(Capitol Note – Graphic Illustration/MetroCreative)
PARKERSBURG — An incumbent member of the West Virginia House of Delegates has the largest campaign balance of any Wood County Legislature candidate, according to a report filed with the Secretary of State. District 12 Republican Vernon Criss reported a balance of $44,314 heading into the May primary. He is running unopposed, and no one has announced his name as a Democratic candidate. Campaign finance reports for the first quarter are scheduled to be submitted to the Secretary of State on Monday and run from January 1st to March 31st. The primary election is May 14th. House Finance Committee Chairman Chris reported contributions of $19,350 for the period. His starting balance is $25,064. Among the donations: less than $250 from EDF Renewables PAC and Clearway Energy, $2,800 from Construction and Construction Trades from Labor District Council, Arch PAC, Charleston and Charleston OPEC, $500 from ExxonMobile and Chuck Hughes, Coal , which included $1,000 from the state of West Virginia for the community. Bankers Larry Oleska of Morgantown, Riley White of Charleston, Upper Ohio Building & Construction and West Virginia Beer Wholesalers PAC. He reported an expense of $100. Incumbent Representative Bill Anderson (R-10th) of Williamstown reported a balance of $20,020. He reported his $4,700 in contributions during this period, including his less than $250 from DT Midstream, EDF Renewables, Clearway PAC and WV LAWPAC. Anderson reported contributions of $1,000 from Diversified Oil and Gas PAC and $2,800 from Arch PAC. Bob Fehrenbacher, the incumbent Republican representative for District 11, reported a balance of $10,147, contributions of $3,750 during the period, and expenses of $456. Mr. Fehrenbacher received less than $250 from Clearway Energy and Community Banker, $500 from Charles Hughes of Parkersburg, Exxon Mobile, West Virginia Beer Wholesalers and American Electric Power, WV. Bank PAC reported a $1,400 contribution. District 13 Republican Representative Scott C. Heckert reported period contributions of $6,000 and an ending balance of $8,490. He reported expenses of $1,633 for the period. Mr. Heckert received $250 or less from Jan Dils Hughes, RKSB Healthcare Consulting, Carol S. Fulks, Ray G. Burke, Community Bankers PAC, WV LAW PAC, Arch PAC, Enterprise, West Virginia. James Scudiere listed donations of $500 or less. West Virginia Beer Wholesalers, $800 from Acadia Healthcare of Franklin, Tenn., $1,000 from the Building and Construction Trades Authority of Charleston, and $1,500 from the West Virginia Appalachian Workers District Council of South Charleston. Representative Dave Fogin (R-14th) reported no campaign finance activity during the period, no donations or expenditures, and a zero balance. The 14th District, which includes Wood and Wirt Counties, is the only local district in which a Democrat ran in the primary. Jim Marion had not filed a report as of 5 p.m. Monday, according to the Secretary of State's website. Incumbent Sen. Donna Boley (R-3), who represents Wood and Pleasants counties, had not filed a report as of 5 p.m., according to the Secretary of State's website. No Democratic members have filed to run for the 3rd District in the primary election.
