By Leigh C. Merrifield
The filing period for candidacy in West Virginia expired on January 31, 2026. The election will be held on May 12 th , with city, county, state, and some federal positions (U.S. Senators & Representatives) on the same ballot. Listed below is information on the local City election in Shinnston.
There are staggered terms for Shinnston City Council members in order to avoid the possibility of a total replacement of Council seats.
Two current members of Shinnston City Council will remain until their terms expire; those include Mary Ann Ferris and Vance Sosinsky.
The candidates who have filed for Shinnston City Council four-year terms by Ward are:
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WARD 1 (East Shinnston) – Andrew Kisamore
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WARD 2 (Downtown) – *Amanda Sayers & Kimberly Howell
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WARD 3 (Pleasant Hill) – *Patrick Kovalck
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Ward 4 (West Side) –*Julia Currey
Due to the resignation of former At-Large Councilman Bill Watson, Rodney Strait was previously appointed to fill that seat until the next election cycle, so that seat will now need to be an elected position for the remaining two-year term. Running for that At-Large seat are Rodney Strait and Kevin Wiles. ( denotes those currently serving on Council.)
Ballot positions for the four wards as well as the At-Large Council seat will be drawn at 9:00 a.m. on February 24, 2026 at the City Building (40 Main Street in Shinnston).
Those candidates who are elected will take office and be sworn in on July 1, 2026 in Council Chambers.
The polling places that have customarily been used in the past (by WARD) are: St. Ann Catholic Church for those who reside in WARD 1; the Woman’s Club Clubhouse for those who reside in WARD 2; the Lincoln High School Commons Area for those who reside in WARD 3; and Otterbein Methodist Church for those who reside in WARD 4. Should any of these locations be changed, the public will be informed prior to the election.
As a reminder, West Virginia made it a state law on April 30, 2025 that voters must show an ID in order to vote. This Bill was designed to ensure election integrity and prevent voter fraud.
Examples of identifications accepted at polling places on election day include any of the following:
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A valid West Virginia driver’s license or valid West Virginia identification card issued by the WV Division of Motor Vehicles.
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Those who may have recently moved to WV and have not yet transferred their driver’s license can present a valid driver’s license issued by another state.
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A valid United States passport or passport card.
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A valid employee ID card with a photo of the eligible voter issued by local, state or federal government.
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A valid student ID card with a photo of the eligible voter issued by an institution of higher education in WV or by a WV high school.
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A valid U.S. military ID card with a photograph of the person desiring to vote.
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A valid voter registration card that includes the voter’s photograph issued by a County Clerk in the state of West Virginia or the Secretary of State.