Four new delegates win Wood County seats
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PARKERSBURG - Two incumbent state senators reelected Tuesday will be joined in the West Virginia Legislature by one incumbent and four newcomers - including a Democrat - in Wood County House of Delegates districts, according to final, unofficial results.
Democrat Dennis Rempel is projected to win the race for the House of Delegates 12th District seat. The unofficial tally has 1,781 votes for Rempel, 1,630 for Republican Charles Hartzog, 215 for Libertarian Stephen Thomas Smith and 261 for incumbent Del. Vernon Criss, who ran as a write-in after losing to Hartzog in the primary.
"I am very excited," Rempel said. "I think everyone ran a good race."
Rempel said he is looking forward to helping veterans and the elderly. He also wants to work on legislation that lets those people live on the income they are receiving to be able to afford the medications they need as well as energy costs.
"I am very excited about being able to support everyone in District 12 and in West Virginia," Rempel said. "I'm pretty stoked about everything."
Republican Justin Beanard is projected to win his race for the House of Delegates 10th District. The unofficial tally has 2,972 for Beanard and 1,958 for Democrat Christopher Jones.
"I can't really put it into words," Beanard said. "It is an amazing feeling to let the voters do the talking.
"They spoke up in the primary and now in the general. They want something different."
Beanard, who defeated incumbent Del. Bill Anderson in the GOP primary, touted his conservative values. He said he wants to end qualified immunity for government officials and end property taxes for senior citizens.
"Those are my two big pushes," he said.
Republican Jeff Sandy is expected to win the race for House of Delegates 11th District with 2,668 votes to 2,235 for Democrat Daniel Miller.
"I really look forward to working with many of the people I worked with when I was a cabinet secretary," said Sandy who served as secretary for the Department of Homeland Security under former Gov. Jim Justice, "and I am really looking forward to doing some things for the people of Wood County, especially property tax relief for senior citizens."
The former Wood County sheriff said he feels blessed by all of the people who came out and supported him in the community. Sandy also spoke Tuesday evening with Speaker of the House Roger Hanshaw and others and said he is looking forward to working with House leadership.
"We will see what happens," he said. "We want to have a very productive legislative session."
Republican Melissa McCrady won the 13th District seat, receiving 2,488 votes to 1,296 for Democrat Marley Umensetter and 375 for independent candidate James Hendershot Jr.
"I worked really hard to get the win," said McCrady, who defeated Del. Scot Heckert in the GOP primary. "It's much appreciated that the people of Wood County have faith in me."
Del. David Foggin was the only incumbent to be reelected in a House District covering a portion of Wood County and the only one whose name was on the ballot because of Criss running as a write-in. Foggin, a Republican, defeated Democrat Crystal Butcher by a margin of 3,060 to 1,274.
"I'm proud that the people in the (14th) District want me to represent them, and I hope I can meet their expectations," said Foggin, set to begin his third term in the Legislature. "I'm ready to ... get back to work for the people of the 14th District and the state of West Virginia."
Incumbents were victorious in both state Senate seats for the 3rd District, encompassing Wood, Wirt, Pleasants and Ritchie counties.
In the race for a full term, Sen. Mike Azinger, R-Wood, received 60% of the vote to Democrat Caci Petrehn's 40%, with results from Ritchie County still pending, according to the Secretary of State's office.
"It's always good to get the election over with. I'm glad we had a good night," Azinger said, adding he will work to produce "more freedom bills, pro-business, pro-life and pro-God."
The other seat was on the ballot as a result of the retirement of Sen. Donna Boley, R-Pleasants, in January. Fellow Pleasants County Republican Trenton Barnhart was appointed to that seat after spending seven years in the House of Delegates. On Tuesday, he won the race to complete the remaining two years of the term, with nearly 73% of the vote in Wood, Wirt and Pleasants counties, according to the Secretary of State's office. Constitution Party candidate Ronnie Green received about 27%
Barnhart could not immediately be reached for comment late Tuesday.