Local leaders explain why they do, or don't, make resolutions
Some local leaders share their resolutions, while others explain why they don't make any.
"I don't make resolutions, that way I don't have to break any," said Monongalia County Commissioner Bob Bell. "That's my New Year's resolution — not to make any."
Star City Mayor Alien Sharp won't be making too many specific resolutions this year either, he said.
"Just to try to be a better person than I was last year," Sharp said. "Now I make myself sound like I was bad last year.
"If I said I had a resolution, I think it would have to be to continue trying to make the town grow," he said.
Delegate Cindy Frich, R-Monongalia, has politically oriented New Year's resolutions as well.
"I certainly hope to make West Virginia ... a better place to raise a family," she said. "I'm resolved to try to convince the Legislature and governor to protect personal property rights."
She did have a more personal resolution, however.
"Maybe try not to be distracted by critics, but still try to remain open to other people's ideas," Frich said.
Monongalia County Commissioner Asel Kennedy explained why he doesn't make New Year's resolutions.
"People are generally what they are, and just because you say you're going to do something, you're not likely going to do it anyhow," he said.
Other local leaders made specific New Year's resolutions. Morgantown Councilman Ron Bane wants to beat his past times at two Morgantown-area triathlons. He completed the MedExpress Mountaineer Triathlon in June in 4 hours, 48 minutes; and the shorter Sprint, Splash, 'n Spin in August in 89 minutes. "That's my goal this year," he said. "I don't know if that's a resolution or not, but my goal is that I have to beat those times." Bane said he resolves to get into shape again. "I've taken a couple months off and I've gotten to be a slug again," he said.
Mon County Assessor Rodney Pyles said he hasn't really made any New Year's resolutions for a long time, but said he has some goals he'd like to focus on next year.
"I am going to try to get myself into some kind of a fitness program and try to lose some weight — try to shed a few pounds, you know," Pyles said.
Pyles also said he'd like to "catch up on some writing that I've been putting off." He also hopes to keep a cleaner office than he has in the past.
"We just painted and laid carpet in here, and I cleaned everything out," Pyles said. "And so I'm going to be very careful about not letting it get into the mess it was in before."
Melissa Harrah, visitors' center coordinator for the Greater Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau, said her resolution is to be more organized, "typical, standard, run-of-the-mill. Nothing creative," she said.
Although Kennedy won't be making any resolutions this time around, he's looking forward to the new year.
"You know, last year was a good one," he said "I think the next one will be even better, if I make it through."