KINGWOOD — Filing is open for those seeking an elected position in the May 2022 primary election.
The election will see two current Preston County Board of Education members competing for the same seat as a result of the recently changed magisterial districts.
The terms of BOE members Jack Keim, Jeanne Dreisbach and Jeff Zigray expire in June. Keim, who currently serves as the board’s president, is from District 1, while Zigray and Dreisbach are from District 2.
Prior to changing the magisterial districts — needed as a result of state redistricting — Dreisbach was in District 1, County Clerk Linda Huggins said. Each of the county’s three districts can only have two representatives on the board and Bruce Huggins occupies a seat until June 2024.
Huggins said Dreisbach lives in an area that was altered and it’s not something that is looked at or considered when redrawing the districts.
All three members have already filed to run. Destinney Ringer has also filed to run in District 3.
The filing fee for BOE is $25. The filing deadline for BOE, and all other county positions, is Jan. 29, a Saturday. Huggins said her office will be open until noon that day to accept filings.
Lisa Leishman, currently serving as interim circuit clerk, has filed to run for the position. The filing fee for circuit clerk is $620.93.
Huggins said the filing fee for elected offices and magistrate is 1% of the position’s salary.
Huggins is the only person to file for county clerk so far. However, she expects an opponent. The filing fee for county clerk is $620.93.
“County clerks, even though we’re on the ballot, we and our staff should all kind of remain impartial because we fund the elections. And I look at it like I don’t want people to think. So, I’ve joined this election. I’m going to kind of keep my hands off as much as I can,” Huggins said. “… So they don’t think I can go in there and sway things.”
Hunter Thomas from Bruceton Mills, which is in District 1, has filed for county commission. The filing fee for county commissioner is $413.95.
The unexpired term of magistrate Rhonda Sypolt, who died last year, will also be on the May ballot. Preston County Circuit Court Judge Steve Shaffer appointed Eugene Jenkins until the primary election, Huggins said.
The winner of the election will have to run again in 2024, when Sypolt’s term would have expired. The filing fee for magistrate is $603.75.
Aaron Knotts has filed for magistrate.
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