerr was able to work with BHS Principal Mark DeFazio and his counterpart at Simpson Vicki Huffman who agreed to keep the precincts in place.

 

That left Kerr with one precinct she had to deal with. And that precinct had to be moved regardless of whether the school calendar would have been extended.

 

Due to the ongoing construction project at Simpson Elementary, Kerr was informed that the cafeteria – where that particular precinct’s voting is done – that the building wouldn’t be available. The work required Kerr to work with the Secretary State’s office to see what needed to be done in order to find a new and approved location.

 

“In my initial conversations with the Secretary of State’s office I was told that I was allowed to move the precinct, but there had to be certain steps that needed to be followed,” said Kerr.

 

After finding a suitable location to move the precinct for the upcoming election, Kerr said the main requirement involved letting the voters of that precinct know it was moved. Kerr said she was required to send out a letter to every registered voter of the change.

 

“I ended up sending out about 1,100 letters,” said Kerr. “It didn’t matter if they’ve rarely voted, never voted or have voted in every election, if they were registered in that precinct they were sent a letter.”

 

The focal point of the letter was that the precinct had been moved to the Bridgeport Municipal Complex. The voting will take place in the Council Chamber section of the building.

 

“We picked City Hall due to it being a neutral location and a place that also didn’t have steps that the elderly would have to deal with,” she said. “There is also convenient parking available.

 

“Since I sent the letter out there has been just a few questions that have arisen,” she continued. “They’ve been minor questions, but if anyone has any concerns they can call me (304-842-8233).”

 

Kerr also reminded voters that early voting starts at Bridgeport City Hall on May 27 and runs through June 6 between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 30, and Saturday, June 6.

 

“You do not have to give a reason to vote early,” Ker said. “Anyone that is registered can vote early.”

 

The candidates for City Recorder include Harry M. “Hank” Murray, III and Darrell Bowen. The candidates for City Council include Jeff Smell, Robert Garcia, Lowell “LJ” Maxey, Mike Bullough and Dan Cooper.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Andrea Kerr looking through one of the city's registered voter's list, while the early voting container is shown from a previous election.