Kathie Hess Crouse, a former legislative candidate, is being named to a vacated seat in the House of Delegates.
Gov. Jim Justice made the announcement today during a broad-ranging news briefing.
“Kathie, I know you’ll do a great, great job,” Justice said today. He added, “We’re really proud of you girl.”
Crouse, a Republican, will fill a House District 13 seat previously occupied by Joshua Higginbotham. The district includes parts of Jackson, Mason and Putnam counties.
Higginbotham resigned his House position, saying he was moving to an area of Kanawha County that is out of district. He also has plans to run for state Senate in 2022.
Crouse, a Buffalo resident, has long been a homeschooling advocate and has been involved with local Republican politics in a variety of capacities.
She ran for the House of Delegates for District 13 in 2016 but was defeated in the Republican primary.
She ran for state Senate in 2020 but was defeated by incumbent Glenn Jeffries, a Democrat. She has also run for the Putnam County school board.