CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The chief of staff for the state House of Delegates plans to run for a vacant seat in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Dan Greear filed his pre-candidacy papers today.
The seat is open because of the retirement of Kanawha Circuit Judge Jim Stucky for health reasons.
The nonpartisan election to fill Stucky’s term will be in November.
Greear said he also is seeking a temporary appointment from Gov. Jim Justice to serve in Stucky’s seat until the election.
Greear served one-term as a Republican member of the House of Delegates representing Kanawha County in 1995-96, and was the chief counsel for the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office from 2013-2014. Greear was named chief of staff for the House of Delegates in early 2015.
Greear previously ran for Kanawha Circuit Court in 2010 in a race won by Carrie Webster, a former state delegate.
Other candidates for the unexpired judicial term include Charleston lawyer Tera Salango, who works at the Preston & Salango firm.
She formerly worked in the Kanawha County prosecutor’s office. Her husband, Ben Salango, is a Kanawha County Commissioner.
And Kanawha County Prosecutor Chuck Miller also filed his pre-candidacy papers.
Miller was named prosecutor in 2014. He has worked as an assistant Kanawha County prosecutor, in private practice and at the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Judge Stucky’s resignation became effective April 30.
Gov. Jim Justice will appoint his replacement until the November General Election when a candidate will be elected to fill the remaining four years of the term.