Elgine McArdle, left, stands alongside Republican West Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Woody Thrasher at the City-County Building in Wheeling on Wednesday.

WHEELING – Elgine McArdle says “elections have consequences,” and it’s time she steps forward to throw her support behind West Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Woody Thrasher.

McArdle resigned Wednesday morning as chairwoman of the Ohio County Republican Party, then joined Thrasher during his visit to the Wheeling area to distribute lunches to local healthcare professionals.

Her move comes just over a month before West Virginia’s postponed primary election on June 9. Thrasher’s GOP opponents in the election include Gov. Jim Justice and former delegate Michael Folk.

“I have always been a supporter of Woody Thrasher, but one who could not actively support him by virtue of state and county bylaws,” she said.

As chair of a county party, McArdle also served as a member of the State Republican Executive Committee — which has rules prohibiting its members from supporting any candidate in the primary.

There are similar bylaws for members of the Ohio County Executive Committee, according to McArdle.

“As members, we help everybody when asked. We don’t actively endorse,” she said. “But I have watched quietly through the campaign season that came to halt. I’ve looked for leadership, and I haven’t seen it.”

McArdle said a number of GOP executive committee members have indicated to her they support Thrasher, but won’t publicly because they “don’t want to get involved.”

“Every election has a consequence,” she said. “There are a lot of people who are supporting Woody Thrasher, but they are not actively coming out. I find it troublesome.

“Woody is qualified, and has the ability to lead West Virginia. He thinks outside the box, and has been active during the COVID-19 crisis.”

McArdle said she appreciates Thrasher’s push for more informative websites and other technological access for the public at the state level.

“A lot of things need to be done administratively during a trying time, and they are not being done,” McArdle said. “I would like a leader who is progressive, has new ideas, and who leads in a time of trouble as opposed to parrots (President Donald Trump) in the time of trouble.

“I came to the realization, I needed to do something.”

Members of the Ohio County Republican Executive Committee were scheduled to meet Wednesday night, and Vice Chairman Robert Luchetti was set to facilitate the meeting, she said. The meeting was to discuss the need for a new chairman, according to McArdle.