Fourteen Candidates File For Special Primary Scheduled For Late August

Charleston, WV – The filing window for the special primary election to fill the seat of the late Senator Robert C. Byrd closed Saturday evening. Fifteen candidates filed, but only fourteen candidates were certified late Saturday evening according to the West Virginia Secretary of States’ website. Three Democrats, ten Republicans and one from the Mountain Party will appear on the August 28th ballot.

The Democrats, in order of appearance on the ballot, are Ken Hechler, former WV member of the US Congress, Sheirl Fletcher, a former WV House of Delegates member, and WV Governor Joe Manchin.

The Republicans, again in order of their appearance on the ballot are:

Thomas Ressler – a retired Maryland correctional officer

Harry C Bruner, Jr – a Charleston attorney

Frank T Kubic – of Charlestown, WV

John R Raese – a Morgantown businessman who has previously challenged both Senators Rockefeller and Byrd for the US Senate

Daniel Scott Rebich – from Buckhannon

Kenneth A Culp – from Summersville

Albert Howard – from San Pedro, California

Lynnette Kennedy McQuain – also on the November ballot for as House of Delegates candidate for Marion County

Scott H Williams – also from Buckhannon

Mac Warner – also a Morgantown business man and recent US House candidate, who was unsuccessful in winning his party nomination in West Virginia’s First District.

Rounding out the list of candidates is Jesse Johnson, representing the Mountain Party.

Charles G. “Bud” Railey of Bridgeport was on the list of candidates as late as Friday, July 23rd. However his name is not on the list of certified candidates on the SOS website as of Monday, July 26th.

The last day to register to vote in the special primary is August 9th. Early voting will begin August 20th and run through August 25th.

Pocahontas County Clerk Sandra Friel says the courthouse will be open for early voting from 8:30am to 4:30pm during regular business days, and 9am to 5pm on Saturday, August 21st. The special primary election will be held on Saturday, August 28th.

Although time is short, Friel says they will be ready for the election on the 28th. She says there is one precinct that may move its location. The Catholic Church in Bartow, traditionally the location for the second precinct, has another event scheduled for that day. Friel says they are looking for another possible location.