CHARLESTON, W.Va. — At some point state Senate President Mitch Carmichael is going to have to choose one of his fellow Republican senators to be the new chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Carmichael wasn’t tipping his hand during an appearance on MetroNews “Talkline” Wednesday.
“Nobody has made any decision as regard to Finance chairmanship,” Carmichael said. “It’s an important role and any one of the (GOP) senators could fill that role admirably,” Carmichael said.
The position is opening up because Sen. Mike Hall (R-Putnam) is leaving the Senate to become Gov. Jim Justice’s chief of staff. Hall was Finance Committee chair under Carmichael and former Senate President Bill Cole.
Sen. Ed Gaunch (R-Kanawha) is interested and believes he’d be a good choice but said it’s Carmichael’s call.
“I think I’m the logical choice for the job but we’ll see if Mitch Carmichael thinks that,” Gaunch said Wednesday on “Talkline.” “I’m a team player and I’ll serve where he puts me.”
Carmichael said Gaunch would be “an incredible asset” in the position but others have also expressed an interest.
“They maybe have some more time in the (Senate) seat,” Carmichael said.
Gaunch, a retired insurance executive, is in the second half of his first four-year term.