July 1, 2022, BUCKHANNON, WV: July 1st of each year begins a new fiscal year for the City of Buckhannon and it welcomes a new beginning for the City Council and its members. Three of those members were sworn in Friday, July, 1, including Randy Sanders, as the City Recorder, and David Thomas and David McCauley, as City Council members.
Randy Sanders has served as the City Recorder since 2019 when he was appointed to fill an unexpired term and he also serves as the City Information Officer. A native of Upshur County, Randy grew up in Rock Cave and for many years served on several Buckhannon community committees and boards including the WV Strawberry Festival. He currently produces Miss USA and Miss Teen USA state preliminary pageants under a franchise agreement with THE MISS BRAND CORP.
Randy’s responsibilities as the City Recorder include serving as a voting member of City Council and the Stockert Youth & Community Center, and as the Ex Officio Secretary for the Consolidated Public Works Board; Sanitary Board; Water Board; and the Waste Collection Board. He is also a non-voting member and recording secretary for all of the City’s Commissions. Mr. Sanders is currently the President of the World Association of Marching Show Bands Organizing Committee for the WAMSB World Championships being held in Buckhannon July 17 – 24, 2023.
David Thomas begins his sixth term as a council member, being first elected in 2004. During his professional career, Dave worked for two Fortune 500 companies in finance, taught undergraduate and graduate school in business and finance, and had executive experience at West Virginia Wesleyan College up until his retirement in 1997.
Dave has always been an advocate for volunteerism and served as a big brother for the YMCA, coached youth sporting teams, served on the Salvation Army Advisory Council, and is a founding member of the Foundation for Better Schools and of the Upshur County Economic Authority.
David W. McCauley begins his first term as a Council Member but has served the City of Buckhannon for 37 years. Most of that time he was the City Attorney and from 2016 to 2020 served as Mayor. During his term as Mayor several important initiatives took place including the reopening of the Public Safety Complex parking lot, the Trader’s Alley/Milkman Lane project, grant awards or applications to realize the Gateway West and acquiring the Colonial Art Center.
Mr. McCauley has a Bachelor of Arts WVU (1980) and a Juris Doctorate from WVU (1983). He has been with West Virginia Wesleyan College since 1983 as a Professor & as WVWC’s General Legal Counsel. He served as a Director MBA Program (1994-99), and there are well over 100 former WVWC students who are now attorneys themselves.
The next city council meeting will be held Thursday, July 7th at 7:00 pm, held in Council Chambers, City Hall, 70 E Main Street, Buckhannon. The full city council of Buckhannon includes Robbie Skinner, Mayor; Randy Sanders, Recorder; and council members Pam Bucklew, David McCauley, Jack Reger, Cj Rylands, and David Thomas.