WINFIELD, W.Va. -- Many observers expected Putnam County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Sorsaia to run for the county's vacant circuit judge seat. But on Monday, he filed paperwork to seek another term as prosecutor.
"I really thought about running for judge," said Sorsaia, 54, of Hurricane. "My brain was telling me maybe I should, but my heart was telling me I really shouldn't."
Sorsaia's fourth term as Putnam County prosecutor ends this year. Last spring, he ran in the Republican gubernatorial special primary and had used automated polling to gauge voters' interest in a race for state attorney general.
"When it came right down to it, I decided I'd be happier staying prosecuting attorney," he said Monday.
After longtime Putnam Circuit Judge O.C. Spaulding retired at the end of last year after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, Sorsaia considered running for judge.
On Dec. 28, Steve Connolly, an assistant Putnam County prosecutor, and Dan Holstein, an assistant prosecutor in Kanawha County and a former assistant Putnam prosecutor, both filed their pre-candidacy papers announcing their plans to run for prosecutor.
However, both Connolly and Holstein said Monday they would not run, and their candidacies were contingent upon Sorsaia running for judge.
"We both kind of went into it anticipating Mark was running for judge," Connolly said.
Holstein agreed. "Mark is a personal friend and has also been a great prosecutor for years," he said. "There's no reason to run against someone who's doing a good job."
Retired Putnam Circuit Judge James Holliday had already been assigned to handle other cases on Spaulding's docket so that Spaulding could focus on the huge class action Monsanto Co. pollution trial. Holliday is still handling Spaulding's docket.
It's up to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin to either announce an election will be held this year, or appoint someone who will complete the four years left on Spaulding's term.
Putnam Clerk Brian Wood said Monday Tomblin has not yet proclaimed the circuit judge seat vacant.
* Republicans Steve Deweese of Scott Depot and Rick Parsons of Hurricane for sheriff. Deweese served as a Putnam deputy sheriff until earlier this year, and Parsons is a longtime Charleston police officer.
WINFIELD, W.Va. -- Many observers expected Putnam County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Sorsaia to run for the county's vacant circuit judge seat. But on Monday, he filed paperwork to seek another term as prosecutor.
"I really thought about running for judge," said Sorsaia, 54, of Hurricane. "My brain was telling me maybe I should, but my heart was telling me I really shouldn't."
Sorsaia's fourth term as Putnam County prosecutor ends this year. Last spring, he ran in the Republican gubernatorial special primary and had used automated polling to gauge voters' interest in a race for state attorney general.
"When it came right down to it, I decided I'd be happier staying prosecuting attorney," he said Monday.
After longtime Putnam Circuit Judge O.C. Spaulding retired at the end of last year after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, Sorsaia considered running for judge.
On Dec. 28, Steve Connolly, an assistant Putnam County prosecutor, and Dan Holstein, an assistant prosecutor in Kanawha County and a former assistant Putnam prosecutor, both filed their pre-candidacy papers announcing their plans to run for prosecutor.
However, both Connolly and Holstein said Monday they would not run, and their candidacies were contingent upon Sorsaia running for judge.
"We both kind of went into it anticipating Mark was running for judge," Connolly said.
Holstein agreed. "Mark is a personal friend and has also been a great prosecutor for years," he said. "There's no reason to run against someone who's doing a good job."
Retired Putnam Circuit Judge James Holliday had already been assigned to handle other cases on Spaulding's docket so that Spaulding could focus on the huge class action Monsanto Co. pollution trial. Holliday is still handling Spaulding's docket.
It's up to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin to either announce an election will be held this year, or appoint someone who will complete the four years left on Spaulding's term.
Putnam Clerk Brian Wood said Monday Tomblin has not yet proclaimed the circuit judge seat vacant.
* Republicans Steve Deweese of Scott Depot and Rick Parsons of Hurricane for sheriff. Deweese served as a Putnam deputy sheriff until earlier this year, and Parsons is a longtime Charleston police officer.
* The county's three incumbent magistrates: Kylene Dunlap Brown of Hurricane, Kim Blair, of Poca and Linda Hunt of Winfield. All are Republicans.
* Lee Casto of Bancroft, a Democrat, for county commissioner. Incumbent Commissioner Gary Tillis has said he will not run for re-election.
* Incumbent school board members Jack Coyner and Sam Sentelle, both of Hurricane.
Kanawha County and statewide
As he said he would last month, Chesapeake Mayor Damron Bradshaw filed Monday to run for Kanawha County assessor. Longtime Assessor Phyllis Gatson, who has held the post since 1995, announced last month that she would not run again.
Kent Carper, president of the Kanawha County Commission, filed for re-election, as did Kanawha school board members Jim Crawford and Robin Rector and Magistrate Kim Aaron.
Two challengers for magistrate filed as well: Stephen Harper and Brent Hall, both of Charleston.
On the state level, Secretary of State Natalie Tennant, Auditor Glen Gainer, Attorney General Darrell McGraw and Treasurer John Perdue filed for re-election.
Assistant Agriculture Commissioner Steve Miller and Deputy Commissioner Bob Tabb filed to run for the position held by their boss, Gus Douglass, who is not running again. Tish Neese filed for state Supreme Court. All are Democrats.
Republican Mitt Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, was the first person to file for the presidential race.
Monday also saw more than 30 legislative filings. All 100 seats in the House of Delegates are up this year along with 17 of 34 Senate seats.
Staff writer Amy Julia Harris and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Reach Kate White at kate.wh...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1723.
