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In a very surprising announcement, four-term State Senator Ed Bowman (D-Hancock Co.) stated that he would not seek re-electioin in 2010. Senator Bowman is the longest serving State Senator in the 1st District's history.
In an interview with the Wheeling Un-Intelligencer, Bowman said:
I want to thank all the people from my community who gave me the privilege and honor to serve them... never lost sight of the fact that I'm here at their will.
My decision is for one reason and one reason only: I didn't like being away from my family.
The reason Bowman's retirement is such a surprise is that everyone knew he would be easily re-elected in 2010. Senator Bowman is quite popular in the Northern Panhandle and his only real criticism has been his connections with Mountaineer Casino. It was such a surprise, in fact, that no one had yet filed to challenge him in 2010. (Personal hunch: Bowman intentionally waited until after all 6 House of Delegates incumbents in the 1st district officially filed before announcing.) That means this open seat will be very open. He provided no hints as to whom might be into running for the seat. For the sense of pure speculation (and without any evidence or authority to do so), I would keep my eyes on former Ohio County Sheriff Tom Burgoyne and former WV Senate candidate/Wheeling attorney Shane Mallett. I have no idea of who from Hancock County might be considering a run.
UPDATE: After the posting of this diary entry, two-term Democratic Delegate Orphy Klempa (Ohio Co.) announced he would instead seek Senator Bowman's office. I was quite "O-K with Klempa in the House", and I will be even more "O-K" with Klempa in the Senate. Orphy is a very good guy with record that is, in most cases, more progressive than Senator Bowman.
A little background on Orphy Klempa --- he works with the local carpenters and other trade unions, he is co-chair of Project BEST and on the board of the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley. He was elected to the House in the 2006 "Democratic sweep" of Ohio County when both Republican incumbents were handily defeated. Check out some of Orphy's past and present sponsorship of House bills, and you will see why else I'm a fan.
As you've no doubt seen across the blogosphere, the Q1 fund-raising numbers are out. It's a chance to measure tangible political strength (and get hints at future intentions). Here in West Virginia, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) is not fund-raising like someone eager to become a Senator.
Capito's anemic numbers:
Q1 FEC Reports for "Shelley Moore Capito for Congress"
Capito raised half of what she did 2 years ago. Back in 2005 she was giving serious consideration to running against Byrd. The 2006 numbers show what an election year Q1 looks like.
Q1 2006 -
Raised: $233,991.00
On Hand: $713,278.64
Here's two more points of comparison. How did Rahall and Mollohan, both presumably planning on running for re-election in the House, do this quarter? Check it out below the break:
Yes, there are a lot of months between now and 2008 Election Day. Yes, the Presidential primary season has already begun in earnest. And, yes, there are still a lot of months left before W.Va. Congressional and state election season begins.
Yet, it's not too early to start thinking about that next campaign. The Democratic majority in Congress is slim. The progressive infrastructure continues to grow (witness this blog, for example). One shining example is ActBlue.
We've setup an West Virginia Blue ActBlue fund-raising page. In perhaps the most exciting development of all, we can already make donations to Republican Representative Shelley Moore Capito's eventual opponent!
We'll add further updates as the races develop.
Meanwhile, here's another way to register your opinion about who's naughty and nice!
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