Why Are These Two Former Republican Lawmakers Smiling?
By Stephen N. Reed
What a year for politics in West Virginia! First came word that former Supreme Court Justice Elliot "Spike" Maynard (R-Mingo) was changing parties to run against incumbent Congressman Nick Joe Rahall (D-Raleigh) in the Third District.
But the First Congressional District is not to be left behind, either, with several Republican challengers and one Democratic challenger vying to take on Congressman Alan Mollohan (D-Marion). We'll cover the Democratic primary, pitting State Senator Mike Oliverio (D-Monongalia) against Mollohan, in an upcoming column.
The race in the GOP Primary comes down to two high-caliber legislative veterans, former Delegate David McKinley (R-Ohio) and former State Senator Sarah Minear (R-Monongalia).
Both candidates have impeccable Republican credentials, known for their pro-business legislative records. Plus, both served their party at the state level, McKinley as the State Republican Party Chairman and Minear as a longtime member of the State Republican Executive Committee.
Interestingly, both have run for Governor, too. McKinley was defeated in a spirited three-way contest in the 1996 Republican primary by Cecil Underwood, and Minear bowed out early for the chance to run as the GOP's 2004 GOP nominee.
Clearly, both of these former legislators have had the ambition to serve beyond West Virginia legislature. Previous to their respective runs for Governor, both had long, undefeated records at the ballot box: a significant accomplishment in a 2-1 Democratic state.
The mere fact that these two seasoned veterans are running this year should give Democratic Congressman Alan Mollohan serious pause. Minear and McKinley are not the kind of political players to run on a whim. During their time in public service, both were known as thoughtful legislators who amassed their facts carefully before going into a fight.
In short, these two Republicans must have concluded that Mollohan is vulnerable this year in a state that voted against President Obama twice in 2008. One wonders how many times Mollohan has voted with his President so far....
Then the unexpected bonus occurred for McKinley and Minear, in the form of another lawmaker, State Senator Mike Oliverio (D-Monongalia), who has decided to give up his legislative seat and run--one presumes hard--against his own party's incumbent Congressman Mollohan.
Wow! If Mollohan survives a bruising race with Oliverio, he'll face either Minear or McKinley, both of whom know how to take advantage of a good opportunity. Either of these political veterans will be buoyed as they go up against Mollohan with a pro-jobs agenda across the First Congressional District in the upcoming summer and fall. Why?
Because there's little doubt that the Republicans will come behind their eventual nominee much more easily than the Democrats are able to do. While McKinley and Minear debate the issues in a civil fashion, Oliverio and Mollohan are likely to grind on one another this spring.
Grind they will. After all, Oliverio is giving this his full attention and commitment, as evidenced by his decision to give up his legislative seat. And Mollohan must resent being challenged in his own Democratic Party primary. As Dick Cheney would say, "Bigtime."
So this is what a two-party system looks like, with contested primaries and a real attempt to court voters. First Congressional District voters may not know what to do with all the attention they are about to receive from these candidates, but at least they aren't being taken for granted anymore.
Game on!
Stephen N. Reed is a former Metronews Radio Network statehouse correspondent and talk radio host. He now lives in the Eastern Panhandle.