There are three separate Fairmont City Council races on the ballot this fall, but there is a connection that runs through all of them.

Fairmont voters will have to decide if they want to retain two council members who pointlessly ran the city through a ringer last year. They also must weigh whether to return to office a former council member not exactly known for consensus-building.

In 2019, a majority trio on the City Council — Tom Hawkins, Randy Lubenow and Ruth Cyphers — used their power to oust the City Attorney and city administrator; and to question the knowledge, ability and integrity of city staff and previous city leadership. In the end, while the majority was able to force out the pair of long-serving officials, its forays into investigating city staff and the city’s accounts ended in failure.

This year, the numbers rolled in: The city of Fairmont spent a whopping $686,000 to pay for the trio’s actions. Needlessly.

Now, Hawkins and Cyphers are on the ballot. He represents the city at-large while she represents Ward 2. Neither deserves another term.

In the at-large race, Hawkins has one opponent, Michele Miller. She has our backing.

In Ward 2, Cyphers has three opponents: Britney Kawecki, Joe Loughmiller and Ron Lindberg. We believe Loughmiller has acquitted himself well during the campaign and would be a good addition to the council. We like what he has to say about the responsibility of leadership and making sensible choices.

Finally, in Ward 4, incumbent Wayne Hasek — who understands responsibility and how to make good decisions — is facing a challenge from Terry Anderson, whom Hasek narrowly defeated four years ago.

Hasek fought against the misguided path of the majority trio while Anderson backed them from the sidelines. Hasek deserves another term, while the alternative is an invitation to more discord and disruption in council chambers, City Hall and the community.