Ohio County GOP Picks Finalists For District 4 House Of Delegates Seat
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WHEELING - Gov. Jim Justice now has the names of three nominees from which he will appoint the next 4th District member of the West Virginia House of Delegates.
The Ohio County Republican Executive Committee met Wednesday night and interviewed seven residents of the district who applied to fill the seat when former Delegate Erikka Storch, R-Ohio, resigned effective May 19.
The committee members selected from among them three candidates they thought would best fill the position were Michael Haney, a Wheeling firefighter; Amy Wade, a farmer from Dallas Pike; and Diana Winzenreid, a digital marketing agency owner and marketing consultant.
Haney's name was not on the initial list of candidates who applied, though he applied before the deadline. It was added after it was determined whether, as a city employee, he would be eligible to serve in state office.
These names will now be sent on to Justice, who must appoint one of the nominees before June 19 - or within 30 days of Storch's resignation.
West Virginia Republican Party Chair Elgine McArdle said a letter containing the names of the three candidates were hand-delivered to the Governor's Office early Thursday, and that the letter was also emailed to both the Governor's Office and the West Virginia Secretary of State's Office.
Those selected all displayed "conservative values" and the committee's perceived thinking of local conservatives, McArdle continued.
All seven candidates were asked the same questions, including whether they would be willing to run for re-election in 2024.
"We looked to see if they were willing to take on a role, were familiar with the legislative process, and had good communication skills," she said. "They also need to have good people skills, and a willingness to listen to the constituents of their district.
Others applying for the vacant seat included Robert Coram, a pharmacist; David Gaudino, a teacher and career counselor for Marshall County Schools; Libby Reasbeck, past district director for former U.S. Rep. David B. McKinley, R-W.Va.; and Dolph Santorine, a businessman, past delegate candidate and current member of the Ohio County GOP executive committee;
The unexpired term for the 4th District delegate seat expires Dec. 31, 2024.