Wakim Chapman Re-Elected To W.Va. Senate District 1
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WHEELING - The Northern Panhandle has voted to retain the senator representing them in the West Virginia Senate, and retained a Republican seat there in the process.
Incumbent State Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman, R-Ohio, defeated current Delegate Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio. Election night vote totals show Chapman receiving 14,545 votes; and Fluharty 12,737.
While Fluharty had more votes in Ohio County, Chapman had more votes in Marshall, Brooke and Hancock counties.
Chapman is completing her first term in the Senate, while Fluharty is completing his sixth term in the House of Delegates.
"I want to thank them (voters) for entrusting me for another four years. It has been an honor and a privilege to represent the people of the Northern Panhandle, and I am so thankful I am able to do it for another four years."
Chapman thanked those who helped her in her campaign, and "everybody who prayed for me and gave me encouragement."
"And I want to thank Shawn Fluharty," she continued. "He is so passionate, and I know he will do great things in the future."
Chapman said she has never stopped being available to her constituents, and that is what likely led her to victory on Tuesday.
"I have given out my cellphone number to everybody and anybody. I am there when they have a problem," she said. "There is the work we do in Charleston, and then there is the work I do up here to help my constituents.
"I am going to continue to fight to make sure Charleston doesn't forget us. I have been working on infrastructure projects. That will continue. I have also worked on several economic development projects I think will be announced soon."
When she returns to Charleston in January, Chapman promises to continue to work to rein in utility prices.
Chapman is a constitutional lawyer and is married to attorney Matt Chapman. The couple has two young children, Jackson and Eloise. Her father, Chris Wakim, is a former member of the House of Delegates.
Chapman is a graduate of the former Mt. de Chantal Academy, of West Virginia University and the WVU College of Law.