DUNBAR, W.Va. — Dunbar City Councilman Bill Cunningham will be the city’s next mayor after Dunbar City Council narrowly selected him for the position Monday night.
Cunningham — one of 10 candidates who applied for the position — will replace former Mayor Terry Greenlee, who resigned at the end of July to become deputy commissioner of the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration.
Cunningham, who represents Ward 4, said one of the issues he wants to address as mayor is economic development.
“Dunbar sits in the center hubs of Kanawha County,” he said, noting Dunbar’s placement next to Interstate 64. “If we can bring business, that brings jobs. That brings revenue into the city. With the jobs and the revenue just like you’ve seen South Charleston, Nitro and Charleston grow with their economic base, Dunbar can climb right up that ladder with them.”
Cunningham said he plans to launch a “Dunbar Urban Renewal Authority” to help restructure properties for commercial development.
Four city council members voted for Cunningham, while three voted for Ward 1 Councilman Mike Scipio and Ward 2 Councilman Rev. Greg Hudson voted for himself.
Cunningham said he heard multiple ideas from the other candidates that he believes he can incorporate into his agenda.
“Each one of the candidates felt like they could be a leader for the community as I did, but they also are people who are dedicated to the community,” he said.
Cunningham will have to be sworn in before Sept. 5 according to Dunbar’s city charter, which only allows an interim mayor to serve for 30 days. Councilman Steve Arnott has served that position.