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Magisterial Districts To Play Role in County-Level Election Races

WHEELING — As West Virginians file for candidacy in 2022 elections, many must know in what magisterial district they live if they want to seek office.

In Ohio County and elsewhere in the state, races for county commission and board of education are based on magisterial district boundaries.

There are three magisterial districts in Ohio County, and also three members on the county commission. Each commissioner must live in and represent a different magisterial district.

And while the Ohio County Board of education has five members, the law requires that each magisterial district be represented by at least one person on the board. This also means no more than two members living in the same magisterial district can serve on the board at the same time.

– District 1 takes in Warwood, as well as most Ohio County neighborhoods not falling within the city of Wheeling. From Warwood, the district extends out to Triadelphia and Valley Grove, and also takes in West Liberty.

Grace Norton represents District 1 on the Ohio County Board of Education, but her seat will not be on the ballot until 2024.

Zach Abraham was elected to a six-year term in 2020 as the county commissioner representing District 1. He also is not on the ballot in 2022.

– District 2 encompasses downtown Wheeling, and from there extends out along National Road through Woodsdale to Triadelphia Middle School. It also moves up U.S. 88 to Oglebay Park.

Board of Education President David Croft represents District 2, and his seat will be on the ballot this year. Board member Pete Chacalos, elected in 2020, also represents District 2 but will not be up for election this year.

Don Nickerson represents District 2 on the Ohio County Commission. He recently was appointed as a judge to the new West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals, and would have to resign upon being sworn into office later this year. It is expected the two remaining commissioners would appoint someone to temporarily fill his seat, while the Republican and Democrat parties would nominate candidates to the general election ballot in November for Nickerson’s unexpired term.

– District 3 includes neighborhoods in Elm Grove, Mozart, Bethlehem and parts of South Wheeling.

Board of Education members Christine Carder and Molly Aderholt represent District 3 on the board, and their seats both are up for election in 2022.

Ohio County Commission President Randy Wharton has represented District 3 on the commission for 23 years, and is completing his fourth six-year term. His seat is on the ballot, and he has announced he will seek a fifth term in 2022.

Wheeling City Councilman Dave Palmer has filed to run for the seat Wharton now occupies.

Members of Republican and Democratic executive committees also are elected by magisterial district, and will be filing for office this year at the county level.

Due to legislative redistricting in 2021, candidates running for U.S. House of Representatives, West Virginia Senate and the House of Delegates should check their district map to make sure they file to run in the correct district, according to information provided by the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office. Links to maps may be found at our West Virginia Redistricting Maps page at GoVoteWV.com.

Candidate filing season lasts through midnight Jan. 29.

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