Delegate Randy Swartzmiller launches campaign for state Senate

WEIRTON, W.Va. — A familiar face in the state House of Delegates representing the Northern Panhandle is looking at switching chambers.

Del. Randy Swartzmiller (D-Hancock, 01) launched a bid for a state Senate seat in District 1 on Wednesday, the seat currently held by Ryan Weld (R-Brooke).

Randy Swartzmiller

Swartzmiller told MetroNews that his motivation for a 2020 Senate seat came from the actions in that chamber during the past few sessions.

“I just don’t feel the people had a voice in Charleston any longer,” he said. “The way they were treated in a disrespectful manner, the way they were just put off when there were supposed to be sessions being held.”

Swartzmiller cited those Senate actions with the differences between himself and likely election opponent, Weld, including Weld’s support for the large education bill. The bill was recently put into law and featured the controversial provision of charter schools.

Weld, the Majority Whip and Chair of the Military Committee in the Senate, announced Nov. 26 his running for reelection in 2020.

Ryan Weld

“Some of the fundamental positions out there is the position he (Weld) took with our educators and education system, as well as our working men and women in some of the legislation,” Swartzmiller said.

Elected in 2000 to the House of Delegates, Swartzmiller served in Charleston until 2014. He served as numerous vice-chair and chair positions during that period including Speaker Pro-Tem.

Swartzmiller was out of the office for four years before running in 2018 and being elected again to the House.

He worked 20 years at Weirton Steel as a third-generation steelworker up until the early 2000s before taking a position at Ergon-West Virginia in 2004 where he has been working since. Swartzmiller also graduated from then West Liberty State College with a bachelor’s degree and has earned a master’s degree from Mountain State University.

The seat in the Senate serves all of Hancock, Brooke Ohio, and part of Marshall counties. Swartzmiller’s current seat in the House represents all of Hancock and part of Brooke counties.

He said he is ready to give more people of the Northern Panhandle a voice in the Capitol and “not the special interest groups.”

“People up here understand that I’ve always fought to make sure that they have a representative down there that they knew was invested in them and would work tirelessly,” Swartzmiller said.

“That’s where I’ve been and that’s where I’ll go with this upcoming Senate race. I’ll be giving more people that voice.”

In the other state Senate seat in District One, Bill Ihlenfeld (D-Ohio) beat incumbent and Majority Senate leader Ryan Ferns in the 2018 election.

Swartzmiller made the announcement Wednesday at the Millsop Community Center in Weirton.





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