BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Friday marked a new era for the City of Beckley as the very first City Manager for the community, Michael Resare was sworn in by Judge Darl Poling.
Resare’s appointment follows an extensive search and the fielding of a number of candidates for the City Manager role, the duties of which, up to this point, have been taken on by Interim City Manager, Ann Worley.
Talks of potentially implementing a City Manager form of government as opposed to the traditionally utilized Strong Mayor form of government have been underway for some time, dating all the way back the administration of precious City of Beckley Mayor, Rob Rappold.
Rappold was not up for reelection in the 2024 May Primary, and candidate Ryan Neal would ultimately secure the votes to become mayor against the likes of Marvin Robinson, Matt Lahn, and others.
At the time of Neal’s victory, it remained uncertain whether the city would continue forward with a Strong Mayor form of government or a City Manager form of government. LOOTPRESS caught up with Neal on election night to get his thoughts on the win.
“I hope it stays that way,” said Neal with regard to the then-current Strong-Mayor form of government in the city. “But if it doesn’t stay that way, I’ll fully accept my role and I’ll help City Council and I’ll help the City Manager do what’s best for the city.”
True to his word, Neal has fully embraced the role of Beckley Mayor in its current capacity, facilitating City Council meetings and working closely with both the Interim City Manager and member of City Council in making forward progress for the city.
It was revealed in early October of this year that Michael Resare had been selected by city officials out of the candidate pool of individuals vying for the City Manager position, and that he would officially assume the duties of the role in December. During a phone interview with LOOTPRESS following his announcement as the upcoming City Manager, Resare expressed enthusiasm at the potential growth of the city under his direction in the coming years.
“We’re all super excited to come there and make Beckley our home and help make it an area that’s more friendly to families and parks, and really try to boost recreation and growth for the area,” he said.
Addressing those in attendance, Resare extended his gratitude to the citizens of the area for putting their faith in him. He also noted a desire to bring new businesses to the city and to increase Beckley’s standing on a national scale.
