By Patrick Hurston
Moorefield will hold its municipal General Election on June 10, 2025. Among those on the ballot are six candidates vying for two Town Council seats. This is the third in a series of conversations with all six candidates, each of whom was given the same set of questions, and the same deadline in which to respond. Candidates were asked to keep their responses to 3-5 sentences. Today we talk with current council member seeking reelection, Jason Fertig. Responses have not been edited.
Moorefield Examiner (ME): Please provide a brief personal statement about your candidacy, priorities and vision for the Town of Moorefield.
Jason Fertig: My name is Jason Fertig, and I am a lifelong resident of Moorefield. I have served on the town council for the last four years. My priority is to be a spokesman for the citizens of Moorefield, and to make the town the best it can be through understanding people’s concerns and aspirations of what they think our town should be.
ME: What initiative, program, project, or issue (infrastructure, public safety/services, economic development, etc.) would you spearhead if elected?
Fertig: The council is a collective group and is not a platform for a personal agenda. As a group, we have made major strides to ensure the safety and well-being of the citizens of Moorefield. I/we will continue to be active in ongoing projects such as park improvement and expansion, projects honoring our veterans, and the infrastructure needed to support our rapidly growing community.
ME: Given recent controversies involving the Moorefield Police Department, how would you work to enhance transparency and accountability in town government and strengthen public trust in the Council and local law enforcement?
Fertig: The public trust in the council has been clouded due to false information that has spread throughout the community thanks to social media, and word of mouth trying to promote a false agenda. People hear one negative thing, and instead of trying to understand or coming to a meeting to find the truth, the false information is spread like wildfire. The public trust will strengthen in time, but people will have to first realize that every decision made by the council is for the benefit of the citizens. There is full transparency by coming to a meeting. They are always open to the public.
ME: What do you believe is the most pressing issue facing Moorefield and its residents and how do you plan to address it if elected?
Fertig: In the immediate future one of our biggest concerns is how rapidly our town is growing. Housing continues to be an issue, and safe housing is at the top of that list. We are also facing many language barriers in all aspects of everyday life. I believe we need to work on breaking down these barriers to enhance our community understanding and hopefully have a more thriving town.
ME: The Council is just finishing/just finished its budgeting for FY 2025/26. How would you prioritize budgeting and balancing public safety needs with other municipal responsibilities such as cultural and recreational activities; public works and infrastructure; and economic development?
Fertig: Each year when the budget is discussed, we try to see the future and plan for each department within the town accordingly. With that being said, we also receive numerous requests for funding from local entities. We prioritize those requests and donate as we are able. There are too many to mention, but the majority of them have to do with public safety, well-being, and infrastructure to help our community and citizens thrive.
