Yearning to run for office? Filing starts Monday for elected posts
Voters will be electing an array of officials, from U. S. President to Morgan County leaders, in the 2008 elections.
Between Monday, January 14 and Saturday, January 26, candidates may file for county, state and federal elected offices in the Mountain State.
The West Virginia Primary and School Board elections are set for Tuesday, May 13. The General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 4.
County school board
Two of the five seats on
the Morgan County School Board will be up for grabs on May 13.
Those seats are currently held by Larry Omps, who represents Magisterial District #1, and Laura Smith, who represents Magisterial District #2. School board members are elected on a nonpartisan basis.
Not up for reelection this year are board members Margaret Zembower (Magisterial District #1), Margaret Gordon (Magisterial District #2) and David Ambrose (Magisterial District #3).
Candidates may come from any part of the county, but only two members may be from any single magisterial district. Because of the present makeup of the board, this means there can only be one winner from any magisterial district in 2008.
School board members are elected for four year terms. They are paid $160 per meeting and generally meet 25 to 30 times a year.
Members must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma.
The filing fee is $25.
County Commission
One of the three seats on the Morgan County Commission will be decided in 2008.
The post is currently held by Glen Stotler, a Republican first elected commissioner in 1984. He represents Magisterial District #2, which includes parts of central and southern Morgan County.
To be eligible, a candidate must be at least 18 years old and live in Magisterial District #2.
The term is for six years. The annual salary is $34,980, plus benefits.
The filing fee is $349.80, or one percent of the salary.
Sheriff
Voters will be electing a new sheriff, who will take office on January 1, 2009. Sheriff Ronald McIntire is now in the last year of his second and final term.
The term is four years. The annual salary is $43,560, with some additional salary possible due to tax collection duties.
The filing fee is $435.60.
Assessor
Voters will choose an assessor in the 2008 elections. Currently the office is held by John Allen Swaim, a Democrat who was first elected in 2000.
The term is four years. The annual salary is $43,560, with additional salary received for fulfilling certain reporting duties.
The filing fee is $435.60.
Prosecuting Attorney
The county's prosecuting attorney will be elected this year. The office is presently held by Debra McLaughlin, a Republican who has been prosecutor since 2002.
Candidates must be attorneys who are state residents.
The term is four years. The annual salary is $90,000.
The filing fee is $900.
Magistrate
Morgan County's two magistrate offices will be filled in 2008. Those posts are now held by Kermit Ambrose and Greg Miller, both Republicans.
Candidates must be at least 30 years old and have a high school education, with no felony convictions.
The term is for four years. The salary is $43,625.
The filing fee is $436.25.
Judicial offices
Voters in Morgan, Berkeley and Jefferson counties will be electing five circuit judges in 2008.
Now sitting on the bench in the tri-county area are Gina Groh, a Democrat; David Sanders, a Democrat; Gray Silver, a Democrat; and Christopher Wilkes, a Republican.
The fifth judge, Thomas Steptoe, has announced he plans to retire from the bench at the end of the year and is not seeking reelection.
Circuit judges are paid $116,000 and have 8-year terms. The filing fee is $1,160.
A family court judge for Morgan, Hampshire and Mineral counties will also be chosen this year. The post is now held by Charles Parsons.
Family court judges are paid $82,500 and have 8-year terms. The filing fee is $825.
Attorneys seeking the judicial posts should contact the Secretary of State's office for information.
House of Delegates
The two local seats in the West Virginia House of Delegates will be up this year.
One is now held by Daryl Cowles, a Republican who represents the 51st Delegate District, which includes most of Morgan County and a portion of Hampshire County.
The other is held by Craig Blair, a Republican who represents the 52nd Delegate District, which includes parts of eastern Morgan County and western Berkeley County.
Candidates must be at least 18 years old and must have lived in the district at least a year before the election.
The term is for two years. The annual salary is $15,000, plus expenses for travel and living in Charleston during the legislative session.
The filing fee is $75.
State Senate
One of the two State Senate seats from the 15th Senatorial District will be decided this year. The multi-county district includes Morgan County.
The seat is currently held by Clark Barnes, a Republican first elected in 2004.
Candidates must be at least 18 years old and must have lived in the district at least a year before the election.
The term is for four years. The annual salary is $15,000, plus expenses for travel and living in Charleston during the legislative session.
The filing fee is $150.
U. S. Congress
West Virginia's three congressional seats will be up for grabs in 2008.
The U. S. Representative from this district is now Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican first elected in 2000.
Candidates must be West Virginia residents who are at least 25 years old and have been a U. S. citizen for seven years.
The term is for two years. The annual salary is $162,000.
The filing fee is $1,620.
U. S. Senate
One of the Mountain State's two U. S. Senate posts will be decided this year. The seat is now held by Jay Rockefeller, a Democrat first elected in 1984.
Candidates must be West Virginia residents who are at least 30 years old and have been a U. S. citizen for nine years.
The term is for six years. the annual salary is $162,000.
The filing fee is $1,620.
Governor & state offices
In addition, voters will elect a governor, state attorney general, secretary of state, agriculture commissioner, auditor and treasurer as well as two State Supreme Court members.
Filing for these offices is done at the Secretary of State's Office in Charleston.
Presidential delegates to national political conventions and various Republican and Democratic political party posts will also be elected in May's primary elections.
For more info
For information about where to file or for more detailed info about requirements, contact the Morgan County Clerk's Office for county elected positions or the Secretary of State's Office for district, state and federal posts.
