WINFIELD, W.Va. — Interviews will take place Thursday of the seven people who have applied to be the next state senator in the 4th Senatorial District.
An eight-member committee made up of men and women from Putnam, Jackson, Roane and Mason counties will conduct the interviews. The seat officially opened up last week when longtime legislator Mike Hall left the Senate to become Gov. Jim Justice’s chief of staff.
The senatorial committee hopes to have three names to submit to the governor by Thursday night, committee chairman, Putnam County Clerk Brian Wood, told MetroNews.
“I look forward to seeing what they have to say and the answers to the questions we have prepared for them,” Wood said.
Each candidate will get a 15-minute interview before the committee.
The person chosen will fill the remaining 16 months of Hall’s term. The seat is up for election in the 2018 cycle. Wood said part of the process is trying to predict how the applicants would do in running for the seat.
“You want candidates that are strong across the board that the governor can select from for that momentum going into the 2018 election. It’s going to be important,” Wood said.
The committee hopes to submit the names to the governor by Thursday evening. He’ll then have five days to make a selection.
The seven people who will be interviewed Thursday include:
Delegate Jim Butler-Mason County
Jeff Barnes-Putnam County-owner of Barnes Agency and first cousin of Olympic gold medalist Randy Barnes
Delegate Geoff Foster-Putnam County
Mark Drennan-Putnam County-executive director of West Virginia Behavioral Health Care Providers Association
Eric Tarr-Mason County-co-owner of Snap Fitness/Generation Physical Therapy. Also volunteer in office of state Senate Majority Leader Ryan Ferns.
Joe Jefferies-Putnam County-previously announced run for House of Delegates in next year’s election.
John Musgrave-Mason County-former longtime West Virginia Lottery Director and current executive director of the Mason County Development Authority.
MetroNews affiliate WMOV Radio in Ravenswood contributed to this report.