Crissy Clutter planned to go door-to-door with the goal of knocking on every residence in Ward 4.
That hasn’t happened, though, thanks to the stay-at-home order issued by W.Va. Gov. Jim Justice in mid-March. Instead, the former media member has placed campaign signs, welcomed interviews, and this past Friday Clutter also hosted a question-and-answer session on Facebook for more than 20 minutes.
And, if you are a resident of Ward 4, expect the phone to ring with Clutter on the other end.
“I started collecting phone numbers of the ward’s residents from my supporters, my family, and by extended invitations to the voters by posting my cell number on the Facebook page,” Clutter explained. “I was really looking forward to knocking on all of the doors and discussing the issues with the residents. I know what I feel is important, but that’s just me.
“Ward 4 is a big ward with a lot of different areas, and that means there different problems in each area,” the candidate explained. “I have lived in Woodsdale, and we live in Clator now, so I am very familiar with those areas, but I want to speak with people from all over so we can address their concerns where they live.”
The Concerns
The proposed mix-village development atop Woodsdale Hill is, of course, one topic Clutter has heard about, but those phone calls have included conversations about flooding, traffic, dilapidation, crime, and street repair, too.
“The idea for the hilltop gets a lot of attention, and I can understand why,” Clutter said. “It’s a big deal to a lot of residents, especially with those who live on the street below that hill. I have studied the complete proposal, and I still have a lot of questions that I haven’t been able to get the answers to yet because of the pandemic, but the residents deserve to know those answers.
“Flooding is another topic that comes up a lot because of the weather and the rain that we have had this spring,” she said. “For some of the people in Ward 4, the flooding is a new issue, but in some areas it has been an issue for several years, and they are very frustrated, and I can understand why.”
After nearly two decades working in the television media in the Upper Ohio Valley, the Charleston area, and in Pittsburgh, Clutter feels she is well versed with how a municipal government operates and that Ward 4 residents would benefit from her experience.
“Since I worked for both of the television stations here in the Upper Ohio Valley, I covered a lot council meetings and the issues being handled,” she explained. “When I reach a resident on the phone, they recognize my name, and I think that makes them feel comfortable.
“I learned a lot during my career, and that familiarity is one of the reasons why I decided to run in Ward 4,” Clutter continued. “If I am successful, I am sure there will still be a learning curve, but I feel I’m ahead of the game.”
Still Wants to Knock
For now, the only tools Clutter has are her cell phone and the Internet, but the candidate is holding out hope she will be able to visit with residents once state citizens are released from the coronavirus confinement. Election Day was rescheduled to June 9, so, depending on when Gov. Justice lifts social restrictions, there may still time to go door-to-door.
There are three candidates in the race for the Ward 4 seat, including Clutter, Jeff Knierim, and Jerry Sklavounaki. The incumbent, Wendy Scatterday, chose not to run for re-election.
“I really hope I can knock on doors,” Clutter said. “Talking with people on the phone has been a lot of fun, but I’ve always been a people person, and obviously I don’t mind being out in the public. I do know a lot of people who live in the ward, but I really want to meet everyone.
“I think it will be fun, and I know I will learn a lot because of what people have told me during the phone calls so far,” she added. “I want to see what they want me to see, and I want to go up to the hilltop in question. I learned a long time ago how to cover all sides to every story.”
