Bellaire Mayor Ed Marling is planning to retire after serving Belmont County communities for 24 years.

Before serving as Bellaire’s mayor for four years, Marling served as Shadyside’s mayor for 10 years and another 10 years on Shadyside Village Council spanning 1986 to 2006.

“I’m going to be 82 years old, so it’s time to get out of it,” Marling said.

When Marling decided to run for Bellaire mayor, he said he didn’t tell his wife Sandy. He didn’t even plan on running, but was driving his car to Whiteside in St. Clairsville for maintenance and decided to stop at the Belmont County Board of Elections to pay his fee to apply for his name to appear on the ballot.

“I was sitting in my chair reading the newspaper and she’s talking to someone on the phone, and next thing I know, a shoe came fl

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