MARTINSBURG, W.Va. – State Delegate Walter Duke says he believes in term limits. That’s why the veteran lawmaker has decided he will not seek re-election in 2016.
The 68-year-old Republican had originally planned on serving only eight years in office when he was first elected to the house in 2002, but says after no one stepped up to run in 2008, he re-evaluated his position.
“I decided that, well, maybe 12 years would be better,” Duke said. “That would be four senate terms or six house terms.”
Duke (R, Berkeley) was defeated in 2012 by Democrat Jason Barrett, but regained the seat in last fall’s general election.
The retired teacher was part of the group that made reforms to the state school aid formula that Duke says while not perfect, did end up benefiting county school systems.
“Every county did get more money for education as a result of those reforms than they would have without those reforms,” he said.
Duke joins Eastern Panhandle lawmaker Herb Snyder, who announced he would not be running to retain his 16th District Senate seat next year.