HUNTINGTON -- The 18 Democratic candidates for magistrate have different backgrounds and different ideas for who should hold the office.
The Democratic incumbents are Alvie Qualls, Betty J. Wolford, Darrell Black, John Ray Rice, Johnny McCallister and Mike Woelfel. They are being challenged by Amy Walker Daugherty, Brandee McCoy, Dan Goheen, Danne J. Vance, Don Maynard, Gregory C. Miller, Homer Heck, Laura Beckett-White, Lisa Cay Pulley, Opal Sanders, Ralph J. Hensley and Timothy (Tim) Fox.
The seven Democrats who win in the primary will face Republican challengers Carlen (Len) Merritt, Rondall "Ron" Baumgardner and Teresa L. Beter in the November general election.
Recent investigations and evaluations led to the discipline of two magistrates.
The state Supreme Court of Appeals temporarily suspended Qualls. That moved followed a Judicial Hearing Board's determination that Qualls sexually harassed co-workers and is incompetent to hold office. The Hearing Board recommended that Qualls be forced to retire.
A county-level evaluation and medical reasons led to the resignation of former Magistrate Patty Verbage-Spence. The Circuit Court questioned her competency. It asked her to step down, and informed her removal proceedings would commence if she refused.
Some also have questioned requirements for magistrate judges. Circuit judges are required to have a law degree, be a member of the state bar and have five years experience, but the same rules do not apply for magistrates.
McCoy is the only candidate who has a law degree. Most candidates do not believe a law degree should be required, but several of them believe the state should strengthen the qualifications. Currently, magistrates only need a high school diploma or a GED.
Here are the candidates' backgrounds and their views on what qualifications a magistrate should have.
Beckett-White: The candidate is a life-long resident of Cabell County and graduate of Cabell-Midland High School. She also graduated from Marshall University with a degree in criminal justice. She has worked with court officials in several counties.
Beckett-White said she believes being a magistrate should require more than a high school diploma or GED.
Black: The incumbent was born and raised in Huntington. He graduated from Huntington East High School and attended Marshall University. He was a Huntington police officer for 28 years, including 18 years as a detective. He has owned two small businesses and is serving his eighth year as magistrate.
Black said police officers and others working with different bodies of law gain enough experience to be magistrate. The state Supreme Court also offers annual training.
Daugherty: She was born and raised in Huntington, and then educated at Huntington High, Marshall University and St. Mary's nursing school.
Daugherty believes common sense is the most valuable asset, and she said a magistrate learns enough about the law as he or she hears each case.
Fox: The candidate graduated high school in Barboursville and attended Marshall University. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force.
Fox said the state provides each judge with enough training during his or her term.
Goheen: The candidate is a lifelong resident of Cabell County who attended St. Joseph Central High School and Marshall University. He is a former member of the Huntington Police Civil Service Commission, serving as its president for 13 years.
Goheen believes qualified people can make informed decisions based on law and facts. He believes magistrates should seek advice from circuit judges when needed.
Heck: The candidate attended Huntington High School and a career college in the city. He also is a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War, and he served two terms as state senator.
Heck does not have a law degree, but he said he has math training. He said successful lawyers make too much money in the private sector to run for magistrate.
Hensley: The candidate has worked 19 years in the Court and Process Division of the Sheriff's Office. He grew up in Wayne County and graduated from Buffalo High School.
Hensley said he believes magistrates receive sufficient training from the state.
Maynard: The candidate recently retired from the Huntington Police Department after 26 years. He attended Huntington High School and graduated from Barboursville High School. He also attended Marshall University, and graduated from the State Police Academy. He was appointed to the Tri-State Transit Authority Executive Board. He has coordinated a promotions company that brings concerts to the area.
Maynard said he strongly believes requirements for the position should be set at a higher level.
"Education and experience in the judicial system should be a must," he said.
McCallister: The candidate has served 11 years as magistrate. He is currently filling the unexpired term of retired Magistrate Brenda Chapman. He was a military police officer with the U.S. Army. He also graduated from the State Police Academy, the FBI National Academy and Marshall University. He also has served as an investigator with the Sheriff's Office and the Prosecutor's Office.
McCallister said he believes people should not be allowed to serve as magistrate with out a "college education that allows comprehension of the law."
McCoy: The candidate graduated from Huntington East. She has worked in the magistrate system and coached at the AD Lewis Boys Club.
McCoy graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and its School of Law. She believes magistrates should be forced to have a law degree and/or five years experience.
"It is bad public policy to ignore the years of service some have brought to the bench," she said. "Their service should be honored, but at the same time the credentials need to be raised given the current crisis in the system."
Miller: The candidate attended local schools and Texas Bible College. His achievements include degrees and diplomas in theology, aerospace, corporate learning, leadership school and emergency management. He was a member of the Civil Air Patrol. He also has served as a retail owner, minister and landlord.
Miller said he believes he has a working knowledge of the law.
Pulley: The candidate has lived in Cabell County all of her life, and she manages a franchise out of the Regis Corporation. She graduated from Milton High School and a cosmetology/esthetician school. She later received a degree as a medical assistant.
Pulley said she believes the state provides magistrates with enough training to do the job. Those classes are taught during their term in office.
Qualls: The incumbent has been magistrate for more than 26 years, but he is currently suspended with pay amid sexual harassment and incompetency allegations. Qualls disputes those allegations. He said he is physically and mentally able to serve. His case is still pending before the state Supreme Court of Appeals.
Qualls said he believes experience negates the need for any law degree.
Rice: The incumbent attended Cabell County Schools, Marshall College and the Huntington School of Business. He has served as a judge in the county's judicial system since 1964.
Rice said he believes the magistrate system was established with the intent to have judges who are in touch with an average citizen's everyday problems.
Sanders: The candidate has been a life-long resident of Cabell County. She graduated from Milton High School. Her job experience includes work as an emergency dispatcher, experience in the Sheriff's Tax Office and as a teaching assistant. She was also a co-host of the "Gospel Singing Jubilee" television broadcast.
Sanders said she has taken some law courses, but she believes magistrates receive enough training during their term to serve effectively.
Vance: The candidate was born and raised in Cabell County. He has more than 25 years of law enforcement experience, including stints on the Barboursville Police Department, the Cabell County Sheriff's home confinement force, airport police and private security. He graduated from the State Police Academy, Huntington East High School, the Cabell County Vo-Tech Center and attended Marshall University. He was a D.A.R.E. officer at local schools.
Vance said any magistrate should have experience and a working knowledge of the criminal code. He believes qualifications should include legal training, at least five years law enforcement experience or knowledge of the court process.
Woelfel: The incumbent graduated from St. Joseph Central Catholic High School and received a criminal justice degree from Marshall University. He has served five years as magistrate. He has received three statewide committee appointments by the state Supreme Court of Appeals.
Woelfel said he believes a magistrate should be required to have a college degree to "build the proper foundation for the research and learning skills necessary for any magistrate."
Wolford: The incumbent has completed training classes sponsored by the state Supreme Court during her 22 years as magistrate. She is a former president of the Highlawn Neighborhood Association, a Kentucky Colonel, member of the Communications Board of city of Huntington, Advisory Board of what formerly was SUCO and is now the Flynt Corp.
Wolford believes the state's magisterial training program is sufficient, thus eliminating the need for a law degree.
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