Anne Barth, longtime state director for Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va, resigned her position Saturday night and became a Democratic candidate for the 2nd Congressional District seat.
Anne Barth, longtime state director for Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va, resigned her position Saturday night and became a Democratic candidate for the 2nd Congressional District seat.
Barth, 50, said like others across the country, West Virginians want change from the Bush administration policies of the last eight years. "People are hungry for that," she said.
Barth looked at running for the post six months ago, but drew back after the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the state's two Democratic congressmen endorsed Berkeley County state Sen. John Unger. Unger announced Saturday afternoon he would not be a candidate.
That set Barth in motion, with telephone calls coming in and going out in rapid succession. She had to first gain approval of her plans from her husband, Nick, and their two daughters at West Virginia University.
That done, she raced to the Capitol to beat the midnight deadline to file her candidacy.
She faces Richie Robb, the former longtime mayor of South Charleston, and South Charleston lawyer Thornton Cooper in the May primary. But her real target is four-term Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.
After being scorned by the DCCC six months ago when exploring a campaign race, Barth said she welcomes the group's endorsement. But her late start translates into lost money that could have been raised.
Saying she'll take "all the support I can get," Barth said she could win without the DCCC's help. "I'm going to win whether they're with me or not," she said.
"Anne Barth is an A+ candidate with unparalleled experience and support from West Virginians," Rep. Chris Van Hollen, DCCC chairman, said in a news release. "Her strength, vision, and ability to get things done for hardworking West Virginians will make her a powerful voice for change. Anne is the best possible candidate to win this seat and bring change for the people of the district."
Barth, 50, said Sunday she was receiving calls of support from around the state. That includes Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., who has worked with Barth during the 21 years she has been employed by Byrd.
"As a minister's daughter, Anne knows the values of West Virginians," Rockefeller said in a release. "And as someone who has a strong history of public service - to my friend and colleague Sen. Byrd, and therefore to the people of West Virginia - I believe she has the experience, the will and the dedication it will take to help move West Virginia forward."
Barth said having a united congressional delegation will help the state. Capito is the only West Virginia Republican in Congress. "I want to be part of a united delegation," Barth said Sunday.
She named a faltering economy and failed Iraq war policy as two issues she will use in confronting Capito.
Other Saturday night filings saw Rockefeller pick up more opposition. Democrat Sheirl L. Fletcher of Dellslow, Monongalia County, and Republican Jay Wolfe of Salem, a former state senator, both filed to take on the 5-term Democrat. In 2002, Rockefeller swamped Wolfe, picking up 63 percent of the vote.
Two Democratic state Senate candidates received late-night opponents, also.
Republican Stephen L. Hall of Huntington filed to run against state Sen. Robert Plymale, D-Wayne. Plymale had been unopposed.
Anne Barth, longtime state director for Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va, resigned her position Saturday night and became a Democratic candidate for the 2nd Congressional District seat.
Barth, 50, said like others across the country, West Virginians want change from the Bush administration policies of the last eight years. "People are hungry for that," she said.
Barth looked at running for the post six months ago, but drew back after the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the state's two Democratic congressmen endorsed Berkeley County state Sen. John Unger. Unger announced Saturday afternoon he would not be a candidate.
That set Barth in motion, with telephone calls coming in and going out in rapid succession. She had to first gain approval of her plans from her husband, Nick, and their two daughters at West Virginia University.
That done, she raced to the Capitol to beat the midnight deadline to file her candidacy.
She faces Richie Robb, the former longtime mayor of South Charleston, and South Charleston lawyer Thornton Cooper in the May primary. But her real target is four-term Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.
After being scorned by the DCCC six months ago when exploring a campaign race, Barth said she welcomes the group's endorsement. But her late start translates into lost money that could have been raised.
Saying she'll take "all the support I can get," Barth said she could win without the DCCC's help. "I'm going to win whether they're with me or not," she said.
"Anne Barth is an A+ candidate with unparalleled experience and support from West Virginians," Rep. Chris Van Hollen, DCCC chairman, said in a news release. "Her strength, vision, and ability to get things done for hardworking West Virginians will make her a powerful voice for change. Anne is the best possible candidate to win this seat and bring change for the people of the district."
Barth, 50, said Sunday she was receiving calls of support from around the state. That includes Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., who has worked with Barth during the 21 years she has been employed by Byrd.
"As a minister's daughter, Anne knows the values of West Virginians," Rockefeller said in a release. "And as someone who has a strong history of public service - to my friend and colleague Sen. Byrd, and therefore to the people of West Virginia - I believe she has the experience, the will and the dedication it will take to help move West Virginia forward."
Barth said having a united congressional delegation will help the state. Capito is the only West Virginia Republican in Congress. "I want to be part of a united delegation," Barth said Sunday.
She named a faltering economy and failed Iraq war policy as two issues she will use in confronting Capito.
Other Saturday night filings saw Rockefeller pick up more opposition. Democrat Sheirl L. Fletcher of Dellslow, Monongalia County, and Republican Jay Wolfe of Salem, a former state senator, both filed to take on the 5-term Democrat. In 2002, Rockefeller swamped Wolfe, picking up 63 percent of the vote.
Two Democratic state Senate candidates received late-night opponents, also.
Republican Stephen L. Hall of Huntington filed to run against state Sen. Robert Plymale, D-Wayne. Plymale had been unopposed.
So had Fayette County Sheriff Bill Laird, who filed for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Shirley Love, D-Fayette. Laird will now have to defeat fellow Democrat Elizabeth Brannon Sampson of Ivydale, Clay County, for the party's nomination.
The major race appears to be for two state Supreme Court seats. Chief Justice Elliott "Spike" Maynard of Mingo County has drawn criticism from opponents for photos that surfaced of him on the French Riviera with Don Blankenship, president and CEO of Massey Energy. The coal firm had a more than $76 million suit before the court at the time. Ultimately the court ruled 3-2 in Massey's favor, but has since agreed to hold a new hearing.
The incident has caused Maynard political problems and he faces three Democrats: Cabell County lawyer Menis Ketchum; Margaret Workman, a former justice and circuit judge; and Bob Bastress, a West Virginia University law professor. Republican Beth Walker, a Charleston lawyer, has also filed.
Gov. Joe Manchin is facing challenges from at least one Raleigh County resident.
Delegate Mel Kessler, D-Raleigh, announced plans to challenge the governor in the primary, while Republican Russ Weeks, a former one-term state senator, will face the primary's winner in the fall general election.
Last week, state Democratic Chairman Nick Casey said it's very possible the party's presidential nomination will still be undecided by the time the May primary occurs. All three major Democrats remaining in the race - New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, former North Carolina senator John Edwards and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama - filed for the West Virginia primary.
On the Republican side, those filing for president include: Rudy Giuliani, former mayor New York City; Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.; Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, and Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts.
For the most part, Republicans shied away from statewide races.
But two Republican lawyers, Hiram Lewis of Morgantown and Dan Greear, a one-term delegate from Charleston, both filed to take on Democratic Attorney General Darrell McGraw. McGraw appeared to have no primary opposition.
The only statewide GOP officeholder, Secretary of State Betty Ireland, stepped aside and Charleston resident Charles Minimah will try to keep the office for the party. Three Democrats have filed for that party's nomination. Democrats pursuing the position include House Majority Leader Joe DeLong, D-Hancock, Senate Majority Whip Bill Wayne Bailey, D-Wyoming, and former television newswoman Natalie Tennant.
Agriculture Commissioner Gus Douglass will have a primary election opponent, Democrat Oscar Casto of Berkeley County. The remaining statewide executive branch officers, Democratic Auditor Glen Gainer and Treasurer John Perdue, appeared unopposed in both the primary and general elections.
The entire 100-seat House of Delegates is also up for election this year, along with half the state Senate. All of the state's circuit and family court judgeships are on the ballot as well.
At least seven of the 17 incumbent senators up for re-election this year are not seeking another term, four of them Democrats. Holding 23 Senate seats, that party faces at least six contested primaries in those races while the GOP has at least one.
And while Democrats hold 72 House seats, at least seven of their incumbent delegates are seeking other offices or are not running. Among the 58 House districts, the Democrats can expect at least 16 contested primaries. At least two are on tap for Republicans.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
To contact staff writer Tom Searls, use e-mail or call 348-5198.
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