BLUEFIELD, W.Va. — A retired southern West Virginia businessman announced his plans Wednesday to run for state Senate next year.
Chandler Swope, a Republican from Mercer County, has never run for political office. The developments of the last two years have gotten him interested.
“Now under Bill Cole’s leadership the entire state has an opportunity to advance faster and stronger than it’s ever had,” Swope said Wednesday on MetroNews ‘Talkline’ describing Cole’s quick rise to be president of the state Senate with plans to run for governor next year. “Someone needs to run for that (Cole’s) seat and I looked around and said, ‘Why not?'”
Swope describes himself as a moderate-to-conservative Republican who agreed with the path the new Republican-controlled legislature took last year with things like tort reform.
“I’m pro-business. I’m pro-jobs. I’m for trying to make West Virginia business-friendly,” he said.
The Swope name is well-known in the 6th Senatorial District. His father was the mayor of Welch for 20 years and Swope himself owned a construction business for years before retiring. He’s been active in the community in ways other than politics.
“I’ve always liked the idea of doing something more important than myself. I’m not a career politician, I’m retired already. I just decided it’s time for me to stand up and do my share,” he said.
Republicans already hold one of the two seats in the 6th District. There’s expected to be a number of Democratic candidates to file for next year’s primary. Swope expects a lot of interest.
“It doesn’t really matter who the competition is,” he said. “In spite of the fact that I’ve never had any interest in politics–now that I’ve decided to run I’ve gotten enthusiastic about it. I think I have the right stuff that people need,” he said.
Swope’s campaign kickoff was held Wednesday afternoon at Swope Construction in Bluefield.
The 6th District is made up of parts of Mercer, McDowell, Mingo, and Wayne counties.