Among them are former Senate and state gubernatorial candidate John Raese, former 2010 Congressional candidate Mac Warner, and current Marion County House of Delegates candidate Lynette Kennedy McQuain.
The Aug. 28 special primary winners will face off in the Nov. 2 general election to fill Byrd's unexpired term, which ends Jan. 2, 2013.
Raese, 60, a Morgantown businessman, previously ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in 1984, for governor in 1988 and, most recently, against Byrd in 2006.
He told The Dominion Post he has been interested in running for some time. But he didn't want to oppose party stalwarts, and waited until Rep. Shelley Moore Capito decided not to run.
He said he will unveil his "Road Map to Recovery" next week, which will describe his vision to "try to make the country great again." A firm supporter of the private sector, he's concerned about immigration, cap and trade, the stimulus p a ck a g e, and health care, he said, along with runaway federal spending. He points to the $13.2 trillion national debt and $65 trillion in unfunded liabilities.
Asked what he's gleaned from his previous runs for office, he said voters "want someone with an ability to build a coalition of people who can make a difference in the state." He noted he came very close to winning in two of his three tries, but admittedly didn't resonate in 2006.
Discussing career politicians and "incumbent war chests," Raese said he strongly supports term limits — two six-year terms for Senate, six two-year terms for House. "That's plenty of time," he said.
John and David Raese co-own West Virginia Newspaper Publishing Corp., which publishes The Dominion Post.
Mac Warner
Warner, also a Morgantown businessman, came in a close second in a field of six in the GOP 1st Congressional District primary in May. He tallied 11,353 votes to winner David McKinley's 14,783. The third-place candidate had 8,994 votes.
"We need more voices in Washington who have a firsthand knowledge of military issues, a real dedication to getting spending under control, and a devotion to making sure the Constitution guides us in every decision," Warner said in a news release.
He said he is " motivated also by the national, grassroots movement among everyday citizens, whether via the Tea Party or other organizations, to reclaim their voice in government and make sure elected officials are held accountable."
Warner said he will oppose President Obama's anti-coal agenda, and Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Elena Kagan, referring to "her shameful treatment of military recruiters at Harvard, her politically motivated revision of a medical statement on partial birth abortion and her previous writings extolling the virtues of socialism."
Warner, a retired U.S. Army officer with 23 years of service, earned two master's degrees in law and has visited more than 50 countries in his military work, according to his release.
Lynette McQuain
McQuain, 50, of Rivesville, said she represents "the true values of the people of West Virginia — the Bible and the Constitution." She will fight the " Obama-Pelosi-Reid agenda."
"I'd like to see the spending stop in Washington, D.C.," she said. She supports the coal industry, increasing job opportunities, lowering taxes and supporting state sovereignty.
She is a married mother of four, and works as a substitute teacher's aide for special needs children in Marion County Schools.
McQuain is the first candidate to test the new senatorial succession law, which legislators worded to allow current candidates to run for Senate. She is one of three GOP candidates for the three House of Delegates 43rd District seat.
Secretary of State Natalie Tennant supports the law's intention, but Attorney General Darrell McGraw has yet to issue an opinion. But McQuain said she's a fighter, and "if it's good enough for Gov. Manchin, it's good enough for me."
Manchin signed the succession bill into law Monday night.
Other candidates
The other Republican candidates, to date, are Charles G. "Bud" Railey, of Bridgeport; Albert Howard, of San Pedro, Calif.; Thomas Ressler, of Falling Waters; Scott H. Williams, of Buckhannon; Kenneth A. Culp, of Summersville; Daniel Scott Rebich, of Buckhannon; and Harry C. Bruner Jr., of Charleston.
Three Democrats have also filed: Gov. Joe Manchin, former congressman and West Virginia Secretary of State Ken Hechler, and former Monongalia County Delegate Sheirl Fletcher, of Morgantown.
Candidates have until 5 p.m. today to file with Tenant's office.
To see more of The Dominion Post or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.dominionpost.com/.
Copyright (c) 2010, The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
Post a Comment
