On September 20th, 2023, Rosemary Ketchum launched her mayoral campaign for the 2024 local election at Center Market in Wheeling, WV. Ketchum is currently the only female on city council, and wants to help Wheeling more directly as mayor.
Ketchum previously has had key leadership roles at the ACLU of WV, West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, the Wheeling Arts Commission, and The Friendlier City Project. She then moved onto Wheeling’s City Council in 2020. Now, she is running for Wheeling’s Mayor. If elected, she will not only be the second female mayor Wheeling has ever had, but the first transgender person as WV’s mayor.
“She is a ‘let’s make it happen’ person”. Smith first met Ketchum in 2020 as an anxious college student with many questions. She then got to work with her at Grow Ohio Valley,” a previous colleague and friend, Oceanna Smith said.
If she could describe Rosemary in one word she said, “Resilient” because she always faces challenges head on. Discussing Ketchum’s impact on Wheeling’s queer community, Smith said, “There is no doubt that existing as a queer person in this region comes with hardships, so the impact she’s had on the queer community, me included, by inserting herself into these spaces is immeasurable”.
During her announcement and launch party she stated she wants to focus on the main issues of Ward 3: vacant properties and blight, lack of public transit, homelessness, small business impediments and more. She also wants to focus on revamping Wheeling and small businesses.
If you will be eighteen by the election (mayoral local election is May 2024) you can register to vote now. You can register at GoVoteWV.com. Registering now, gives you the power to choose what happens in your state, city, and town.
“I will be voting for Rosemary because she is the best option, and she gives more representation,” said senior Alice Joseph.
“I will be voting for Rosemary, because Wheeling needs more diversity,” said senior Lily Osborne.
Ketchum wants to serve people in every neighborhood, because of her love of public service.
Local elections in the city of Wheeling, WV will occur in May of 2024, date to be announced.
*A previous version of this story was published which inaccurately stated that the election was scheduled for June. The Press corrected this error immediately upon notification.
