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OPINIONS
Editorial: Cartmill brings balance to commission; 4 candidates worthy of magistrate job
The names of Nancy Cartmill and Susan Hubbard are familiar to people who have had even a passing interest in the Cabell County political scene the past few years.
Cartmill is the former Barbours-ville mayor who was elected to the Cabell County Commission six years ago. Now she is running for re-election. Hubbard is the former member of the House of Delegates from the 16th District. She lost her seat six years ago when Republicans made a clean sweep of the three-member district.
Now both are running for Cartmill's seat on the commission. Cartmill has done a good job as commissioner, and she is the lone Republican on the three-member commission. Often, she has found herself on the outside looking in. Commissions tend to be 2-on-1 affairs, with two members forming an alliance and freezing the other person out. For most of the past four years, Cartmill has been that odd person out as fellow commissioners Bob Bailey and Scott Bias work together.
In part because of that and in part because of her performance in office, The Herald-Dispatch endorses Cartmill for re-election.
Cartmill brings a balance to the commission. She is from Barboursville, a growing area with needs that are unique to the county. Bailey is from Huntington's West End. Bias is from the Lesage area, which has its own issues with growth and development.
In her nearly six years on the commission, Cartmill has shown she has the aptitude and skills to perform the duties of her office. She merits re-election.
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Cabell County voters will elect seven people as magistrates. The magistrate's job is to serve as the point of entry into the judicial system. The West Virginia magistrate system has many problems. Too often, people are elected on name recognition or political strength rather than knowledge of the system or ability to fulfill the duties of office.
Four candidates on the Nov. 4 ballot are particularly worthy of the magistrate's job. They are Darrell Black, Don Maynard, Johnny McCallister and Mike Woelfel.
There is one other thing to consider among the choices on the ballot.
This past year, Cabell County's circuit judges started the process of removing Magistrate Alvie Qualls from office. Qualls died before the removal proceedings had worked through the state Supreme Court. The judges also began removal proceedings against Magistrate Patty Verbage Spence.
Spence resigned in March and publicly dropped out of the primary election race amid concerns about her health and competence. She dropped out after the deadline for removing her name from the ballot. She finished seventh in the primary, placing her on the general election ballot. She remains there today.
Voters should remember this and avoid the temptation to return Spence to the courthouse.
Sunday: Huntington Mayor, Kim Wolfe
Monday: Huntington City Council, Steve Williams, Alex Vence, Nate Randolph, Russ Houck and Mark Bates
Tuesday: Cabell County sheriff, Jim Scheidler
Today: Cabell County commissioner and magistrates
Thursday: West Virginia Legislature
Friday: West Virginia Supreme Court
Saturday: Other West Virginia state and federal offices
Sunday: President
