Liz Beavers
KEYSER, W.Va. - Mineral County Republicans will have three people to pick from when they choose their candidate for Mineral County Commission, and the Democrats will have a wide variety of candidates for sheriff when voters go to the polls on May 13 to decide who will represent their parties in the general election.
In the race for the county commission seat currently held by Janice LaRue of Piedmont, Republicans will be choosing from newcomer Annette C. Favara of Keyser, Roger D. Leatherman of Keyser, and the incumbent.
Whomever they choose will face off in November against Donald C. Ashby of Elk Garden, who is the lone Democrat running for the position.
In the hotly contested race for sheriff, currently occupied by Democrat Gary White of Burlington, four Democrats are vying for the right to run against Republican Paul Sabin of Burlington.
They are Craig Fraley of Keyser, Frank Willis Smith of Keyser, R. Ringo Nelson of Elk Garden, and Pat Amoroso of Piedmont.
White has served two terms and by state law cannot run for a third.
The remainder of the county's races promise to be a bit more quiet.
In the race for assessor, incumbent Rose Ann Maine, a Republican from Keyser, will be facing Betty L. Reall, a Democrat from Keyser.
James "Jay" Courrier Jr., a Republican from Keyser, is the only candidate who has filed to run for prosecuting attorney.
As for magistrate, incumbents David C. Harman, a Republican from Keyser, and Carolyn Sue Roby, a Democrat from Keyser, are being challenged by Tanya Bartlett, a Democrat from Piedmont.
In the non-partisan race for board of education, where two seats are coming open this year, voters will choose among incumbent Mary C. Aronhalt of New Creek, incumbent Todd W. Ellifritz of Keyser, Craig A. Rotruck of Keyser, and William "Butch" Wahl of New Creek.
Roger L. Kitzmiller of Elk Garden is the lone candidate for the Conservation District representative, which is on the ballot for the first time this year and is a non-compensated position.
In the state-level races, the Democrats will decide whether David H. Webb of Keyser or Bob Williams of Grafton will be on the November ballot with Republican Gary C. Howell of Keyser for the State Senate (14th District) seat currently held by Jon Blair Hunter.
Hunter announced his retirement last year.
The three House of Delegates positions that affect Mineral County are pretty much cut-and-dried for the primary election.
In the 48th District, Democrat Donna Brake Kuhn of Petersburg is challenging incumbent Allen Evans, a Republican from Dorcas.
In the 49th District, incumbent Robert Schadler, a Republican from Keyser, is running unopposed.
In the 50th District, Democrat Alan "Mitch" Davis of Romney is challenging incumbent Ruth Rowan, a Republican from Points.
Lynn A. Nelson, a Republican from Ridgeley, and incumbent Phil Jordan, a Democrat from Keyser, are the only two candidates for the two judicial seats in the 21st Circuit Court.
West Virginia's primary election will be held May 13 and the general election is Nov. 4.
Contact Liz Beavers at lbeavers@times-news.com.
