Story by Carrie Hodousek, MetroNews
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Wheeling Mayor Glen Elliott, a Democrat, is running for U.S. Senate this year.
Elliott filed his candidacy papers Tuesday at the Secretary of State’s Office in Charleston.
The race has focused largely on the Republican primary with GOP candidates Gov. Jim Justice and West Virginia Second District Congressman Alex Mooney set to face off in May.
Elliott is hoping secure a win, which would keep a Democrat in the Senate seat held by U.S. Senator Joe Manchin since 2010. Manchin announced last year he will not seek re-election.
During an appearance on Tuesday’s MetroNews “Talkline,” Elliott said he’s the right person for the job because he knows how to work with both political parties as a mayor.
“For this time where we are in our national and state politics, I think I have the right temperament and experience. I’ve been mayor of Wheeling for almost 8 years now, seeing firsthand what a city that is fighting to regain its prominence need to do. You have to work across the political aisles,” he said.
Elliott was a legislative assistant for the late U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd for about five years in the 1990s after college.
“I’ve seen what it takes,” he said.
Zach Shrewsbury, a Marine Corps veteran, also plans to run for the Democratic ticket for U.S. Senate.
Elliott said he only supports President Joe Biden when he helps West Virginia.
“I learned from Senator Byrd, at the end of the day, you have to start with your own core beliefs and then go from there,” he said. “I come from my heart, and I think as this campaign goes on people will find out that I’m someone who is not ideological to the point where I can’t sit down with people. You have to listen and learn.”
One of the big topics of discussion in his city has been about homeless encampments. Wheeling City Council plans to meet Tuesday night and could discuss a public camping ban that is set to take effect at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
The council voted to pass the ordinance in November. Elliott voted against the ban to ensure people wouldn’t be kicked out with nowhere to go. He said there needs to be more housing.
“Too often we’ve been trying to get people help and sending people to different organizations for help, but not for housing. It’s impossible to get your life in order when you’re living in a tent or a camp site. That’s something we’ve been working toward,” he said.
Elliott was first elected as mayor in 2016 and again in 2020.
The candidate filing period in West Virginia ends at midnight Jan. 27.