Natalie Tennant
Political party: Democrat
Age: 52
Residence: Charleston
Family: Husband, Erik Wells, daughter, Delaney Wells.
Education: B.S., journalism, WVU; M.A., corporate and organizational communication, WVU.
Professional experience: Reporter and anchor at television stations in West Virginia, multimedia public relations expert, national voting rights expert.
Political and civic experience: Eight years as secretary of state, National Voting Rights Experts who worked with elected officials across the country.
Why did you decide to seek office?
There is so much that has been left undone over the last four years, so I am running to finish that work and bring advances to businesses and elections. I’m seeking office to implement automatic voter registration, remove fees on businesses and fully implement an electronic web-based portal that helps businesses.
What is the most important issue you believe your office will face in the next year, and how will you address it?
There are several issues that will be present right away. The first is to establish a budget that corrects the wasteful spending that is taking place right now.
Working with the legislature, we must address the changes and improvements that need to be made with the voting process because of the COVID crisis that brought about so many emergency rules that were not intended by the legislature.
I will also shepherd the SOS office through the recovery of COVID as I did after the Great Recession of 2009.
Mac Warner
Political party: Republican
Age: 65
Residence: Charleston, also maintain a home in Morgantown
Family: My wife, Debbie Law Warner, and I have been married 38 years. We have four grown children and two sons-in-law — all six of whom have served or are serving in the United States Military.
Education: I am a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; WVU School of Law (J.D.); The Army Judge Advocate General’s School (LL.M); and the University of Virginia Law School, master’s degree in international law.
Professional experience: I served 23 years as an artillery officer and JAG with the United States Army. I served on four continents and deployed to military zones throughout the world. I retired at the rank of lieutenant colonel. Then, I spent five years in Afghanistan with the U.S. State Department.
Political and civic experience: Political — I was elected West Virginia’s 30th Secretary of State in 2016. Civic — I have coached youth basketball and football, been a Boy Scout Leader and belong to many civic organizations. I organized and conducted many Civil Society meetings for international organizations in Afghanistan.
Why did you decide to seek office?
To ensure clean elections in West Virginia, starting with voter list maintenance as required by law. I also wanted to make it easy to start and grow businesses in West Virginia by creating a Business One Stop. I have achieved both objectives in my first term and want to continue improving both areas.
What is the most important issue you believe your office will face in the next year, and how will you address it?
Election integrity will remain the most important issue, while maintaining voter confidence will be essential. West Virginia had the nation’s most successful 2020 primary during the pandemic, and we are making improvements on the nearly flawless primary as we move into the general election. By continual communication with county clerks, other state secretaries and DHS, I will address all concerns and challenges as they arise.
