CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The State Election Commission is meeting next Friday to discuss potentially removing former Del. Elliott Pritt from the November ballot.
Pritt, R-Fayette, resigned Monday from his seat in the House of Delegates amid a federal investigation into an alleged inappropriate relationship with an underage girl. He is being held by U.S. Marshals while the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Southern West Virginia prepares an indictment to present to a Grand Jury. Pritt’s reported misconduct dates back to when the girl was in the eighth grade.
West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner announced the State Election Commission (SEC) meeting will take place August 7 at 12 p.m. The commission will discuss whether or not Pritt should be disqualified from the General Election ballot.
Factors for disqualification include felony convictions, failing to meet residency or citizenship requirements, conviction of treason or bribery in an election, and lacking required education for the position.
Pritt could also voluntarily withdraw from the ballot, but he hasn’t done that yet. The deadline for that is August 11. Pritt’s Democratic challenger in the race is Matthew Anderson, a special education teacher at Divide Elementary School in Fayette County.
Two people have submitted letters to the State Election Commission requesting Pritt’s removal. One of them was Fayette County Republican Executive Committee Chairman Greg Ingram.
Ingram said he was taken aback when he heard the news of Pritt’s arrest.
“I was in shock,” Ingram described on MetroNews “Midday” Tuesday. “I know Elliott Pritt, and I was completely in shock. I would have never imagined this out of him. He fooled a lot of us, including the legislators.”
If Pritt were to take himself off the ballot, the Republican Party would be unable to appoint his replacement.
Therefore, Ingram sent a letter on behalf of the county Republican Executive Committee to the State Election Commission. A disqualification would open the door for Fayette County Republicans to appoint a candidate to Pritt’s spot on the November ticket.
Ingram said Fayette County citizens need a choice on the ballot. He said the letter to the State Election Commission noted that a mistake was made, and there is a chance to right that mistake.
“I asked them based on the fact that (Pritt) is incarcerated and can’t serve the citizens of West Virginia, that they remove him from the ballot,” Ingram said. “When that happens, then the Fayette County Republican Executive Committee can place someone in the ballot.”
The other person to write a letter to the State Election Commission was Dr. Robert Love of Fayetteville. Warner said it falls upon the two people who wrote letters to have gathered enough evidence to support Pritt’s removal.
“The burden of proof is on the two individuals who submitted written requests to disqualify the candidate,” Warner said. “As one of five members on the State Election Commission, it is our duty to weigh the information and evidence presented to us against the law.”
“What is before the State Election Commission is an administrative matter,” Warner continued. “The right to seek public office is well-founded and equally applied to every eligible person. Despite the very troubling accusations, the five-member SEC must determine whether the two requestors present sufficient evidence showing that Pritt’s eligibility to remain on the ballot is affected by something other than being charged, but not convicted, of a disqualifying crime.”
Starting at noon on Wednesday, the West Virginia Republican Party began taking resumes and responses to the District 50 applications on its site. The candidates must live in the district. Ingram said the state Republican Party will then forward the resumes and responses to him this upcoming Sunday.
Ingram said on Monday, August 3, the Fayette County Republican Executive Committee will get together in Ansted and have two decisions to make.
First, they will choose three names from the candidate pool to send to Gov. Patrick Morrisey. The governor would be tasked with choosing one of those three candidates to serve Pritt’s remaining term.
Next, the committee plans to select one name to go on the November ballot, provided that the State Election Commission complies with the committee’s request for Pritt’s disqualification.
Ingram said ideally, whoever gets selected to finish Pritt’s term would also be the nominee in November. Time is of the essence, he emphasized. Ingram said his letter to the State Election Commission underlined the importance of quick action.
“I asked them to look at it quickly,” Ingram said. “I think the rule is we have 84 days before the election, so they need to act quickly so we can place someone on the ballot. As I said, our plan is to have someone ready to go Monday night, (August) 3rd.”
Warner reported that the deadline for appointing a candidate in the event of disqualification is August 17.
Four candidates have already expressed interest in the seat, Ingram reported. He said the committee will choose candidates who look out for District 50.
“We’re looking for someone that’s engrained in Fayette County,” Ingram said. “It’s just in the fabric of their being. We want someone that has the best interests of Fayette County in that office, and the best interests of the state of West Virginia.”
Pritt’s alleged actions have left countless people picking up the pieces, he said.
“It’s a sad day,” Ingram said. “It’s a sad day for the victims; it’s a sad day for his family; his wife and family have lost two incomes: the legislature and Fayette County Schools.”
Warner also emphasized the serious allegations against Pritt.
“I share the serious concerns expressed by many members of the public and public officials over the past week regarding the allegations raised against former Delegate Pritt,” Warner said. “My heart and prayers go out to the survivor or survivors of these heinous allegations. I hope that justice is served in the separate criminal proceedings.”
Ingram said he hasn’t talked to Pritt’s family since the news broke. The news broke the heart of many, he said.
“I don’t think anyone saw this coming,” Ingram said.
Ingram said he met Pritt several times at Fayette County Republican Executive Committee meetings, in addition to a few run-ins at the Legislature. Ingram remembered Pritt’s passion to help those impacted in the 2022 Cannelton Hollow-area flooding, which resulted in major sewage issues.
“That was the last time I met him, in Smithers City Hall,” Ingram said. “He was working, and brought a lawyer in, to help the people of Cannelton.”
“He was doing good things; it was just the things in the shadows that just shocked us all.”