CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Kanawha County Commission selected Thursday Charleston lawyer Ben Salango to be its newest member.
Salango was one of nine applicants who participated in a public interview at the commission’s meeting. He is filling the seat opened after former Commissioner Dave Hardy resigned on Jan. 19. Hardy left to serve as Department of Revenue secretary.
At 43, Salango will be the youngest commissioner.
“Being one of the younger members of the commission will bring a different perspective,” Salango said. “Perhaps looking at this through a different set of eyes might be good.”
Salango is a partner at the Preston & Salango law firm in Charleston, co-owner of apparel company 304 Tees and founding member of Charleston Montessori School.
This is Salango’s first time serving public office, though he is the finance chair for the Kanawha County Democratic Executive Committee.
Salango is married to Tera Salango, who served as Kanawha County assistant prosecuting attorney before joining Preston & Salango. The couple has two sons, 14-year-old T.J. and 9-year-old Caden.
Commission president Kent Carper said he likes having someone with children on the board, but it was Salango’s opposition to home rule that caught Carper’s eye.
“He was the only one apparently that paid any attention to the Kanawha County Commission’s position on home rule,” Carper said. “I frankly think that home rule for counties will mean higher taxes.”
Carper also said it will be great to have someone on the commission with “fresh eyes” and no previous government experience.
Salango’s term will end at the end of December 2018. Salango said he has thought about running when the seat is up for election next year, but that decision has not been finalized.
“I’m going to see if I like the job, and I’m going to see if I can do some good at the job,” Salango said. “If I do well at it, then I’ll run. And if I don’t, then I won’t.”
Salango’s first full meeting as commissioner will be Tuesday.