BECKLEY, W.Va. — Beckley has a new mayor and he’s no stranger to Beckley residents. Retired broadcaster Bill O’Brien was chosen by Beckley Council members in a special meeting Thursday night.
O’Brien, who will be sworn-in as mayor at 1 p.m. Friday in council chambers, replaces 25-year mayor Emmett Pugh who resigned as part of a settlement with the West Virginia Ethics Commission.
O’Brien spent his career in radio as a longtime broadcaster and later owner of WJLS Radio. Many of those years he was broadcasting high school football and basketball games.
O’Brien will serve the remaining two and a half years of Pugh’s term. He was one of six people interested in the job.