CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice appointed a Putnam County health care organization director to succeed former Sen. Mike Hall, who is now part of the Justice administration of its chief of staff.
Justice selected Mark Drennan, of Teays Valley, to represent the 4th Senatorial District. Drennan has served as executive director of the West Virginia Behavioral Health Care Providers Association since 2011. The group represents mental health, children and addiction services across the state.
According to Drennan, his association’s partners serve 32,000 people who are suffering from addiction a year.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do around addictions, and I think we have done a lot of work over the past few years,” Drennan said of state efforts to address drug addiction when he spoke Monday to MetroNews affiliate WMOV Radio in Ravenswood.
Drennan said as he takes office, he will spend the next few weeks reaching out to the communities he will represent to better understand the issues concerning people.
“I want to try and get out into the district and meet people and introduce myself and let them learn who I am and let them know a little about who they are,” he said.
West Virginia Republican Party Chairman Conrad Lucas said in a statement Drennan brings an “important perspective” to the West Virginia Legislature with his experience in health care.
“We look forward to his work ahead and praise Mike Hall for all he has done to advance our values,” Lucas added.
Drennan’s district covers parts of Jackson and Mason counties, as well as parts of Putnam and Roane counties.
His current term concludes in December 2018.
MetroNews affiliate WMOV Radio in Ravenswood contributed to this report.