WINFIELD, W.Va. -- With longtime Putnam Circuit Judge O.C. Spaulding retiring at the end of the year, county Prosecuting Attorney Mark Sorsaia said he'll probably run for the vacant judicial seat.
Sorsaia's fourth term as Putnam County prosecutor ends next year. Last spring, he ran in the Republican gubernatorial special primary and has recently used automated polling to gauge voters' interest in him running for state attorney general.
"I'm a 54-year-old man at a major crossroads," Sorsaia said. "I'm going into my 16th year as prosecutor, and that's a long time. I'm thinking the next stage in my professional career is to be a judge."
Spaulding, who will retire Dec. 31 after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, said it would be a natural transition for Sorsaia to become a judge.
Sorsaia took over Spaulding's law practice when Spaulding was appointed prosecutor in 1987 and eventually hired Sorsaia as an assistant prosecutor. Then, Sorsaia was elected prosecutor in 1996.
"I think Mark would make a good judge. He has kind of followed my career and I have a lot of respect for him," Spaulding said. "But then the question is, who will be prosecutor?"
On Wednesday, two assistant prosecutors filed pre-candidacy paperwork to run for Putnam County prosecutor.
Steve Connolly, an assistant Putnam prosecutor, and Dan Holstein, an assistant prosecutor in Kanawha County and a former assistant Putnam prosecutor, both filed their pre-candidacy papers, said Putnam County Clerk Brian Wood.
WINFIELD, W.Va. -- With longtime Putnam Circuit Judge O.C. Spaulding retiring at the end of the year, county Prosecuting Attorney Mark Sorsaia said he'll probably run for the vacant judicial seat.
Sorsaia's fourth term as Putnam County prosecutor ends next year. Last spring, he ran in the Republican gubernatorial special primary and has recently used automated polling to gauge voters' interest in him running for state attorney general.
"I'm a 54-year-old man at a major crossroads," Sorsaia said. "I'm going into my 16th year as prosecutor, and that's a long time. I'm thinking the next stage in my professional career is to be a judge."
Spaulding, who will retire Dec. 31 after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, said it would be a natural transition for Sorsaia to become a judge.
Sorsaia took over Spaulding's law practice when Spaulding was appointed prosecutor in 1987 and eventually hired Sorsaia as an assistant prosecutor. Then, Sorsaia was elected prosecutor in 1996.
"I think Mark would make a good judge. He has kind of followed my career and I have a lot of respect for him," Spaulding said. "But then the question is, who will be prosecutor?"
On Wednesday, two assistant prosecutors filed pre-candidacy paperwork to run for Putnam County prosecutor.
Steve Connolly, an assistant Putnam prosecutor, and Dan Holstein, an assistant prosecutor in Kanawha County and a former assistant Putnam prosecutor, both filed their pre-candidacy papers, said Putnam County Clerk Brian Wood.
Candidates can officially file for office between Jan. 9 and 28.
Sorsaia said the decision to run for judge is a difficult one, because of Spaulding's retirement.
"I'm definitely ready with experience, and I have the legal maturity that you need [to be judge], but it's emotionally complicated and very sad under the circumstances, for obvious reasons, that I have to make this decision," he said.
Sorsaia said he plans to talk things over with his wife over the New Year's holiday. He'll make an announcement after Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announces whether an election will be held in 2012 to fill Spaulding's seat, or if whoever he appoints will complete the four years left on Spaulding's term.
"I had a personal conversation a few weeks ago with [Spaulding] and he was sitting there like 'it's your turn to do this,'" Sorsaia said. "It was special that he said that."
If he decides to run for judge, Sorsaia said he wouldn't be able to endorse any candidate to take his place as prosecutor.
"If I decide to run for judge ... I lose my ability to be political," he said. "If I decide to leave the [prosecutor's] office and run for judge, people are going to have to run and the public will have to sort it out without my involvement."
Reach Kate White at kate.wh...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1723.
