Since West Virginia House of Delegates member Suzette Raines (R-Kanawha) has filed notice with the Secretary of State’s office that she’s withdrawing her candidacy in the 2014 election, the question is, what happens now?
The Kanawha County Republican Party Executive Committee wants to replace Raines on the ballot. Committee chair Fred Joseph told Metronews last week that they want to choose a candidate from “a large group” that had shown interest in running.
But first the GOP must get permission from the State Election Commission, and that’s not going to be easy. The Commission has scheduled a special meeting for Wednesday morning to consider the request.
State law says the Commission can allow a replacement to be named only in cases of “extenuating personal circumstances which will prevent the candidate from serving in the office if elected.”
Raines argues in her withdrawal paperwork that a series of personal problems—including the long illness and eventual death of her mother and the end of a relationship of nearly eight years—has caused her severe distress that renders her incapable of serving, if elected.
“The deterioration of nearly every aspect of my life has taken a significant toll on my emotional well-being, my career and ability to provide for the increased financial demands as I now assume responsibility for my mother’s obligations and properties, coupled with the immense grief after the tragic and unexpected loss of both my parents at a young age,” Raines said in a statement.
The State Election Commission appears to have considerable latitude in deciding what amounts to “extenuating personal circumstances,” but a recent Mingo County case suggests the bar is set fairly high.
Mingo County Clerk “Big Jim” Hatfield won the Democratic Primary for a seat on the County Commission. Hatfield then withdrew, citing health reasons, and asked the Election Commission to allow the Mingo County Democratic Executive Committee to appoint a replacement.
Last month, the five-member commission unanimously refused to allow a replacement, determining that since Hatfield is healthy enough to be the County Clerk, then his condition does not rise to the level of an “extenuating personal circumstance.”
Based on that ruling, and comments by members during the meeting, it is evident the Election Commission does not want to open the door for parties to gin up reasons to dump foundering candidates and replace them with fresh faces who may have a better chance of winning the election.
The Election Commission could also consider that voters in Kanawha County’s 35th Delegate District still have choices, even with Raines off the ballot. Raines departure leaves three Republicans and four Democrats for voters to choose from in the four-member district. (The current make-up of the district is three Republicans and one Democrat.)
The Raines story has received considerable attention because of the Democratic Party’s highly publicized efforts to disqualify her, claiming she did not meet residency requirements and she failed to file all her necessary financial paperwork.
The controversy also indicates the high stakes in this year’s House of Delegates races. Republicans are within four seats (47-53) of taking control of the House for the first time in 80 years. Democrats are feeling the pressure and pushing back hard.
Every race matters.