He’s Denny. Always has been.
On the job. In church. On the street.
Denny.
Not only is it his first name, but it’s also how he’s insisted for year that his friends, family, and brand new acquaintances address him during conversation, so when it comes to formalities now that he’s been elected as the new mayor of Wheeling, Magruder still is getting used to the title.
“When people refer to me as ‘Mayor,’ it is a little weird for me since I was in a much different position with the city for a lot of years, and sometimes I haven’t reacted because I’m just not used to it yet,” Magruder admitted. “So, if you say, ‘Hey Mayor,’ you might have to say it more than once.
“But it has set in. Being the mayor, I mean. It didn’t at first, but now I wake up thinking about what’s next on the list … and it’s a great list for the people of Wheeling.”
Magruder’s first month in elected office has been interrupted by a minor medical issue, and he even missed the second regular meeting in July, but he assured listeners on River Talk 100.1FM earlier this week he’s back to full strength and ready to help make a positive difference.
“I have to say that while I’ve always had a love for this city and its people, it’s different now because I feel this is a great opportunity,” the new mayor said. “I’ve said this before and that’s because I mean it – I honestly believe there has never been a better time in the history of Wheeling to be mayor than right now.
“Number one, it’s a great council because it’s a council that comes with experience, with diversity, with energy, with optimism,” Magruder said. “We have a city manager who is the best in the business, and we’re now seeing people step up and put their own money into the city. There’s an amazing amount of construction in the downtown, and the potential is there for even more.”
Four incumbent council representatives – Ben Seidler in Ward 2, Jerry Sklavounakis in Ward 4, Ty Thorngate in Ward 5, and Dave Palmer in Ward 6 – have joined newcomers Tony Assaro (Ward 1) and Connie Cain (Ward 3), and so far, Magruder has been impressed.
“I’m really excited about working with the six of them because they’re all very committed. This council is for real because these folks have unbelievable energy and they all really want to make Wheeling a better place,” he insisted. “It’s about getting the business done the right way and looking for ways to move forward at the same time.
“Our council members are confident, and a lot of people seem more confident than they have in the past. It makes you very motivated, I can tell you that,” the new mayor said. “The best part of this job so far has been helping the residents with whatever. I want to provide residents with solutions if they exist, and I want to hear about the issues so we as a council can investigate.”
A Quarterback, Not a Boss
The usual problems persist.
Population loss, infrastructure, dilapidated structures, affordable housing, and professional opportunities are examples.
But Magruder is encountering relatively new issues, too, including homelessness, public safety, and political division, to name a few.
In fact, LEDE News revealed in Fall 2023 that 40 percent of all crimes committed within city limits between June 1 and August 31 last year were allegedly perpetrated by those classified as homeless or situationally homeless, according to information released by the Wheeling Police Department. The most popular areas where those alleged crimes occurred included Heritage Port, Center Wheeling, along both stretches of Heritage Trails, and East Wheeling.
“People want to be safe, and they want to feel safe, and that’s not been the case along our trails, at Heritage Point, and in other areas at times, and people have complained,” Magruder said. “We know we’re not going to achieve everything we try, but hopefully we can accomplish some things that improve our quality of life, and that involves addressing these safety issues. That’s why we hope people come forward and tell us what’s going on.
“It’s about working together so that’s what we’re going to do,” he explained. “I’m excited to see what we can get done because our residents deserve to feel safe in their city.”
The new mayor also wishes to ignite a new relationship between the City of Wheeling, the Ohio County Commission, and with as many civic leaders as possible so, to borrow the cliché, “teamwork can make the dream work.”
“We’re already in conversations with the (County Commission), and when we can find the right time, we’re going to sit down and talk with our commissioners,” Magruder said. “We won’t have all of the answers, but we’re going to have the conversation so we can figure out some of the right answers so we can work together and go from there.
“I am sure we’ll help each other get some new economic development in the area,” he said. “It makes no sense for all of us not to be working together. No sense at all.”
Magruder is a positive individual, and he seldom shies away from explaining what he believes in, and why he feels the way he does. He’s quite aware there are challenges involving funding gaps, severed relationships, and criminal activity, but through all the doubts and difficulties of municipal government, he somehow sees opportunity.
“It’s really an amazing time right now. It’s a great time for Wheeling, and I think we’ll see people be positive about the future of Wheeling for the first time in a while,” the 75-year-old Magruder said. “It’s taken a lot of years to set the table for what’s happening right now, and it goes all the way back to the people in charge in the late 1990s and 2000s. Big decisions were made then, and that tough decision-making has continued and will in the future.
“I’m proud to be the one the people chose to guide us with the next steps we need to take, and I’m excited about doing just that with our council.”
