CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Governor Earl Ray Tomblin is reportedly not ruling out the possibility of appointing the Democratic nominee for auditor, the person nominated in the May 10th election, to the position as a temporary replacement for longtime Auditor Glen Gainer III.
Gainer’s resignation takes effect on May 14, four days after West Virginia’s primary. An appointee to the role of West Virginia’s “chief bookkeeper” would most likely serve until the candidate elected in November takes over officially on Jan. 1, 2017.
Mary Ann Claytor, one of the three Democratic candidates for auditor, said the Democratic nominee should not be appointed to that position.
“I just believe that the political process should play out and the voters should have the decision on who the next auditor is and there shouldn’t be an edge given to one person or another,” she told MetroNews.
Robin Righter, a Democratic candidate for auditor from Harrison County, agreed. “I have complete and total confidence that the Governor will choose the correct person for the position and I do not think that it should be the Democratic nominee,” she said.
“There are many capable employees currently in the Auditor’s Office and that person should probably come from that venue.”
Jason Pizatella, a Fairmont native and the third Democrat candidate for auditor, provided the following response to MetroNews when asked about the appointment possibility for a nominee:
“My main focus is on winning the Democratic nomination. Since I’m in the middle of a primary campaign with two opponents, I don’t want to get into a discussion of who the Governor should or shouldn’t appoint to fill the vacancy when Auditor Gainer leaves office,” Pizatella wrote.
He continued, “Auditor Gainer has been a good friend, an excellent state Auditor, and I’m honored to have his endorsement in this race. Whoever takes his place will certainly have big shoes to fill.”
Gainer, who is serving his 6th term in office, previously announced plans not to seek re-election this year. He moved up his scheduled departure date from the office with a resignation announcement on April 14 because of a job opportunity in the private sector, he said.
The Gainer name has been tied to the West Virginia Auditor’s Office for the past six decades.
The three potential Democratic nominees, Claytor noted, do not have similar widespread name recognition.
“We would need to really be out campaigning hard (ahead of November) and the time that needs to be devoted to that office when you’re first going in with all of the issues going on….it’s going to take a lot of time and I don’t think you could really devote that while you’re running a new campaign,” Claytor said.
Claytor, who is from Kanawha County, worked in both the West Virginia Auditor’s Office and West Virginia Tax Department for more than 20 years. That experience, she said, is helping her on the campaign trail.
Righter, a former employee of the auditor’s office who currently owns and operates two small businesses in Shinnston, said politics runs deep in her family.
“I have a background in community action where we help a lot of people and being in the auditor’s office was a natural fit for me with my accounting background and I just want to be part of moving West Virginia forward,” she said.
An attorney, Pizatella has served as an adviser to three governors, including Tomblin. His state government roles have included stints as deputy state tax commissioner, acting secretary of the West Virginia Department of Revenue and, most recently, acting secretary of administration.
Of his run for auditor, with three weeks to go until the primary, “The campaign is going really well and I’m humbled by all the support that I’ve received,” Pizatella wrote.
Delegate J.B. McCuskey (R-Kanawha, 35) is running unopposed for the Republican nomination for auditor. He previously said Tomblin should temporarily appoint someone from within the West Virginia Auditor’s Office.
“I hope that Gov. Tomblin responds quickly and does not play old school party politics with Gainer’s replacement. The time to choose the next Auditor is in November and this role remains the job of the voters,” McCuskey said.