Roman Prezioso retains State Legislature seat

This article is primarily for the benefit of those Monongah High alumni who do not live in West Virginia and don’t have access to the Fairmont Times.

Roman Prezioso keeps job through 24th year

Incumbent Roman Prezioso, Class of 1967, who lives in Fairmont with wife Deborah, kept his 13th Senate District seat in the West Virginia Legislature for another 4 years. He’s been there for 20 years. Roman got 59% of the vote against Republican challenger Barry Bledsoe.

Roman has been in the State Senate since 1996 after serving in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1988 to 1996.

Roman’s parents, Amelia Ann Yerace Prezioso and Roman Prezioso, Sr., ran Prezioso Grocery at the top of Jackson Street hill for decades, including during my 1940s and 1950s childhood and early adulthood in Monongah.

Roman’s sister, Marie Prezioso, lives in Charleston.

In the 50th District for State House of Delegates, White Hall Mayor Guy Ward, who was in the 2016 Monongahfest parade after White Hall donated the first seven Christmas street lights to Monongah, beat incumbent Democrat Tim Manchin, who held the seat for 13 years.

Manchin, who lives in Fairmont with wife Susan and son Joe Manchin,  was appointed to the seat held by his uncle, A. James Manchin, after Jimmy passed away.

Tim’s parents are Ann and Joe Manchin II. Another uncle, John Manchin, and a grandfather, Joe Manchin I, served as mayors of Farmington. Joe Manchin III, U.S. Senator and former West Virginia governor, is Tim's cousin.

Mike Caputo and Linda Longstreth, a 1969 Mannnington High graduate, will remain in the House of Delegates.

Democratic incumbent Randy Elliott, a 1970 Mannington grad, got 57% of the vote for Marion County Commissioners.

Fairmont City Council seats went to incumbent Frank Yann, Brad Merrifield, Dora Grubb and incumbent Phil Mason.

Sunday hunting got 65% approval. The Brunch Bill, which moves the serving of alcohol in restaurants on Sundays from 1 p.m. to an earlier 10 a.m., passed with 54%.

Vandetta 2^nd to 12-year incumbent

Monongah Mayor Greg Vandetta was second in voting for the Democratic candidate for Marion County Commissioner on Tuesday.

Greg got 2,949 votes to 4,580 for 12-year incumbent Randy Elliott. Sam Wilson drew 1,581 and former Fairmont Fire Chief James Emerick 1,352. The winner will face Republican Robin Salai in the November general election.

 

Greg, Class of 1975, is married to Monongahfest president Debbie Manzo Vandetta, Class of 1973.

 

North Marion and WVU graduate Michael Angelucci, whose grandfather is former Monongah High quarterback Julie Angelucci’s brother, lost his bid for Magistrate in Division 4. Michael lives in Farmington.

Todd Rundle won with 7,144 votes to 4,935 for Michael Angelucci and 3,355 for Brian Shuck.

Fairmont Times article on Monongah Mayor Greg Vandetta

For those who don’t get the Fairmont Times, mainly because they don’t live in Marion County, here’s an interesting Times story on Monongah Mayor Greg Vandetta, Class of 1975, married for 39 years to Monongahfest president Debbie Manzo Vandetta, Class of 1973.

Greg is a candidate for Marion County commissioner.

 

Vandetta has focus on county development

·         By Hannah Rosche Times West Virginian

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Vandetta has focus on county developmenthttp://www.timeswv.com/news/vandetta-has-focus-on-county-development/article_2810522a-0c2f-11e6-b851-8f57c1a39dFAIRMONT — Greg Vandetta, a Democratic candidate for the Marion County Commission, has had an interest in the position for a number of years and is now giving the position a shot.

“I always thought it’d be an interesting job, something to get into,” Vandetta said.

Vandetta is currently serving his second term as the mayor of Monongah, and he has served on the Monongah Town Council for several years.

He is a lifelong resident of Marion County. Vandetta grew up in Monongah and attended Monongah High School.

After graduating from high school, he began working at the Fairmont Kitchen Center.

In 1987, Vandetta started his own business, Vandetta Construction, and has been running it ever since.

His wife Debbie is also a lifelong resident of Marion County. They have two daughters, Jessica and Bethany, and one son, Greg II. They also have six grandchildren whose ages range from 6 months to 9 years.

Between being the mayor of Monongah and running his own business, Vandetta doesn’t have much free time. But in the free time he does have, he enjoys camping at Big Bear, being outdoors and attending Little League games and soccer matches. One of his favorite pastimes is going to West Virginia University home football games. He also enjoys spending time with his family and is family-oriented.

The position became of interest to Vandetta after he graduated from high school, when he was working for the Fairmont Kitchen Center. There, he was working for a former Marion County commissioner and learned about the commission and how it serves the county and community members.

Vandetta said he’s qualified for the position because he has served on the Monongah Town Council for several years. He said he knows how local government works, and he thought it was a good time for him to run for county commission after collecting years of experience.

The development of Marion County is important to Vandetta. If elected, he plans on furthering the county’s development and keeping Marion County moving forward.

Vandetta wants to help “keep the bills paid” and believes he has the fiscal responsibility to do so. His experience running his own business serves as a template for what he can do on the Marion County Commission if he’s elected.

He said being level-headed and easy to get along with are some of his greatest qualities. He believes his hardworking attitude and his positivity will be a good addition to the Marion County Commission.

Overall, Vandetta feels blessed to have the support of his friends, family and loyal supporters. He said that during his campaign, he has had an overwhelmingly positive experience.

If elected, Vandetta doesn’t plan to stop running his business, but he will dedicate less time to it.

“If I’m lucky enough to get elected, I’m going to do 90 percent county commission work and 10 percent construction work,” Vandetta said.

Vandetta wants to keep the momentum of development in Marion County going. His love for the county is one of the reasons he is running for Marion County Commission. He believes he can do right by the citizens of Marion County, and he plans to do everything he can to diversify the economy and continue moving forward.

 

April 16 breakfast for county candidate Vandetta

There will be a breakfast 8-10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 16 in the Monongah Town Hall for Monongah mayor and Marion County commissioner candidate Greg Vandetta, Class of 1975.

Greg Vandetta

The cost is $10.

Monongah Town Recorder Patty Steele McCombs, who broke the tie that made Greg the mayor, is selling tickets for the event.

Patty’s husband, Bill McCombs, won the Monongah mayoral race when his name was drawn from a hat to break the tie with Don Harris. But the state ruled that he couldn’t be both mayor and town water director, so he resigned as mayor and Greg got the job.

The other Marion County Commission candidates are Randy Elliott, current commission president from Mannington; Samuel Wilson, also a Mannington High grad; James Emerick; and Robin Salai, the only Republican running.

Ernie VanGlider and Rick Garcia, who ousted sitting commissioner Butch Tennant by one vote 2014, are the other current commissioners.

Vandetta Construction owner Greg is married to Monongahfest president Debbie Manzo Vandetta, Class of 1973.

 

Monongah fire chief Harless McCombs, Class of 1976, is Bill McCombs’ brother. Harless is married to Monongah Middle School language arts teacher and children’s book author Lisa Myers McCombs, Class of 1977.