MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The first runner-up in the 51st House District in 2016 announced Tuesday he will run for the same position in next year’s election.
Evan Hansen, co-owner of Downstream Strategies in Morgantown, announced his candidacy as a Democrat in a press release Tuesday.
Hansen finished sixth out of ten candidates in 2016. The 51st District sent the top five vote-getters to Charleston last year.
That included Democrat Barbara Evans Fleischauer, Republican Cindy Frich, Republican Joe Statler, Democrat John Williams, and Democrat Rodney Pyles. Pyles finished ahead of Hansen by just 37 votes.
Hansen’s company works with government agencies, cities, counties, and nonprofits on projects related to drinking water protection, energy development, and local economic development.
He is an environmental scientist who has lived in Monongalia County since 1997. The 51st District encompasses the majority of Monongalia County.