Bill Brooks wants to help the citizens of St. Clairsville.
That was true in 2019, during his initial campaign to be elected mayor of the Belmont County seat and it holds true today.
Brooks isn’t seeking power and he’s not seeking to benefit solely from the mayor’s $ 14,000-a-year salary.
This isn’t about money or power, rather, continuing his efforts to help the citizens of St. Clairsville live the best lives they possibly can.
“I’m not wanting it for the prestige or the $14,000 a year, but I want to be the mayor because I want to be available to the people, which isn’t being done,” Brooks said. “I want to benefit all the citizens and to curb excessive spending.
“I stand for my fellow citizens, whether they have $5 or $5,000,000.”
Brooks first sought mayoral election in 2019, when his 488 votes received lost out to current mayor Kathryn Thalman (625) and then-current mayor Terry Pugh (375). Thalman announced this weekend she intends to run for re-election.
He attempted to seek public office again in 2021, when he narrowly lost a Ward 2 council race against Jeff Thrash, 205-180.
But even before those elections, and certainly, after, Brooks remained active both in the community at large and in city politics.
“Most people when they run for office, if they don’t get elected, you never hear from them again,” Brooks said. “I’ve stayed active. I still want to represent this city. I didn’t take my ball and go home because I care about our citizens.”
Now Brooks needs the citizen’s help, yes in terms of getting elected, but in particular, going forward after the election should the voters of St. Clairsville choose this Marine Corps veteran to lead them for the next four years.
Working Together
Brooks is admittedly outspoken. His detractors refer to him as abrasive, but what you can guarantee you will receive from Brooks is a straight answer.
He’s not into sugarcoating or telling people what they want to hear, just to avoid an uncomfortable conversation.
But he’s also ready and willing to listen. In fact, he wants your help, not just your vote.
If elected, Brooks plans to form a citizens’ committee, outside of council, to help advise him on what the city needs.
He plans to include any former member of city council that wishes to join, along with at least two citizen representatives from each of the city’s four wards.
He said current members of city council may also participate if they choose to, but he feels this is one of the best ways to get to the heart of what the everyday citizen of St. Clairsville needs.
“I need the citizens helping me. I want a citizens committee to tell me what needs to be done,” Brooks said. “Council isn’t going around, knocking on doors. This group will knock, and find out what we need—what do we need to do, what roads need to be paved.
“No one man knows it all and I’d like the people’s input on the needs of the citizens.”
He also wants to restore the voice of citizens at council meetings. While Brooks believes anyone wishing to speak with council during the bi-monthly meetings should sign up, he feels no citizen should be denied that right for any reason, no matter their chosen topic.
Brooks also feels that disabled and elderly citizens are currently at a disadvantage in attending meetings because the municipal building is not handicap accessible.
If there’s a way to rectify that problem, Brooks plans to see it through. But until then, he’d like to move the meetings somewhere that is accessible, so all residents who want to attend, can.
“We should move the meetings to the rec center so the handicap people and elderly citizens can also attend until we can get our building handicap accessible.”
Why Run?
“I want to run on the same principles as the last time—citizens first,” Brooks said. “I always believe if the citizens are happy, the city will prosper. I am into getting the citizens the best that they can get.”
Brooks was outspoken, and still is, about the fate of the city’s water supply and the impending switchover to Belmont County as the supplier.
Council recently voted in a rate increase and Brooks knows, once the changeover is made, additional raises will likely follow.
“We are in trouble when the county takes over the water,” Brooks said. “They’ve already said they are increasing 2-3 percent each year, and when they increase, we’ll have to raise ours to keep up.”
Brooks didn’t want the city to sell to Aqua Ohio, nor did he want the city to abandon the reservoir either.
He wants to help shape the decisions which will benefit all citizens. He knows the value that the National Road Bikeway brings to the community but isn’t in agreement with the money soon to be spent on it when there are issues elsewhere in greater need of addressing.
“We’re about to spend over $200,000 on the bike trail when we have sidewalks that we can’t walk on, alleys and streets tearing up our cars because they need to be paved.
“We need someone strong enough to stand up to the good ole boys club and find ways to benefit all of our citizens.”
Brooks believes he is that person.
He’s a veteran and a retired steel worker from Ormet. During that time, he was a union rep for the U.S. Steelworkers and also a rep for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 23 after his retirement from Ormet.
He’s led people and represented people, working to obtain what’s best for those he’s represented. He’d now like his turn to do so for his fellow St. Clairsville residents.
