WV Metro NewsCHARLESTON, W.Va. — The chairman of the state Republican Party says the 2014 race that is shaping up in the 2nd Congressional District is proof that times are changing in the Mountain State.
“You’ll remember a time whenever getting Republicans to file in West Virginia for anything, particularly races of that level, was like pulling teeth,” said Conrad Lucas.
“It’s a new era in West Virginia and I think it just shows the strength of our party and the future of the state.”
Five Republican candidates have filed to run or announced plans to seek the Republican nomination for Congress in the 2nd District.
Those candidates are former House member Larry Faircloth from Martinsburg, Jim Moss from Hurricane, Robert Lawrence Fluharty from Charles Town,
former Maryland GOP chairman Alex Mooney and former International Trade Commission member Charlotte Lane.
Two other Republicans are reportedly considering getting into the race: Delegate Suzette Raines (R-35, Kanawha) and Ron Walters, Jr., the son of current Delegate Ron Walters (R-39, Kanawha). Raines and Walters have made no official announcements.
“It just shows the strength of our bench,” said Lucas. “Every person who has announced or those who are rumored to be announcing bring something different to the race. They all have incredible resumes.”
On the other side, Democrats Nick Casey, a former state Democratic Party chair, and Meshea Poore, a Kanawha County delegate, have launched their U.S. House campaigns.
State Democratic Party Chairman Larry Puccio said both are strong candidates. “We think we already have a few folks that are interested in running that will make great, forget candidates, they’ll make a great congress person ,” he said. “We’re pretty excited with what we have.”
Both Lucas and Puccio were guests on Friday’s edition of MetroNews “Talkline.”
Current 2nd District Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican, is running for U.S. Senate in 2014.
West Virginia’s primary election is Tuesday, May 13.
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One of my acquaintances forecasts Lane as the winner of the primary. Here's more about her, also from
Metro News:
Charleston, W.Va. — A former member of the U.S. International Trade Commission will be running for Congress in West Virginia’s Second Congressional District next year.
Republican Charlotte Lane confirmed her candidacy on Friday’s MetroNews “Talkline” and said she will make a formal announcement around July 1.
After eight years on the ITC, Lane returned to Charleston last year to work with the Shuman, McCuskey & Slicer law firm.
“Even though I’ve been out of state for awhile, I still think that there are people that remember me and, when I get out into the communities, they will remember all of the good (I did) and all the interest that I’ve taken in West Virginia in the past,” said Lane.
In the past, she represented Kanawha County in the House of Delegates for four years and was a member of the state Public Service Commission from 1997 to 2001, including a term as chairman. ...
