Incumbents fare well in District 16

HUNTINGTON -- The incumbents seemed poised to carry the day in the House of Delegates District 16 race, though who would be joining them in the race for the three seats in November was close.

Out of five hopefuls, Doug Reynolds and Dale Stephens led the way, with 25 percent of the vote, each, with all precincts reporting, according to unofficial results. Reynolds netted 5,523 votes while Stephens picked up 5,337.

Amy Herrenkohl clinched the third slot, edging out Bobby Nelson by just more than 200 votes, 3,976 to 3,773.

Republican incumbent Kelli Sobonya, seeking a fourth term, was unopposed Tuesday.

It will be a case of odd-man-out in the general election, as the three Democrats will move forward to face Sobonya in November. The district has three seats.

District 16 represents southern Cabell County and several Wayne County precincts in the Westmoreland, Spring Valley area.

Reynolds, an attorney, is seeking a second term as delegate, while Stephens is seeking his fourth two-year term.

Nelson is a former state delegate, senator and mayor of Huntington.

Herrenkohl is an attorney at the Barboursville-based Herrenkohl Law Office.

Tatum is a Barboursville councilman and Cabell County assistant manager.

In House District 17, Democrats Don Perdue and Richard Thompson, along with Republican Lisa Peana, will fight for the two available seats in November.

There were three Democratic candidates -- Carl Eastham, Jim Morgan and Kevin Craig -- and three Republican candidates -- Carol Miller, Jim Carden and Paula Stewart -- for District 15, but all made it through the primary, and will battle it out in the general election for the three available seats.

In the Senate, Republican Karen Facemyer was unopposed Tuesday and will remain uncontested in the general election for the 4th District.

In District 5, incumbent Robert Plymale, D-Wayne, was unopposed, as was Republican challenger Stephen L. Hall.