He’s placed puzzle pieces. He’s policed the streets. He’s Ho-Ho-Hooed! And he’s battled the beast.
Public service has been a way of life for Dave Palmer, a two-term Ward 6 Wheeling councilman who is running for a third – and he says final – time to represent residents in the Elm Grove area. Law enforcement, firefighting, school bus driving, even a few years with non-profit organizations, this former first responder has compiled an impressive resume.
But Palmer likes peace, too, and that’s why he and his bride, Tammy, enjoy traveling both to East Coast beaches and quiet, rural and regional campgrounds, too.
But is he really ready for a calm existence? For crickets after chaos? For the soundless end of a sizzle?
What if another elected office doesn’t come along? Can Palmer not be involved?
Why have you decided to serve the City of Wheeling for just four more years if you are re-elected in 2024?
If I’m fortunate enough for the voters to re-elect me in May of 2024, that would give me three, four-year terms on City Council. I’m a firm believer that 12 years is enough time in any elected office. There will always be some project hanging in limbo that you want see through but trust the next person to see it finish.
Fresh faces and more importantly fresh ideas are always needed.
After working as a public servant for more than 40 years, what are your retirement plans?
Retirement? Who can really predict what the future holds for any of us. That being said, Tammy and I love to travel, we have family in Virginia Beach and we enjoy the Sarasota, Fla., area, too.
The added bonus of our travel trailer, “Gracie Grey.” There are so many lovely campgrounds and so much to explore within a three-hour jaunt from Wheeling. We have also placed our hearts and souls into our home, so we enjoy just hanging out. What we learned from the Covid shutdown was that really just enjoy each other’s company.
Lastly, I would not rule out another political office if the circumstances were right, just not on Wheeling City Council.
What was the scariest fire in your career as a Wheeling firefighter?
Honestly, all fires are scary and can turn bad at any moment. The beast deserves respect and we would train with that in mind. When you are fighting a fire you are constantly reacting to the situation and there’s no time to be scared. It’s after you return safely and have time to sit down and think about it when you get that, “Oh shit!” moment.
Mine was and still is the Easter Sunday Imperial Display fire. There was a group of us trapped in a courtyard between two of the buildings. When the south building flashed over, I could still see (former chief) Larry Helms scaling an eight-foot-high, barbed-wire fence in seconds and going down to where Heritage Trail is today.
Larry then grabbed bolt cutters and got us all out. WFD was very fortunate that day not to lose any firefighters. I credit our command staff that day for us all returning safely.
What goals of yours have you yet to accomplish as a member of Wheeling Council?
My two biggest what I call “failures” in Ward 6:
- The former TCI building is still standing in deplorable condition. The Elm Grove businesses and their association deserve better. Hopefully, in the near future, progress will be made to either rehabilitate or demolish that eyesore. Until that happens, I personally perceive it a failure on my part.
- What I consider the second failure is a, “Welcome to Elm Grove” sign not being placed at the bottom of Exit 5 near Shilling Bridge. I could blame this one on money and state right away issues, but I just need to work harder on this one.
As for goals, I want to see the new fire headquarters completed and the other stations repaired as promised. AND, of course, the construction of the WVU regional cancer center, which, in my humble opinion, will change the landscape of Center Wheeling for years to come.
Do you wish to be remembered as the “Santa Claus” you portrayed throughout Ward 6 in December 2020?
I don’t know if a Santa Claus memory is appropriate because there is truly only one great Saint Nick!
What I’d like to be remembered for from that evening in December 2020 is that joy was spread over a very dark period we were all going through.
I need to preface this story by saying this was an idea that my wife Tammy had. She was able to obtain the outfit for the evening and then we spent countless hours determining a route then driving it numerous times to get the timing down. We then needed a truck and not only did Charlie and Cathy Savage come through with a 1959 white over red GMC, but Charlie also built a rack that I could stand in!
The night of the event was truly magical while Charlie, Cathy and Tammy rode me around, and I know that at some point we all shed a tear of joy. The looks on the children and adults faces make what the four of us all recall as one of the greatest nights of our lives.
