BUCKHANNON — On Thursday, Shelia Sines (R) released a statement calling for unity, expressing that our leaders must “represent Buckhannon as a whole” and avoid creating “destructive policies out of personal animus for the selected majority.” On December 20, Sines filed pre-candidacy forms for city council at Buckhannon City Hall, telling Mountaineer Journal that she is strongly considering a run in 2020.
Sines released the following statement:
“Buckhannon is filled with good-hearted and wonderful people. I refuse to allow a small group of loud voices to mischaracterize Buckhannon. Our town is not full of hate. Over the course of my life, I have experienced the welcoming atmosphere of our community and its relentless adherence to valuing faith, family, and freedom. We must protect our town from being transformed into something that we will not recognize and regret. We must stand up and defend our rights and freedom.
Defense of these values includes deregulatory pro-business policies. We must defend the right to freely exercise religious beliefs, as guaranteed in the First Amendment. Furthermore, we must unify our town, freeing from the shackles of division implemented by a small minority.
We must elect city councilmembers that will not enact harmful ordinances on taxpayers, simply because of personal self-interests. Our local leaders must represent this community as a whole, rather than desiring to enact destructive policies out of personal animus for the selected majority.
As many of you know, I am not a politician. I’m a mother, a wife, a grandma, and a career woman. While I am stepping out of my comfort zone and considering a run for city council, the reason for my motivation is you, my dear friends.
Our community must have accurate representation, and my campaign represents the values that we all share! I will need your help in this fight for the heart and soul of our town. I can’t do it alone. I ask for your support on the campaign trail and on the May 12th election. Let’s save our wonderful community, and ensure a bright future for the current residents and generations to come.”
Sines is a native of Buckhannon.