Published: June 11, 2008 10:22 am         

Rhodes, Miller, Sowers, Endler earn council seats

KEYSER - Mayor Glen "Bunk" Shumaker will be working with an entirely new Keyser City Council starting next month, when William "Sonny" Rhodes, Ed Miller, Dave Sowers and James Endler take office.

An apparently small number of voters turned out Tuesday to cast their ballots for the new council members.

Rhodes was the top vote-getter, finishing with 259 votes. He was followed by Miller with 237, Sowers with 234, Endler with 222, and Isaac "Sonny" Alt with 163.

Although there are five seats to be filled on the newly-expanded council, the voters were to choose only four of the five candidates on the ballot.

The fifth person, who will fill the seat that has been vacant since George Chidester's resignation in August 2007, will be appointed by the mayor.

That appointment, according to the city charter, must be approved by a majority of the council members.

Three people received write-in votes Tuesday: Harry Liken, with one vote; incumbent Councilman Marq Rice, who was eliminated in the primary election, two votes; and former Mayor Roger Newlin, who was also eliminated in the primary election, one vote.

Rhodes, a retired Westvaco instrument technician, has been a resident of Keyser since 1962.

He attended the University of Arizona, where he majored in history and minored in physical education.

Miller, a retired rural mail carrier, served on City Council from 1969 to 1982 and was mayor from 1982 to 1984.

Sowers, an accountant, holds a degree in business management and accounting. He worked for a number of years as a child care worker with the Burlington United Methodist Family Services, and for 10 years as a private care provider for a child in the Winchester, Va., area.

He also owned an auto parts store and body shop.

Endler, a retired Mineral County deputy sheriff, operates Endler Investigations and also serves as bailiff in the county court system.

He has had extensive leadership experience with the Keyser Rotary Club.

The current city council has one remaining meeting on June 23. The newly elected members will be administered the oath of office on a date to be announced prior to taking office in July.

Contact Liz Beavers at lbeavers@times-news.com.