Elections, Latest News, West Virginia Legislature

A look at primary election fundraising and spending for Preston, Marion and Taylor county House of Delegates candidates

EDITOR’S NOTE: A Friday story on Monongalia County House of Delegates campaign finance filings reported that the filing for 82nd District candidate Katie Fallon contained errors. They were technical errors and after Fallon learned of them from our report she contacted the secretary of state’s office and the figures are now correct. She raised $356, spent $156 and has a balance of $200.

MORGANTOWN – Representation in the House of Delegates for Marion and Preston counties will take a new shape in 2023 following redistricting.

Under the current map, Preston’s 52nd and 53rd districts are sort of north-south jigsaw pieces wrapping around each other, with the southern 53rd also covering the majority of Tucker. On the new maps, the county is still split north-south, but more evenly across the center with Reedsville and Arthurdale in the north 83rd and Kingwood in the 84th. The 84th does not cross into Tucker.

Most of Marion is currently a single three-member district. The new map divides it into three single-member districts – 74, 75 and 76 – with 74 sort of wrapping around the other two.

Marion’s southeast triangle remains roughly the same. It’s now part of the 49th, which also covers a small portion of Monongalia and all but a tiny chunk of Taylor. On the new map, the 73rd covers all of Taylor and roughly the same part of Marion but doesn’t jut into Mon.

The primary election to select Republican and Democrat candidates for the November general election in those six districts is set for May 10. To find out what district you’re in, go to https://www.mapwv.gov/vote/.

We are taking a look here at First Quarter campaign finance reports for the primary in those districts.

The First Quarter report covers the period of Jan. 1 through March 31. The next report due is the Primary Report and will cover April 1-24.

Preston 83rd

Republican George Street and Democrat JR Wolfe are unopposed in the primary. Terri Sypolt, 52nd District incumbent, is retiring.

Street opened the period with $23,115.53 and did no fundraising this period. That amount derives from a $25,000 loan he made to his campaign last May, followed by some spending during the next two reporting periods.

This period he spent $3,407.42, leaving a balance of $19,708.11.

Wolfe received $2,050 this period. That includes $50 he gave to his campaign and $250 from a PAC: the progressive WV Can’t Wait. That PAC also gave Wolfe $149.09 in in-kind contributions. Wolfe spent $272.69, leaving a balance of $1,777.31.

Preston 84th

Lisa Hyre is the sole Democrat running. Incumbent Republican Buck Jennings faces a challenger in Brian Harris.

Hyre and Harris filed no report, indicating they did not raise or spend enough to require filing.

Jenning’s report shows no fundraising or spending, with a $0 balance.

Marion 74th

John Palmer is the sole Democrat. Incumbent Republican Guy Ward is challenged by Mike DeVault.

Palmer raised $6,965 this period, all from individuals, and spent $100 on his filing fee, leaving a balance of $6,865.

DeVault raised $9,100, including $1,000 from himself to his campaign. He sent $1,661.07, leaving a balance of $7,438.93.

Ward opened the period with a balance of $37.53 and raised $4,900 from individuals, businesses and PACS, including $100 from himself. He raised another $5,150 at a White Hall fundraiser, along with $470 in-kind (not counted in the cash total). He spent $952.16, leaving a balance of $9,135.37.

Marion 75th

Incumbent Republican Phil Mallow and Democrat Stephanie Tomana are unchallenged in the primary.

Mallow opened the period with $50 and did no fundraising or spending, leaving a balance of $50.

Tomana raised $5,000 this period with the majority – $4,500 – from three PACs. She spent $143.25, leaving a balance of $4,856.75.

Marion 76th

Incumbent Democrat Joey Garcia is unchallenged in the primary. Two Republicans are vying: Jon Dodds and Toby Heaney.

Garcia opened the period with $9,130.50 and raised $5,250 – $1,000 from an individual and the rest from five PACs. He spent $161.26, leaving a balance of $14,219.24.

Dodds raised $1,269.70 this period: $269.70 from himself to his campaign, the rest from a business. He spent $177.20, leaving a balance of $1,092.50.

Heaney raised $986.76 this period, with $790.70 of that from himself to his campaign. He also lent his campaign $3,000. He spent $2,106.70, leaving a balance of $1,880.06.

Taylor-Marion 73rd

In what will be a November rematch, incumbent Republican Amy Summers and former Democrat Delegate Mike Manypenny – unseated by Summers in 2014 – are unchallenged in the primary.

Summers, current House majority leader, opened the period with $14,212.96 and raised $7,850 this period – $1,700 from individuals, the rest from PACs. She spent nothing, leaving a balance of $22,062.96.

Manypenny opened with $150 and raised $1,005.83 – $1,000 from a PAC, the $5.83 transferred from his 2020 campaign account. He also lent his campaign $150. He spent $316.36, leaving a balance of $989.47.

Tweet David Beard @dbeardtdp Email dbeard@dominionpost.com