Two former state senators and a veteran circuit judge make up the list of nominees for an open state Senate seat.
The 15th Senatorial Committee forwarded the names Friday of former senators Mike Ross and Tom Hawse along with Hampshire County Circuit Judge Donald Cookman to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.
The governor now has a few days to make a final decision on who will replace former Sen. Walt Helmick. Helmick resigned Monday before he was sworn-in as the new state Agriculture Commissioner.
Ross and Hawse both served with Tomblin in the Senate.
The old 15th Senatorial District is now the 11th Senatorial District and covers parts of seven counties from Nicholas County to Grant County.
The 60-day regular legislative session begins Feb. 13.