×
X logo

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.

Kent Leonhardt Yet To Resign W.Va. Senate Seat

WHEELING — The governor of West Virginia has the duty of appointing someone to fill the 2nd District state Senate seat being vacated by Commissioner of Agriculture-elect Kent Leonhardt — but to which governor this job falls will depend on just when Leonhardt officially resigns his position.

Leonhardt, R-Monongalia, was elected last month to the agriculture post, but as of Friday afternoon he had not officially stepped down from his Senate seat.

Voters in the state also elected a new governor in the Nov. 8 general election. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin will remain on the job until Gov.-elect Jim Justice is sworn in to office on Jan. 16.

Both Tomblin and Justice are Democrats who must appoint a Republican to the 2nd District senate seat. Leonhardt did not immediately return messages seeking comment on when he plans to step down as state senator.

Conrad Lucas, chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party, said an 18-member committee will be meeting “in the next couple of weeks” to interview candidates, and will recommend three potential candidates to replace Leonhardt. The committee is comprised of one man and one woman from each of the nine counties that comprise the 2nd District: Marshall, Wetzel, Tyler, Ritchie, Calhoun, Gilmer, Doddridge, Marion and Monongalia.

The three names selected by the committee then will be sent on to the governor for potential appointment.

“But the process doesn’t trigger until he (Leonhardt) resigns,” Lucas said. “To which governor it goes depends on when the committee submits its list of names. If he were to resign today, the appointment likely would be made by Tomblin. If it comes in January, Justice will make the appointment.”

After Leonhardt officially steps down, a time, date and location will be set for the Senate Appointment Committee to meet. The meeting will be publicly advertised, and all those applying for the seat will be interviewed, according to Lucas.

“When we’ve had to have appointments in the past, it’s been a wonderful opportunity for us to get to know people who may want to serve in the Legislature,” Lucas said. “Some of the people who apply may not have come forward before. They put their names out there and let us know they are interested in serving.”

Many people who have applied to fill vacant legislative seats in the past weren’t involved with politics before, but became active after applying, he said.

Those interested in applying to be senator will be asked to submit a resume and letter of interest to the committee.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today