T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Lucien Murzyn looks forward to serving the people of St. Clairsville as one of the city’s newest council members.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Lucien Murzyn looks forward to serving the public as one of the city’s newest council members as he and Holly West take the council-at-large seats previously held Linda Jordan and Beth Oprisch.

Murzyn was a college instructor at Ohio University Eastern for about 30 years. He taught math, teaching methods and physical education, first aid and CPR classes.

“A lot of people know me around here,” he said.

This is Murzyn’s first time in elected office.

“I just sensed the need, that they needed somebody. I’m by no means a political animal, but I thought I could make some contributions with the knowledge that I do have,” he said. “Basically I ran because I thought I could help the city out.”

He said he is interested in several boards and committees.

“You’ve got a recreation department that needs a councilman. You’ve got the Memorial Park that needs somebody with a knowledge of physical education and that type of program,” he said. “We’ll see what I can fit into and what I can help them with. I’m going to do whatever they need me to do. I’m basically here to help.

“I’m just looking forward to sitting on the council and contributing to whatever I can contribute,” he said. “I’m 76 years old, and I just threw my hat in the ring because I thought I could do some good.”

Murzyn also noted the many significant upcoming and ongoing projects.

“We have to do something about our waterlines. They’ve been neglected for decades now, and I’m also aware that the fire department wants … to get a levy for an emergency shelter. I’d like to look into that.”

He also plans to explore the possibility of utilizing the former fairground buildings for a shelter.

“These are things I’m going to listen to what the other council members and employees feel about it, and I’m going to push on that issue. I fully agree after last winter we need an emergency shelter,” he said.

Murzyn said it is important for elected leaders to seek input from the public.

“I’m going to make a point to the citizens of this city that I’m willing to listen to what they say. Sometimes the citizens can come up with solutions that may escape the council members, and if they offer viable solutions, then I’ll bring it to the council,” he said.

“When you think about consequential information, that is things that are important and really have relevance, it’s crucial to decide what makes sense. But also the knowledge that I have is relatively small compared to the great sea of knowledge that’s out there in the community. That’s why I say if a citizen can come up with an idea as a suggestion, I’m willing to listen to it. And if there’s some validity to it and if it’s viable, I’ll bring it to the rest of the council and we’ll discuss it. You can have an expertise in the field, but just because you have an expertise in — for me it was math — doesn’t mean I have an expertise in laying pipe or replacing the waterlines in the city and which ones desperately need to be repaired.”

Murzyn said he would draw on the valuable expertise of the employees and the police department with its practice of reaching out to the community.

“Those are expertise I may not have, but somebody in the community may have,” he said. “I’ll listen to what they say and bring it to the people who do have the expertise.

“If I’ve got any philosophy at all, it would be: ‘As small a government as possible.'”

Murzyn is active in the community.

“I have an abundance of friends,” he said.

Murzyn said he is a tenor singer at area churches and “a fairly good painter and artist.” He lives in the city with his wife, Roslyn.

West could not be reached for an interview.