November 6 – KEYSER, W.Va. – Jason Whitlock received 73% of the vote Tuesday to win an open seat on the Mineral County Commission, according to complete but unofficial election results.
Whitlock, who won a seven-way race to win the Republican nomination during the May primary, received 9,115 votes, defeating former Commissioner Cindy Pyles, who received 3,445 votes.
Whitlock is a missionary who travels the world for the organization Youth with a Mission West Virginia.
Pyles, the resource development manager at Burlington United Methodist Family Services, served as commissioner from 2001 to 2012.
Whitlock will replace Commission Chairman Jerry Whisner, who is retiring after serving two six-year terms, and will join fellow Republicans Charles Staggs and Roger Leatherman on the governing body. Staggs and Leatherman were not eligible for re-election.
Most county-level races featured only one candidate.
Retired West Virginia State Police Trooper Joel Whisner, who defeated Sheriff Forrest “Buddy” Ellifritz in the primary, received 11,251 votes on Tuesday.
Assessor Jill Cosner received 11,373 votes and Charlie B. Johnson III, who will become the county’s next prosecutor, received 11,017 votes.
Voters also extended the school surplus tax, with 8,934 votes in favor and 2,883 against. The levy funds generated revenue for a variety of school programs and needs not covered by state and/or federal funding.
In state races, Del. Gary Howell of Keyser, who represents Mineral’s 87th District and ran unopposed, 6,675 votes to win re-election. Romney’s Rick Hillenbrand, who represents the 88th District, which includes parts of Mineral and Hampshire counties, fended off a challenge from Democrat Amanda Vincent of Hampshire County and received 79% of the vote.
Sen. Randy Smith of Terra Alta, who represents the 14th District, which includes Mineral, Grant, Hardy, Tucker, Preston and part of Taylor counties, earned 87% of the vote in defeating Democratic challenger Betsy Orndoff-Sayers from Hampshire County.
