Pot Roast, Pot Luck and Potholes

This morning I filed for city election. Now the scary part comes, having never done anything like this before. I need to confirm municipal election law requirements with the Secretary of State's office and also need to start raising campaign funds. I had little grasp of the cost of running for a local election and I'm also uncomfortable in asking for contributions but it is necessary. My campaign can accept checks made payable to Committee to Elect Scott Preston or cash less than $50. I have jumped out of the pot roast pan into the fire.

I had a bit of pot luck by meeting former councilman and firefighter Paul Mackey this morning at the bank. I explained I had jumped into the political ring and he gladly offered his support. Paul and my Uncle John Barlow served on council together back in the early 90's. I told Paul I remembered attending a council meeting when both he and John sat on council. I think Tony Gum was mayor.

It's amazing that even announcing your candidacy brings out questions more suited for existing council members. None the less I felt qualified to answer this question from a citizen about when the horrid potholes will be repaired in Buckhannon? I explained that this is the hardest time of year for roads as the water runoff and rain combined with the evening freeze thaw cycles turn the smallest road dent into the Grand Canyon that can easily blow a tire or put the front end of your vehicle out of alignment. On state roads, the DOH uses a special cold mix for temporary repairs. Cold mix repairs are really temporary as the potholes re-form quickly after just a few days. I have noticed on city streets that the worst of the potholes are repaired using a combination of gravel and cold mix applications. The pothole epidemic will not end until we get through the wet and freezing weather AND the asphalt hot mix plants start operating again. I don't know the date but it is sometime in the spring. Until then we just have to be tolerant and cautious. Our city street department makes pothole repair a priority each spring.