Lewisburg Citizens Party candidates John Manchester, Joseph Lutz and Beverly White announce that they are seeking re-election to the seats of mayor and city council in the June 9 Lewisburg Municipal Elections.
John Manchester came to West Virginia in 1976 to attend grad school at WVU in Morgantown where he received his Masters in Education in 1977. He graduated from Brown University (B.A., American Civilization) in 1975. He has served Lewisburg as its Mayor for the last 12 years. He served on Lewisburg City Council for two years before that and has also served as city administrator since 2006. He serves on the city’s finance, public works and public safety committees plus the planning commission. He was named Mayor of the Year in West Virginia 2011-12 and was elected President of the West Virginia Municipal League 2013-14. He was awarded the Certificate of Highest Merit by the WVU Local Government Leadership Academy in 2006. In 2012, he received the statewide Chuck Chambers Public Service Award from the West Virginia Environmental Council.
Manchester currently serves as President of the Board of Region 4 Planning and Development Council and has served as President of the boards of Greater Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce (two terms), Carnegie Hall, Inc, Greenbrier Episcopal School and Greenbrier Community Services Council. He currently serves on the boards of Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau and America in Bloom.
He is married to Connie Manchester and they have one daughter.
“It has been my honor to serve the people of Lewisburg. It has been a special privilege to be able to work with the wonderful people I am surrounded by-city council members, members of our boards and commissions and the numerous volunteers who make this community special,” Manchester says. “I would like to serve one more term to complete the important projects we have underway, especially at the water plant, in public works and for the fire department,” he adds.
Joseph Lutz grew up outside Buffalo NY. He earned his Associate’s Degree in Forestry from Paul Smith’s College in upstate New York.
He joined the United States Air Force as an Airman in 1974 and served 20 years, retiring as a Major. He worked six years as a Medical Service Technician and then as a Physician Assistant. His Physician Assistant degree is from the University of Oklahoma. In April 1995, he took a position with Greenbrier Physicians Inc. where he still works. His duties include Primary Care, Internal Medicine, and care of the physically and mentally handicapped in the area through ResCare.
Lutz is a very active member of St. James Episcopal Church having served on the Vestry as Jr. Warden, (taking care of the building and grounds). He helped establish the adult education program. He is a trained Steven Minister trainer and has a certificate from the University of the South completing the program Education for Ministry.
Lutz is one of the founders of Greenbrier Episcopal School having served twice as its president of the Board of Trustees and remains on the Board. He has also served as Assistant Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 6. He volunteers for the Greenbrier Chorale and Greenbrier East High School choir. He is married to Barbara Lutz and has five children and three grandchildren.
He has served on Lewisburg City Council for the last four years, serves on the Finance Committee and is Chair of the Public Safety Committee.
“I look forward to serving the citizens of Lewisburg for another four years and helping us maintain the safe, beautiful and vibrant city we all enjoy,” Lutz says.
Beverly White is a lifelong resident of Lewisburg, a proud mother of two and grandmother of three. She is very active in her church, John Wesley United Methodist, and enjoys volunteering at the Lewisburg Food Locker and Greenbrier Valley Theatre. She works for TLP of West Virginia, Inc. and the Lewisburg Children’s Emergency Shelter. She enjoys working with teenagers and the elderly.
White has been on Lewisburg City Council for 12 years. During that time she has served on the Finance Committee. She served as chair of the Parks Commission for many years and most recently has been serving as chair of the Public Works Committee, having been on that committee for many years.
“I would like to be re-elected to city council so we can keep moving Lewisburg forward and build on the successes that have made Lewisburg the model for communities around the state, White says.
Manchester, Lutz and White are proud of the many awards and recognitions that have been given to Lewisburg over the last several years including being named “Coolest Small Town in America 2011” by Budget Travel, being ranked #3 “America’s Favorite Towns” by Travel and Leisure in 2014, being ranked “Best Town for the Arts” and” Best Town to Retire” by WV Living in 2014 and receiving WV Municipal League All Star Awards for Enrichment initiatives for nine consecutive years (2005-2014). One of their goals for the next four years is to build on these successes so that Lewisburg maintains its quality of life for residents and visitors alike.
They remind voters that early voting is being held in the Recorder’s Office in city hall June 1-6 and that voting on election day, June 9, will be conducted in council chambers on the first floor of city hall.
