Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of three stories to be published this week profiling the candidates for mayor of St. Clairsville. The race will be decided in the Nov. 7 general election, when polls will be open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Early, in-person voting is underway at the Belmont County Board of Elections office.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Mayor Kathryn Thalman is seeking reelection, running on her record in her first term and hoping residents give her the nod to continue that work.

Thalman, originally from Wheeling, moved to St. Clairsville in 1990 after retiring from a pharmaceutical career.

“I love this town. I am a wonderfully big supporter of St. Clairsville,” the incumbent said.

Thalman said she comes from a background in sales and got involved in politics during another three-person race where the main issue of contention was whether to sell the city’s water system or seek funding to make upgrades required by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

“I did research about selling our water, and it was just a bad idea,” she said.

“I’m so appreciative that the people of St. Clairsville had faith in me and entrusted me to navigate through that situation. We have. I kept my promise, we did not sell the water. Plus a lot of other good stuff that we’ve had the ability to do.”

Thalman said her administration has featured cost-saving measures such as using liquid chlorine instead of chlorine tablets to treat the water. The resulted in a yearly savings of more than $100,000.

She said as of last month, 69% of funds allocated for the year had been spent while 80% of the year has passed.

“We are 11 percent under our budget,” she noted.

Thalman said she is also proud there have been more community events under her leadership at no cost to the city.

“We shook up this town,” she said. “We said we were going to do things different, and I’m proud of everyone I’ve hired.”

She said her leadership style includes working with a “business” attitude, as well as hiring intelligent, competent people.

“God’s blessed me with some very bright people. I think my leadership style is to lead by example, to have a clear vision and to be a true leader,” she said, adding she can often be found in the city’s various departments and speaking with the “boots on the ground.”

Thalman credits the administration members she has hired, including Safety and Service Director Jeremy Greenwood with his knowledge of infrastructure. Thalman commended his work with the Ohio EPA to bring the city into compliance.

She also noted improvements to the recreation department since the hire of Eric Gay as recreation director, including sponsorships for concerts, grants and partnerships with businesses, as well as an alternate route to the ball fields.

The COVID-19 pandemic reached the area and was at its height during Thalman’s term. She recalled making necessary adjustments such as conducting remote council meetings and otherwise keeping city operations going. Her medical background and connections also allowed Thalman to secure additional COVID testing kits for city workers.

“I’m particularly proud of how we handled COVID,” she said. “We spent the money we were apportioned very wisely.”

Water distribution upgrades will continue in the future. The project was kicked off with a $5 million federal infrastructure grant.

“It probably should have been looked at 40 years ago, but it wasn’t,” she said. “That $5 million is being put to work right now. … Some of our lines are so bad that the only thing holding them together was the dirt around them.”

Thalman said street paving will resume after the infrastructure is installed.

“You can’t pave, tear it up, fix the pipes and then put it back,” she said.

Thalman said an increase in the city’s water rates would have been necessary no matter what option was chosen. She said she has not heard a plan or proposal from either of the other candidates — Councilwoman Linda Jordan or resident Bill Brooks — to lower the rates.

“We are passing on the rates that are charged to us, plus the water rate had to go up some for us to get grants,” she said, adding that St. Clairsville’s rates are still lower than those in some other communities. “I’m sorry that the rates have gone up some. … But I dare either opponent to tell me a specific plan to lower the rates.”

She added that in her first term, she has made connections with state and local officials to promote St. Clairsville. She also anticipates new businesses moving in that will enhance the city.

“We are moving in a very positive direction,” she said. “We’re doing responsible growth. There is so much bright future here, and I do not want to leave yet because we’ve got so many good projects.

“God has blessed me dearly by letting me meet so many wonderful people. We’ve got a very dynamic city administration in our office.”