Election 2008 - About the Candidates

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Polls will be open Tuesday November 4, 6:30 A.M. - 7:30 P.M.

Click here to view General Election Day Information

State Senate

Clark Barnes
Republican

Incumbent Sen. Clark Barnes (15th District) has served 4 years in the Senate, and is the Senate minority whip. Barnes serves on the judiciary, agriculture, transportation, natural resources and military affairs committees.

Mike Ross
Democrat

Mike Ross is a former senator who represented Hampshire County from 1992-2004. He served on numerous Senate

committees including agriculture and small business and chaired the legislative rule-making committee. He is currently a business owner.

House of Delegates 50th District

Ruth Rowan
Republican

Incumbent Ruth Rowan earned a BS degree in elementary education from California University, Pa., and a masters in learning disabilities from West Virginia University. She has taught second grade in Hampshire County for 25 years. She presently serves on two major committees in the House, government organization and education.

Royce Saville
Democrat

Royce Saville has practiced law in Romney since 1974 when he graduated from West Virginia University College of Law. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. Royce grew up on a beef cattle and orchard farm on Jersey Mountain Road.

House of Delegates 51st District

Daryl Cowles
Republican

Incumbent Daryl Cowles was elected in 2006. He is a graduate of Berkeley Springs High School. Cowles earned an associates degree in business administration from Valley College, Beckley. He served on chamber of commerce and rotary boards and on government committees such as industry, labor and small business.

Robin Mills
Mountain

Robin Mills is a college graduate (University

of Cincinnati, 1995) and an honorably discharged Navy veteran (1981). He has received the Sierra Club endorsement and has been a committed environmental activist for over 25 years. Robin opposes PATH, TrAIL and mountaintop removal coal mining. He favors windmills throughout Appalachia. He is a resident of Rio in Hampshire County.

22nd Judicial Circuit

Hon. Donald H. Cookman
Democrat

Incumbent Cookman has served in his position since 1993. He was in private practice for 22 years and prosecuting attorney for 20 years. He holds a law degree and Bachelor of Arts degree from West Virginia University. He is a member, an elder, and Sunday School teacher of Romney Presbyterian Church.

Sheriff

Nathan J. Sions
Republican

Incumbent Sheriff Nathan Sions is completing his first term as sheriff. He received a bachelor’s degree in sociology and criminal justice from Shepherd University and is a graduate of the West Virginia State Police Academy. Sions is a certified West Virginia law enforcement officer.

James H. Method
Democrat

James Method is a graduate of Hampshire High School, class of 1984. He served in the deputy reserves, has been a private process server and has owned several businesses in the county including an auto detailing company.

Assessor

Norma Wagoner
Democrat

Augusta resident Norma Wagoner is a Hampshire County native. She has over 19 years experience working with the assessor’s office — six years in Hampshire County and 13 years in Hardy County. Her work involves transfers, research, surveys and tax maps.

County Commission District D

Donald P. Cookman
Democrat

Incumbent Cookman has been a practicing attorney since 1995. He attended Potomac State College and West Virginia Wesleyan College, earned a degree in government and minor in business and attended law school. He is completing his first term as county commissioner.

David R. Parker
Republican

David Parker has lived on his family beef-cattle farm in Junction for 58 years and has been in charge of the farm for the past 40 years. He attended Potomac State College and West Virginia University and has a BS degree in agriculture mechanics. He has been active in numerous branches of the county government.

23rd Family Court Circuit

Hon. Charles Parsons
Republican

Incumbent Parsons graduated magna cum laude and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from West Virginia University. After serving in the United States Army, Parsons attended law school at WVU where he earned his Juris Doctrine degree. He was appointed family law master by three separate governors and elected family judge in 2002.

Magistrate

Eugene Billmeyer
Democrat

Incumbent Eugene T. Billmeyer is a veteran in the magistrate’s office. He was first elected to the magistrate’s office in 1989. At the end of the current term, Billmeyer will have served 20 years as a Hampshire County magistrate. If elected, he will begin a sixth term in office.

Jentry (Chuck) Shanholtz
Republican

Jentry (Chuck) Shanholtz is a Hampshire County native. He has been connected with law enforcement for the past 12 years. Shanholtz served three years as a correctional officer with the former Hampshire County Jail, and has been the county process server for the past 12 years.

Shirley Timbrook
Democrat

Incumbent Shirley Timbrook is currently running for her third four-year

term in office. Timbrook began as assistant magistrate before being appointed by Judge Donald Cookman to fill a two-year term left vacant by then magistrate John Corbin. She has since successfully won two terms in the magistrate’s race.

Prosecuting Attorney

Steve Moreland
Democrat

Steve Moreland has been the prosecuting attorney for 16 years. Prior to that he was the assistant prosecutor for 8 years.

Surveyor

Richard “Rick” Moreland
Democrat

Incumbent Richard Moreland has worked in the surveying business for the past 25 years. He earned an associates degree in the science of land surveying from Glenville State College.