Randy Sanders, David Thomas and David W. McCauley Sworn in to City Council Friday, July 1st

July 5, 2022

Mountaineer News

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L-R, City Recorder Randy Sanders, Mayor Robbie Skinner and Councilman David W. McCauley

BUCKHANNON, WV - July 1st of each year begins a new fiscal year for the City of Buckhannon and it welcomes a new beginning for the City Council and its members.

Three of the members were sworn in on Friday, July 1st. Randy Sanders took the oath of City Recorder; David Thomas and David W. McCauley took the oath of City Council members.

CITY RECORDER

Randy Sanders has served as the City Recorder since 2019 when he was appointed to fill an unexpired term and he also serves as the City Information Officer.

A native of Upshur County, Randy grew up in Rock Cave and for many years served on several Buckhannon community committees and boards including the WV Strawberry Festival.

He currently produces Miss USA and Miss Teen USA state preliminary pageants under a franchise agreement with THE MISS BRAND CORP.

Just prior to swearing in, Mayor Skinner explained the importance of Mr. Sanders' involvement with City Council:

"(He) does a fantastic job in this city and is really the glue that holds the council together... that's not me... it is Randy.

Randy thinks of all of the details. Randy thinks of the big projects but also doesn't forget about little projects, either. Randy keeps us in line with driving the narrative of, 'we need to continue moving this community forward', with preparing for large events, small events...

He's credited with leaving no stone un-turned here to make this community look the best that it's looked in quite some time. Main street is beautiful, the college is looking good and I think everybody that comes into town, because of Randy's efforts, is very, very complementary on everything that we have and that we enjoy here.

Randy is certainly an asset. I'm thrilled to get to work with him. I don't know what I would do without him sitting here on the council and being part of everything we do..."

Randy’s responsibilities as the City Recorder include serving as a voting member of City Council and the Stockert Youth & Community Center, and as the Ex Officio Secretary for the Consolidated Public Works Board; Sanitary Board; Water Board; and the Waste Collection Board. He is also a non-voting member and recording secretary for all of the City’s Commissions.

Mr. Sanders is currently the President of the World Association of Marching Show Bands Organizing Committee for the WAMSB World Championships being held in Buckhannon July 17-24, 2023. After Mr. Sanders was sworn in, he shared a few words with those in attendance:

CITY COUNCIL

David Thomas begins his sixth term as a council member, being first elected in 2004. During his professional career, Dave worked for two Fortune 500 companies in finance, taught undergraduate and graduate school in business and finance, and had executive experience at West Virginia Wesleyan College up until his retirement in 1997. Dave has always been an advocate for volunteerism and served as a big brother for the YMCA, coached youth sporting teams, served on the Salvation Army Advisory Council, and is a founding member of the Foundation for Better Schools and of the Upshur County Economic Authority.

Due to a scheduling conflict, Mr. Thomas was sworn in earlier Friday morning.

CITY COUNCIL

David W. McCauley begins his first term as a Council Member but has served the City of Buckhannon for 37 years. Most of that time he was the City Attorney and from 2016 to 2020 served as Mayor.

During his term as Mayor several important initiatives took place including the reopening of the Public Safety Complex parking lot, the Trader’s Alley/Milkman Lane project, grant awards or applications to realize the Gateway West and acquiring the Colonial Art Center. Mr. McCauley has s a Bachelor of Arts WVU (1980) and a Juris Doctorate from WVU (1983). He has been with West Virginia Wesleyan College since 1983 as a Professor & as WVWC’s General Legal Counsel. He served as a Director MBA Program (1994-99), and there are well over 100 former WVWC students who are now attorneys themselves.

Before taking the oath of office, Mayor Skinner offered the following comments regarding Councilor McCauley:

"This gentleman is no stranger to this organization, or this building, or this family, and so we're just happy to welcome him back to the team, officially. Although it didn't seem like he was ever really gone from the team. We talked some in the past two years. He made sure to keep folks up to date with the projects that were going on and always was a constant supporter of the Stockert Youth & Community Center with faithful donations in the past two years.

Thank you for everything that you've done for the city up to this point, what you continued to do the past two years, and we are looking forward to what you can bring to the table as part of the team in the next several years to come.

So, welcome back! Thanks for being here and thanks to everybody for supporting a good friend to us all..."

Watch Councilman McCauley take the oath of office.

The next city council meeting will be held Thursday, July 7th at 7:00 pm in Council Chambers at City Hall, 70 E Main Street, Buckhannon.

The full city council of Buckhannon includes Robbie Skinner, Mayor; Randy Sanders, Recorder; and council members Pam Bucklew, David McCauley, Jack Reger, Cj Rylands, and David Thomas.