McCrum resigns from BOE to run for House of Delegates

KINGWOOD — Preston County Board of Education Member Robert “Mac” McCrum resigned his seat on the board Monday so that he can run for the State House of Delegates.
McCrum said he will run in the Republican primary against incumbent Del. Terri Sypolt in the 52nd District. Justin Hough, who ran for the seat two years ago, has filed precandidacy papers to run again for the seat as a Republican.
He started thinking about the past 13 1/4 years on the board as he celebrated his 76th birthday recently, McCrum said.
“We’ve gone through a resignation of a member and a superintendent. The West Virginia State Board of Education determined that we were so bad that they took over control of the system,” he recalled, going through the superintendents appointed by the state.
The county passed a construction bond and a levy, McCrum said. When the levy was not renewed, then Superintendent Rick Hicks cut expenses to the bone. Then came the return of local control and hiring of current Superintendent Steve Wotring.
“During the last eight to 10 years, the actions of the legislature had an increasing effect upon what we could do even when we were not under state control,” McCrum said. “I decided that if I wanted to have a greater hand in what happens to Preston County, I would need to run for delegate.”
He had to resign from the board prior to asking people to support his campaign financially, McCrum said. His resignation was effective immediately.
“I wish you all well. Your efforts have been supportive of the children of Preston County,” McCrum concluded to his fellow board members.
On behalf of the board and all school personnel, Board President Jack Keim said, “I thank you for your service. I thank you for your leadership, and I thank you, sir, for your friendship.”
Wotring said the board has
45 days to appoint someone to fill McCrum’s seat until June 30, 2020. In May 2020, candidates can run for McCrum’s unexpired term. The newly elected member will begin his or her term July 1, 2020.
That will put three board seats on the May 2020 ballot. The terms of Pam Feathers and Bob Ridenour are also up for election next year.
The appointee must come from District 2 or 3. The board agreed to accept letters of interest until Nov. 1 from people interested in serving until June 30, 2020. On Nov. 4, the board will meet in executive session to look over the applications and decide whether it wants to interview applicants.
The appointee must be nominated and voted on in an open meeting.
Feathers suggested reaching out to former board members to see if they are interested in the appointment.
“We have such a small amount of time. In my own personal experience … for the first six or seven months, I sat here going ‘what?” Feathers said.
Keim said if former board members are interested, their experience is something the board can consider when making a decision.