Here’s a brief look at the 2024 candidates for countywide offices in Kanawha County. The primary and nonpartisan election will be held May 14. Early voting starts May 1.
Kent Carper, Democrat, ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä. Carper has served on the Kanawha County Commission since 1996. After more than 20 years as commission president, Carper stepped down in January from the position, but continues to serve as a commissioner.
D. Dewayne Duncan, Republican, ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä. Duncan is a real estate developer and former teacher who has worked in the West Virginia Department of Education. He is a member of the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board.
Natalie Tennant, Democrat, ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä. Tennant served as West Virginia Secretary of State from 2009 to 2017. She has also run as the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate.
Chris Walters, Republican, ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä. Walters served in the State Senate from 2013-2017. He ran for the House of Delegates in 2020. Walters owns an insurance group.
Sheriff
Sheriff is one of two term-limited positions in the West Virginia. Kanawha County Sheriff Mike Rutherford has served two four-year terms.
Joey Crawford, Republican, St. Albans. Crawford is chief deputy in the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office. He has also served as the police chief for St. Albans, Eleanor and West Virginia International Yeager Airport.
Sean Crosier, Republican, ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä. Crosier is a retired captain from the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office. He also served as the Monroe County Sheriff and worked for a national defense-related organization.
Prosecuting Attorney
Prosecuting attorneys serve four-year terms. Current prosecuting attorney Chuck Miller is retiring.
John Mitchell, Democrat, ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä. Mitchell has been an attorney for over 40 years.
Debra Rusnak, Republican, Elkview. Rusnak is a former law clerk and now works as a Kanawha County assistant prosecuting attorney.
Morgan Switzer, Republican, ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä. Switzer is a former Kanawha County assistant prosecuting attorney who has also worked for the state Department of Homeland Security.
Board of Education candidates, who serve four-year terms, run in a nonpartisan race that will be decided in the May 14 election. Voters choose three candidates, but no more than two elected board members can be from the same district. Because of candidates already on the board, in this year’s election two candidates can be elected from District 1, one from District 2, one from District 3 and two from District 4.
District 1: Elena Compton, Kimberly Earl, Casey Sacks and Kate White
District 2: Heidi Adams, Harry Bruner Jr., Elisha Lewis and Dennis Westover
District 3: Jim Crawford, Emily Lanham and Will Ferrell
Zac Daniel Longwell, Republican, Dunbar. Longwell works as a paralegal at a ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä law firm.
Sallie Robinson, Democrat, Belle. Robinson is the current assessor. She was elected in 2012.
Magistrates
Magistrates serve four-year terms and run in a nonpartisan race that will be decided in the May 14 election. Voters will vote for one magistrate from each division for a four-year term.
Division 1: Pete Lopez
Division 2: Rusty Casto
Division 3: Brent Hall
Division 4: Jack Pauley and Rebecca Urie
Division 5: Leslie Grace and William (Bolts) Willis
Division 6: Joe Shelton
Division 7: Mike Ferrell (resigned last month) and Dale Whitehair
Division 8: Michael Allen, Shawn Little and Kacie Moore
Division 9: Tony Jackson and Gary Sheff
Division 10: Traci Carper-Strickland
Division 11: Tressie Proffitt Cabell, Harry Carpenter and Lisa Good
Division 12: Todd Chevalier, Mary Dawn Frampton, Melanie Rucker and Earl Whittington
Division 13: Elias Gregory, John Luoni, Nick Quinn, Andrea Richmond-Board and Chad Smarr
Conservation District Supervisor
This is another nonpartisan race that will be decided in the May 14 election. Voters will choose two candidates who have declared for a two-year or four-year term.
These candidates are on the ballot:
Clyde Bailey
Heather Connolly
Valerie Thaxton
Surveyor
The surveyor serves a four-year term.
Mark Shamblin, Democrat, is the only candidate for surveyor.
Editor’s note: This is the second in a series about candidates who have filed to run in the 2024 primary election. In a future report, look for a listing of candidates running in state House of Delegates and state Senate races specific to Kanawha County.
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