Councilmember Emmett Pepper

04/03/2026

DID YOU KNOW that if you don't see a speed limit sign with another speed, the speed limit is 25 mph in Charleston? We want to make sure the word gets out about that so our residents are safer in our neighborhoods.

I worked with Mayor Goodwin and Traffic Director, Matt Hartline, to get more than a dozen of these signs erected at various city entrances. We want to remind people who come into our city to drive carefully. I have heard from people all over the city that some people are driving too fast, so we want to make our streets safer through increased awareness.

04/01/2026

As I said on the radio today, this solution of the same street sweeping times on both sides of the street in the East End neighborhoods, is the result of good governance.

From hearing from people on social media, researching the issue at city hall and library, a public meeting, and going door-to-door...we came up with a solution that is positively received by the most people.

Yes, this is a smaller-profile issue, but it shows how government should work: listening, researching, and creative solutions. I was glad to work with Mayor Goodwin, Public Works Dept, Councilmember Hoover, and others to come up with this result.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A new street sweeping schedule is in effect on Charleston’s East End, with officials hoping the change makes it easier on residents while allowing the city’s public works department to continue keeping the streets clean. Starting Wednesday and continuing through October, pa...

03/19/2026

I need your help to keep the positive momentum going in the city. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/electemmett2026

It was never in my five or ten year plan to run for public office, but when I was asked to serve, I answered the call and have jumped both feet first. I have taken the job seriously and am proud of the things that I have been able to accomplish working collaboratively with my colleagues on Council and city government. A few issues I have focused on:
-- Addressing vacant/dilapidated buildings
-- Helping streamline processes for small businesses
-- Safer, more walkable neighborhoods
-- More parks and natural spaces for the public
-- Helping show that Park Place Cinemas can reopen (and it did!)

Your contributions help me get my message of commitment and problem solving to voters.
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/electemmett2026

Running citywide for Charleston City Council

03/18/2026

I was proud to join almost all of council in voting to increase pay for city employees, including our police officers and retirees, and to accomplish the goal of a minimum $15/hour for all city workers.

I also didn't mind taking action to minimize the continued political theatrics of a few members of council, two of whom actually voted against the budget including the pay raises.

City Council should be solution-oriented. There is enough division and grandstanding in Congress and our state legislature; we don't need to that in city government, too.

Monday night, March 17, 2026, Charleston City Council in Charleston, West Virginia voted to approve the budget for the fiscal year starting on July 1, 2026. Shannon Snodgrass introduced an amendment to change the proposed police pay raise. It did not pass.

03/13/2026

Very excited for this news!

As some may know, last year the West Virginia International Film Festival was looking for a location to have screenings, in addition to the Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema by WVIFF, during the reboot of our festival after being in hiatus since Covid. (I have served on the WVIFF board since 2012.)

Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin and her staff (including Director Terri Allen, Chief of Staff Matt Sutton, an City Manager Benjamin Mishoe) were super supportive and helped work through all of the issues that arose along the way that you could imagine would arise when reopening a space that has been closed for a few years. We utilized the former Park Place manager, Mike Tawney, who will be involved with the new reopening, along with some other former employees. It was a huge success!

I think it is fair to say that the festival last fall provided a proof of concept for the planned reopening in the coming weeks. Very glad to be part of the team that could bring together the city and WVIFF (including President Delford Chaffin and so many others) to make that "proof of concept" happen.

That said, I am grateful that Rob Faulkner, Mike Tawney, and their entire team are taking the risk to reopen the cinema in a time when more cinemas close than open. This is a great thing for the city and for local film lovers! Be sure and go to the movies often once it reopens!

Needless to say, I am a resounding "yes" on City Council to approve the lease that reopens Park Place!

📷: https://parkplacemovies.com/

03/03/2026

Had a great time connecting with some of Charleston's newest voters at the Capital High School candidate meet-and-greet / Rock the Vote event. This is one of my favorite events during the campaign, when we get to hear thoughtful ideas from young people. It was good to connect with friends and colleagues, as well. This photo was taken before dozens of young adults came in and talked about issues they are concerned about.

02/26/2026

It has been a real honor to get to know Council President Ceperley since joining council and later becoming a member of the same church. She is an impressive leader and it was amazing to learn in this article of her lifelong service to the public, something we all could aspire to. Thank you Madam President!

In her 55-year career, Becky Cain Ceperley, current councilmemeber in Charleston, West Virginia, has stood beside presidents and Congress members to fight for the American voter — particularly women voters. We feature her story as part of Women’s History Month in March 2026.

02/24/2026

“This is not a serious proposal from these two members of our council [Joe Solomon and Shannon Snodgrass]. This has basically been a stunt,” Councilmember Emmett Pepper said on 580 Live with Dave Allen. . .
“This is about some people who have had some problems the past four years and have not been very successful, so what they’re doing is they’re trying to make it this last-minute thing, right before a primary election, so they can get votes,” he said. . .
“Regardless of what the policy is, bring the policy to the table having done the work first because I can tell you, if you don’t approach a single committee member before that bill gets to your committee, your goal is not progress or policy. It’s pageantry,” [Councilmember Caitlin Cook] said.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. –Controversy continues over a proposal that would institute term limits in Charleston city government, with city council members firing back at their colleagues who are pushing for changes. Council members Shannon Snodgrass and Joe Solomon proposed the addition of term limits for...

02/18/2026

Kind of long post, but the image below basically sums it up.

One of the fundamental tenets that I try to work from is to approach public service with humility and mutual respect for colleagues in office. I do not always agree with my colleagues on City Council, but they are in the same position that I am in and they were also given the trust of voters in our city.

Leadership is about not just having good ideas, but being humble enough to understand that you do not have all -- that other people's ideas may improve the kernel of a good idea that you had -- and to put in the effort to find out what other ideas are out there and how your good idea can fit in with theirs.

While there is room for disagreement about a policy like term limits, the theatrical tantrums that two members of council had yesterday around that issue is very disappointing, though sadly unsurprising, given a history of outbursts and unwillingness to collaborate in the past.

Here's what happened:
After receiving negative feedback and suggestions about how to improve their ideas about term limits, two members of council introduced a bill that there was not much support for. No one on the committee that considered it believed the bill had merit and did not wish to advance the bill, so it died in that committee. I was one of the members who did not believe it had merit. Happy to talk about why, but that is almost beside the point for me, at this point.

The two main proponents (one of whom is an opponent of mine in the primary election) then took time during the larger council meeting attempting to force a vote on the bill that had already failed unanimously. ("discharge" the bill from committee) That attempt was also nearly unanimously rejected, 21-5.

Then the proponents took the opportunity during a time for announcements to admonish the rest of their colleagues for not supporting their idea (which, again, they had already received negative feedback on). They also suggested that they would continue to introduce the same idea in different forms over and over again, regardless of whether there was support for it.

While we need people with conviction in public life, we need those people to be willing to truly listen to others' ideas and honor their ideas. The hard part about governing is the collaboration and listening to others. It's easy to have ideas and introduce bills without collaboration.

Public office is not a platform to force a few people's ideas onto everyone else. We've seen enough of that nationally and we don't need that in city government here. Thankfully there are only a few people on city council who do that. Here's to all of the problem-solvers working together to create the best city we can.

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