Associated Press Published

Parkersburg Mayor Seeks Dismissal of Removal Petitions

Former Parkersburg Mayor Robert Newell

  Parkersburg Mayor Robert Newell has asked a court to dismiss two petitions seeking his removal from office.

A motion filed in Wood County Circuit Court says neither petition complies with state law regarding removing an official from office.

Newell’s attorney, Harry Dietzler, says in the motion that one petition lacks the required number of signatures. He says the other doesn’t give specifics of the charges to which the mayor is expected to respond.

Wood County Republican Party chairman Rob Cornelius filed one petition. Dietzler says the second petition was filed by Parkersburg City Council member Karen Coram and others.

A three-judge panel is scheduled to hear the petitions June 4-5.

The Parkersburg News and Sentinel reports that Cornelius filed a motion seeking Deitzler’s disqualification from the case.