GREG MORRIS

Wetzel Countians have cast their ballots, and Democrat Gregory A. Morris, of Paden City, has been elected to the Wetzel County Commission. The race was close as Morris garnered 2,398 votes, while opponent, Independent Allen Rush, garnered 2,320 votes.

Morris won the Democrat nod during the primary race in May, and it appeared he had successfully captured the seat that will be left vacant by retiring commissioner Robert Gorby. However, during the summer, Rush qualified to file for the November race.

“I want to thank the voters of Wetzel County,” said a victorious Morris. “It was a close race; I believe its as a clean race for both of us. I plan on doing exactly what I campaigned on — working for all citizens of Wetzel County to the best of my ability.”

Morris is a second-generation pipefitter, and is a 39-year member of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 83 in Wheeling. He also was a member of USWA Local 5724 for the 24 years that he worked at Ormet Primary in Hannibal, Ohio.

Another close race was the proposed “Brunch Bill” option. A total of 2,420 voters voted “Yes” for the measure while 2,479 voted “No.” The measure, if it had passed, would have changed the time from 1 p.m. to 10 a.m. on Sunday for the legal time for beer, wine, and alcoholic liquor sales for “on premises consumption only” in Wetzel County.