Wikipedia:WikiProject West Virginia/Government

Law and government (for counties)
Entries for counties (example: Ohio County, West Virginia) are part of the WikiProject U.S. counties. In accordance, there is permitted a section before "geography" on the county pages for a "Law and government" heading. Here is the example of what I entered for Ohio County:

Executive
Ohio County is governed by a three member County Commission who each serve in rotating 6-year terms. The terms are designed such that one seat is up for election in even years. There can be only one person elected from each of Ohio County's three magisterial districts. The County Commission annually chooses its own President. The Ohio County Commissioners in 2006 are President David Sims (D), Tim McCormick (D), and Randy Wharton (D). Mr. Sims was re-elected to the Commission in November 2006.

Other elected officials include Clerk of County Commission Patty Fahey (D) and Assessor Gregory Kloeppner (D). The County Commission typically appoints a County Administrator to oversee the daily executive duties for the Commission. The current Ohio County Administrator is Greg Stewart.

Judicial
Additionally, Ohio County is part of the First Judicial Circuit of West Virginia which also includes Hancock and Brooke Counties. In West Virginia, Circuit Judges are elected in partisan elections to eight-year terms. The current judges of the First Judicial Circuit are the Hon. Martin J. Gaughan, the Hon. James Mazzone, the Hon. Arthur M. Recht, and the Hon. Ronald E. Wilson. The Clerk of the Circuit Court is also elected in a partisan election but only to serve a six-year term. The current Clerk of the First Judicial Circuit in Ohio County is Brenda Miller (D).

Ohio County is part of the First Family Court Circuit of West Virginia which also includes Hancock and Brooke Counties. In West Virginia, Family Court Judges were first elected to six-year terms beginning in 2002 and will be elected to eight-year terms beginning in 2008. The current judges of the First Family Court Circuit are the Hon. Joyce Chernenko and the Hon. William Sinclair.

Magistrates are elected in partisan elections serving four-year terms. Vacancies occurring in unexpired terms can be filled by a respective Circuit Court Judge. Unlike Circuit Court judges or Family Court judges, magistrates are not required to be attorneys. Ohio County currently has four magistrates: Rose Humway, Charles W. Murphy, Patricia Murphy, and Harry Radcliffe.

Law enforcement
In West Virginia, a Prosecuting Attorney for each county is elected by partisan election to a four-year term. The current Prosecuting Attorney in Ohio County is Scott Smith (D).

A county Sheriff is likewise elected to a four-year term but is limited to serving only two terms. The Sheriff is also the ex-officio Treasurer for his/her respective county. The current Sheriff of Ohio County is Thomas Burgoyne (D).

State legislators
Ohio County is part of the First Senatorial District of West Virginia which also includes Hancock and Brooke Counties. State Senator Edwin J. Bowman (D-Hancock Co.) and State Senator Andy McKenzie (R-Ohio Co.) currently represent the First Senatorial District. Senator Bowman was re-elected in November 2006. Senator McKenzie's seat is up for election in November 2008.

Ohio County is part of both the Second and Third House of Delegates Districts. In Ohio County, the Second District is comprised by the extreme eastern end of Elm Grove as well as the towns of Triadelphia, Valley Grove, and West Liberty. The Second District is currently represented by Delegate Tim Ennis (D-Brooke Co.) and Delegate Jack Yost (D-Brooke Co.). The Third District is comprised by nearly all of the City of Wheeling and the Village of Bethlehem. The Third District is currently represented by Delegate Tal Hutchins (D-Ohio Co.) and Delegate Orphy Klempa (D-Ohio Co.). In 2006, Third District voters replaced two Republican delegates with two Democratic delegates. All 100 House of Delegates seats are elected every two years.

US Congress
Ohio County is part of the First Congressional District of West Virginia whose seat is currently held by Alan B. Mollohan (D-Fairmont). Similarly, Senators Robert C. Byrd (D-Sophia) and Jay Rockefeller (D-Charleston) represent West Virginia in the US Senate.

State Officials

 * List of Governors of West Virginia
 * List of members of the 79th West Virginia Senate
 * List of members of the 79th West Virginia House of Delegates
 * List of members of the 78th West Virginia Senate
 * List of members of the 78th West Virginia House of Delegates
 * List of members of the 77th West Virginia House of Delegates
 * List of members of the 77th West Virginia Senate
 * List of Speakers of the West Virginia House of Delegates
 * List of Presidents of the West Virginia Senate
 * List of Attorneys General of West Virginia
 * List of West Virginia Secretaries of State
 * List of Justices for the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia

Federal Officials

 * List of United States Senators from West Virginia

Lists to be Completed

 * List of West Virginia Treasurers
 * List of West Virginia Auditors
 * List of West Virginia Commissioners of Agriculture

Applicable links

 * United States Congressional Delegations from West Virginia

Governors of West Virginia
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U.S. Senator from West Virginia
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West Virginia politician stub
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