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Late summer is a great time for picnics. In Mercer County its also a good time to kick off the political season as well. Today the Mercer County Democrat Club hosted its annual picnic at Glenwood Park near Princeton. As always the picnic proved to be a great time to visit with old friends, talk politics, and enjoy a lot of really good southern West Virginia Food. What made it really interesting was the presence of virtually all of our local elected Democratic party officials, and a few state wide candidates who took the opportunity to introduce themselves to a great group of Mercer County Democrats.
Hard to believe that the action is already under way with nearly eight and a half months to go until the West Virginia Democratic primary on Tuesday May 13, 2008. We got to meet and hear from two candidates for Secretary of State plus a candidate for the West Virginia Supreme Court. We also got a chance to visit with both the Majority Leader of our State Senate, Truman Chafin (D- Logan) and the Majority Leader of the House of Delegates Joe DeLong (D-Hancock) as well as two Local Delegates Dr Marshall Long (D-Mercer), and Mike Burdiss (D-Wyoming). Other elected officials in attendance included our local Sheriff, our County Commissioners, two Circuit Court Judges, our County Prosecutor, Tax Assessor, Magistrates, and Family Court Judges, and others. Not a bad turnout for a non-election year gathering. More below the fold...
Democrats have a great chance to pick up the only state office held by a Republican since Secretary of State Betty Ireland has announced that she will not seek reelection in 2008. The primary ought to be really interesting all three of the announced Democratic candidates are familiar names to Democrats in our state. Joe DeLong (D-Hancock), the Majority Leader of the House of Delegates is in the running as is Natalie Tennant, a former television broadcast personality, and a primary candidate for the same office in the last election who lost in a very close race at the time both of whom were in attendance at the picnic. A third candidate for the office Senator Billy Wayne Bailey (D-Wyoming),Senate Majority Whip, who recently moved to Beckley was unable to attend was represented by his mother. All in all the presence of two out of the three candidates as well as the mother of the third promise an aggressive primary season.
Joe DeLong
Both candidates gave good speeches that were listened to attentively by all present. One issue mentioned by Joe DeLong that appears to be a major part of his candidacy is his desire to bring West Virginia to a higher ranking nationally in the use of the internet for filing of many forms that now can only be filled out by hand. All in all the campaign for Secretary of State on the Democratic side has got 3 great candidates who have all been running hard since the start of summer. More about these races and the candidates can be learned by clicking here, here, and here. Stay tuned for an exciting Democratic Party Primary season!
Natalie Tennant
Old fashioned face to face politics are alive and well in Mercer County.
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Club hosted its annual picnic at Glenwood Park near Princeton. As always the picnic proved to be a great time to visit with old friends, talk politics, and enjoy a lot of really good southern West Virginia Food. What made it really interesting was the presence of virtually all of our local elected Democratic party officials, and a few state wide candidates who took the opportunity to introduce themselves to a great group of Mercer County Democrats. 
13, 2008. We got to meet and hear from two candidates for Secretary of State plus a candidate for the West Virginia Supreme Court. We also got a chance to visit with both the Majority Leader of our State Senate, Truman Chafin (D- Logan) and the Majority Leader of the House of Delegates Joe DeLong (D-Hancock) as well as two Local Delegates Dr Marshall Long (D-Mercer), and Mike Burdiss (D-Wyoming). Other elected officials in attendance included our local Sheriff, our County Commissioners, two Circuit Court Judges, our County Prosecutor, Tax Assessor, Magistrates, and Family Court Judges, and others. Not a bad turnout for a non-election year gathering. More below the fold...
Republican since Secretary of State Betty Ireland has announced that she will not seek reelection in 2008. The primary ought to be really interesting all three of the announced Democratic candidates are familiar names to Democrats in our state. Joe DeLong (D-Hancock), the Majority Leader of the House of Delegates is in the running as is Natalie Tennant, a former television broadcast personality, and a primary candidate for the same office in the last election who lost in a very close race at the time both of whom were in attendance at the picnic. A third candidate for the office Senator Billy Wayne Bailey (D-Wyoming),Senate Majority Whip, who recently moved to Beckley was unable to attend was represented by his mother. All in all the presence of two out of the three candidates as well as the mother of the third promise an aggressive primary season. 
Both candidates gave good speeches that were listened to attentively by all present. One issue mentioned by Joe DeLong that appears to be a major part of his candidacy is his desire to bring West Virginia to a higher ranking nationally in the use of the internet for filing of many forms that now can only be filled out by hand. All in all the campaign for Secretary of State on the Democratic side has got 3 great candidates who have all been running hard since the start of summer. More about these races and the candidates can be learned by clicking 
