It was supposed to be the complement to Wal- Mart, bringing                                            hundreds of jobs and a                                 dozen businesses. But                                thanks to the                                        arrogance and                                       stubbornness of                                  Hurricane's Disputed                                   Mayor, Scott D.                                         Edwards, much of the                              Hurricane Marketplace                                 remains vacant-one                                     year later.

"We're not in the Real                                 Estate business,"                                   crows the lame                                       politician," as he ignores all the the buildings owned by the City of Hurricane, on Main Street. "Those were bought before my administration."

However, you don't see Edwards putting up For Sale signs on Main Street.

Hurricane Marketplace's biggest problem is its location. Few can see the troubled strip mall from Hurricane Creek Road, where drivers turn off to get to its stores. And the reason it is nearly invisible is Edwards' refusal to have the City of Hurricane buy out a handful of homes blocking the view. Those homes could be leveled, redeveloped into more store fronts, and attract businesses, jobs, and revenue to Hurricane.

Instead, two businesses, Rocky Tops Pizza, and All-American Mattress folded in their first few months, and about six store fronts remain vacant. Not even the lure of a Walmart has been able to fill up those vacancies.

With West Virginia's unemployment rates rising in every county across The Mountain State, including Putnam County, creating more jobs, businesses, and revenue, is crucial.

"We're not in the Real Estate Business," whines Edwards. And as long as the Disputed Mayor of Hurricane sits in denial, the likelihood of Hurricane Marketplace filling up remains bleak, and the City of Hurricane's economy will never reach its potential.

City workers put up a pair of signs alongside Hurricane Creek Road pointing the way. However, this band aid doesn't solve the real problem-lack of visibility.

Edwards' is up for reelection in 2011, and many people have told PutnamLIVE.com that the lame politician will be a "One Term Wonder" as they plan to vote for whoever is his opponent, bring Hurricane real leadership-instead of a  lame politician whose "economic policy" is holding the town back.