By Associated Press
Published April 12th 2008
Updating campaign finance laws, improving voter turnout and changing the way polling places are run are some of the ideas from those wanting to become West Virginia's next Secretary of State.
Unlike the 2004 primary when a large group of candidates sought to take over for Joe Manchin after he ran for governor, only three Democrats and one Republican are running in the May 13th primaries.
They are seeking to replace Republican incumbent Betty Ireland, who decided not to seek a second four-year term.
Former television broadcaster Natalie Tennant is up against two Statehouse veterans -- House Majority Leader Joe DeLong and Senate Majority Whip Billy Wayne Bailey.
Republican Charles Minimah is unopposed in the primary. The Secretary of State's office oversees elections, registers businesses and maintains state records.
DeLong and Bailey believe voluntary spending limits within the state's campaign code are outdated. They'd like to see the limits increased, along with the $1,000 limit on individual contributions in state campaign law.
Building the voter database and fighting voter apathy is high on every candidate's to-do list.
Tennant sees hiring representives of civic groups such as Lions Clubs and Little Leagues as a way to overcome a shortage of poll workers and raise money for those groups.
Unlike the 2004 primary when a large group of candidates sought to take over for Joe Manchin after he ran for governor, only three Democrats and one Republican are running in the May 13th primaries.
They are seeking to replace Republican incumbent Betty Ireland, who decided not to seek a second four-year term.
Former television broadcaster Natalie Tennant is up against two Statehouse veterans -- House Majority Leader Joe DeLong and Senate Majority Whip Billy Wayne Bailey.
Republican Charles Minimah is unopposed in the primary. The Secretary of State's office oversees elections, registers businesses and maintains state records.
DeLong and Bailey believe voluntary spending limits within the state's campaign code are outdated. They'd like to see the limits increased, along with the $1,000 limit on individual contributions in state campaign law.
Building the voter database and fighting voter apathy is high on every candidate's to-do list.
Tennant sees hiring representives of civic groups such as Lions Clubs and Little Leagues as a way to overcome a shortage of poll workers and raise money for those groups.
Election Day '09 was a roller-coaster for election reformers. Instant runoff voting had a great night in Minnesota, where St. Paul voters chose to implement IRV for its city elections, and Minneapolis voters used IRV for the first time—with local media touting it as a big success. As the Star-Tribune noted in endorsing IRV for St. Paul, Tuesday’s elections give the Twin Cities a chance to show the whole state of Minnesota the benefits of adopting IRV. There were disappointments in Lowell and Pierce County too, but high-profile multi-candidate races in New Jersey and New York keep policymakers focused on ways to reform elections; the Baltimore Sun and Miami Herald were among many newspapers publishing commentary from FairVote board member and former presidential candidate John Anderson on how IRV can mitigate the problems of plurality elections.