MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Brent Benjamin filed papers Friday to seek public campaign financing for his 2016 reelection campaign.
“Because I think this is the appropriate way to go,” Benjamin said on MetroNews affiliate WEPM in Martinsburg. “I think this is the way the people expect.”
Justice Allan Loughry was the first candidate for Supreme Court to use the campaign financing program back in 2012. Loughry was elected.
Benjamin said he believes that is the right way to go when there is a perception of big dollar donations from unknown sources going towards judicial elections.
“Our filing today will remove any concern about that, at least in our campaign,” Benjamin said.
He said it will also help preserve the fairness and impartiality of the courts.
Benjamin was elected to a 12-year term on the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia in November 2004.
Judicial elections will be non-partisan beginning next year in West Virginia. There will be no primary. Those elected in the May election will be the winners, similar to current school board elections.
An approved candidate can receive up to $525,000 in a public financing campaign, according to state law. The money comes from a variety of state funding sources. The deadline to qualify for funding is Jan. 30, 2016.