She’s involved and has been within the Wheeling community for many years with organization such as the Friends of Wheeling and with Ohio County’s Democratic Party.
Now Peggy Niebergall is hoping a majority of Ward 3 voters select her to fill a seat on Wheeling Council so she can represent residents she feels have been neglected for far too long. That is one reason why the candidate mailed more than 500 postcards to citizens with the ward. They are handwritten and include Niebergal’s email address and her home telephone number so potential constituents to engage her about their primary concerns like infrastructure, crime, blight, and safety.
She is a life-long resident who lives in the Mozart neighborhood, and Niebergall’s family has been involved in business, education, and community improvement efforts in every area of Ward 3 for decades. In fact, after former Ward 3 councilman Brian Wilson resigned and moved away, she applied to be appointed but was not selected by a majority of the other six members. Instead, East Wheeling resident Melinda Koslick was picked, but she opted not to run for the position.
Niebergall, though, is on the ballot because she wants to address issues that negatively impact property values, community involvement, and the amount of faith residents possess in city government.
Why have you decided to run for city council?
The reasons I decided to run for city council are because I have always been interested in Wheeling and I belong to organizations that give back to Wheeling to make improvements to the city. It’s more or less the way that I was raised – to help out and to do what you can do to help.
To me, I feel the 3rd Ward has been neglected. I think the 3rd Ward is a “cash cow” for Wheeling with the businesses and people in this ward. I’ve lived in Mozart for nearly 35 years. This is my home. I’m a life-long resident of Wheeling.
We all want Wheeling to be more than what it is today and better than it was yesterday.
Why do you feel you are the best candidate running for the seat representing Ward 3?
I feel that I am the best candidate for 3rd Ward because I am vested in 3rd Ward. My great grandfather started Niebergall Ice in 3rd Ward and they lived in South Wheeling and on Boggs Run.
I attended church and school at St. Alphonsus in Center Wheeling and I graduated from Central Catholic in East Wheeling. Growing up, all our activities centered around 3rd Ward be it church, school, our Dad’s business, and entertainment. We would catch the city bus to Wheeling for movies, dances, and football games. Wheeling was the center of activity!
Being on city council would give me another chance to give back and become more involved in the area I have always been associated with throughout my life. I’m old enough to remember what Wheeling used to be and young enough to know that more changes are needed to make Wheeling better.
I am a retired teacher and I taught for nearly 40 years. I believe that I worked well in that capacity with students, parents, and co-workers and I feel I work well with the various organizations I belong to in the city. I am open to communication with the people I represent by being available. I have the time and the energy to devote to this position. I also believe I will work well with city officials.
I believe in honesty and integrity, and I will be a strong voice for the needs of 3rd Ward towards the common goal of strengthening the local economy.
What kind of representation do you feel Ward 3 needs at this time?
I think Ward 3 needs a representative who will speak up and stand up for her community. I am willing to take advice and suggestions from the people of 3rd Ward and I will work with the people to get things accomplished.
Before the coronavirus struck, I was at a steak fry and a gentleman said to me, “Anything you can do for us (3rd Ward) would be greatly appreciated.” That was such a simple statement to make yet very telling of the feelings of the people in 3rd Ward.
What are the most pressing issues in Ward 3 right now?
The most pressing issues in 3rd Ward were basically the same everywhere I went. The areas are different, yet the same issues kept surfacing over and over again. Those issues are the roads, drugs, abandoned buildings, and litter.
Homeowners are frustrated because they try their best to keep their property in good shape, but yet there are vacant buildings and litter near them. With those problems bring rodents, vagrants, health issues, low property values – the list goes on and on.
My focus is on the neighborhoods.
How many postcards to did you mail to voters in Ward 3? Have people called in response?
The number of post cards I mailed out is around 550. I mailed the postcards with my home number and my e-mail included so that I could connect with the people of 3rd Ward. I wanted to mail all the postcards at the same time, but the news said that the post office maybe slowing down and I began to think that I had better send out what I had completed.
I could have had mailers printed up, but I felt handwritten notes would mean more to people.
The responses I got were by phone. The concerns were about repairing the roads, keeping the buses running, and frustrations from homeowners over abandoned buildings and litter. I can understand their frustration. I’m with them on these things. I’m behind them 100 percent.
