CHARLESTON, W.Va. — All indications are that Kanawha County’s next commissioner will be decided in fewer than two weeks.
The Kanawha County Republican Executive Committee has submitted three names for the county commission’s consideration to fill its vacant seat. The seat opened up with former commissioner Lance Wheeler’s resignation to become the Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority executive director.
The nominees to serve out Wheeler’s remaining term, which is through December 31, are Jared Page, Edward Burgess, and Austin Gessel.
Sitting commissioners Ben Salango and Natalie Tennant will each strike one of the names during their August 27 meeting. Salango will strike a name first, because he has served longer on the commission, then Tennant will remove a name. The remaining candidate will be the next county commissioner.
Kanawha County Republican Executive Committee Chairwoman Donna Caruthers told MetroNews it was a unanimous vote Thursday night to select Page, Burgess, and Gessel.
She emailed the names to the Kanawha County Commission Friday morning.
The issue was sent to the committee because Salango and Tennant failed to agree on a candidate during the July meeting. Salango motioned for Page to become Wheeler’s replacement, but Tennant did not support the motion, citing a desire for the Kanawha County Republican Executive Committee to have a say in the matter.
Wheeler did not run for re-election during the May primary while he sought a state senate seat. He secured the Republican nomination in the 8th senatorial district, beating incumbent Kevan Bartlett and Dr. Steven Eshenaur, and will be opposed on November ballots by Kim Hundley. Wheeler ended up leaving his seat on the commission at the end of June to take the KCEAA position.
Page earned the Republican nomination for the full commission seat. He’ll be opposed by Democratic candidate Paul Monroe on November ballots.
Caruthers cited Page’s success in the May primary to support his selection as one of the three nominees to finish Wheeler’s term. Page is vice mayor of St. Albans, serves as a city councilman, and previously spent time as a municipal judge in the city. Caruthers said he was an easy choice.
“Because he has such a wealth of a background,” Caruthers said. “He’s been on so many boards, councils, and so forth; he just brings a wealth of experience to that.”
Meanwhile, Burgess has paid his dues, Caruthers said.
“He has been on the (county executive) committee for many years prior to this last election, he didn’t run the last time,” Caruthers said. “He has also served on the state executive committee and congressional district Republican Executive Committee. He’s been a candidate for the West Virginia House of Delegates, in the 30th district at that time, and 35th.”
Gessel is a member of Americans for Prosperity (AFP), a political action group, as well as the Kanawha County Young Republicans committee. A West Virginia State University alumnus, he is AFP-WV’s Grassroots Engagement Director in the southern part of West Virginia. He also worked as a special assistant to Patrick Morrisey when the now-governor was West Virginia Attorney General.
“He’s very involved in community events,” Caruthers noted.
The Kanawha County Commission’s meeting on August 27 is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. in Charleston.