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ELECTIONS
Felinton to aid Wolfe in transition
Republican mayor-elect Sheriff Kim Wolfe during election returns Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, at the Cabell County Courthouse.
Purchase this photoHUNTINGTON -- Huntington Mayor David Felinton, defeated in Tuesday's election, said Wednesday he will dedicate much of the final eight weeks of his term to helping Mayor-elect Kim Wolfe make a smooth transition into City Hall.
Felinton, who lost to Wolfe by a 2,400-vote margin, also said he will allow his former opponent to have a decision-making role on issues that could affect Wolfe's first term.
"I have always liked Kim as a person and I really respect him," Felinton said. "I want to see him succeed, and I'm going to do whatever I can in the next few weeks to support him. His success is Huntington's success."
Wolfe said the cooperation that Felinton has offered began a few months ago when the two made a pact that their campaigns would focus on issues rather than personalities.
"When you have a cooperative effort from the current administration, it makes things go much more smoothly," Wolfe said. "It's important that we utilize all the information Mayor Felinton has to offer us."
Wolfe, completing a second term as Cabell County sheriff, will be confronted with several important financial issues when he takes office Jan. 1. Felinton said it's unlikely that contract negotiations between his administration and the city's three bargaining units will make any progress over the next few weeks. That leaves Wolfe to deal with negotiations, which thus far have amounted to court battles over health insurance changes that Felinton made unilaterally earlier this year.
"I met with the firefighters bargaining team (Wednesday morning) and I told them that me losing the election still doesn't change the fact that the city doesn't have the money to offer them anything other than the insurance plan we switched to in June," Felinton said.
"Even if I do reach a tentative agreement with one of the bargaining units before I leave office, I will discuss it with Kim," Felinton added. "Furthermore, I don't think City Council feels comfortable approving any contracts while we are in this transition period."
The 11-member City Council will have new members.
In addition to financial matters, Wolfe will have a few personnel decisions to make. The city has been without a public works director since Chuck Cornett retired last month. Filling the position has proven difficult because the pay isn't on par with what the private sector pays someone with similar qualifications, Felinton said. The person filling the position must be a licensed engineer, and the annual salary is $54,471.
The positions of police chief and fire chief appear to be settled. Wolfe said he will ask Police Chief Skip Holbrook and Fire Chief Greg Fuller to continue. Both Holbrook and Fuller said Wednesday they will accept Wolfe's invitation. Fuller is eligible for retirement March 1, 2009, but said he has not decided when he will retire.
Perhaps the most important personnel decision Wolfe will make is who will fill the position of director of administration and finance. He has said for weeks that current director Brandi Jacobs-Jones would serve a prominent role in his administration, but he has declined to say whether he would ask her to continue as director of administration and finance.
Wolfe also has indicated that Tom Bell, chief tax deputy for the Cabell County Sheriff's Department, and Jim Johnson, who was administrator of the former Cabell County Jail when Wolfe was elected sheriff in 2000, could play roles in his administration.
Wolfe said he hopes to meet with Jacobs-Jones soon to discuss his plans. Ultimately, personnel decisions and other matters will be guided by a transition team that will be assembled in the next two weeks, he said.
When asked Wednesday about the possibility of serving with Wolfe, Jacobs-Jones said she needs to know more specifics about Wolfe's plans before she makes a decision about her future.
"I'm evaluating all of my options," she said. "I love this town and I'm willing to give it whatever it takes of me to make it great.
"But I didn't move back a few years ago so I could run for City Council or become director of administration and finance. I moved back to move the city forward. I'm going to continue to do that, regardless of whether it's in city government or another capacity."
As for Felinton, he said he and his family plan to remain in Huntington, but he has not made any decisions about his professional career.
"I want to do whatever I can to help the community and make it a better place," he said. "I don't think I'll ever want to be a mayor again. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to be re-elected. But there is definitely a part of me that is relieved."
Mayoral transition
Mayor-elect Kim Wolfe's transition to City Hall will involve a few personnel decisions. Here's a look at the structure of Huntington's mayoral administration and the guidelines of each position as described in the City Charter:
Director of Administration and Finance: Informally known as the deputy mayor's position, the director of administration and finance is appointed by the mayor and serves at the will and pleasure of the mayor. The position oversees the following divisions: Finance, purchasing, personnel and data processing. The position pays $60,353, and there are no specific qualifications.
City attorney: The city attorney must be licensed to practice law in West Virginia and practiced in the state for at least five years. The city attorney is appointed by the mayor with the approval of council. They also may be removed by the mayor only with the approval of council. The city attorney serves for a term not to extend beyond the term of the mayor who appointed him or her.
Municipal judge: The municipal judge must be licensed to practice law in West Virginia and have practiced in the state for at least five years. The judge is appointed by the mayor and serves at the will and pleasure of the mayor for a term which shall not extend beyond the term of the mayor who appointed him or her.
Public Works Director: The public works director is appointed by the mayor and serves at the will and pleasure of the mayor. Qualifications include a professional engineer's license with the state of West Virginia and experience and training in municipal engineering. The position oversees the following divisions: Street, trash, sanitation, floodwall, engineering, motor pool, inspections and compliance and building maintenance. The position pays $54,471.
Police Chief: The police chief is appointed by the mayor with the approval of council and serves at the will and pleasure of the mayor. The position pays $57,479.
Fire Chief: The fire chief is appointed by the mayor with the approval of council and serves at the will and pleasure of the mayor. The position pays $57,479.
