KINGWOOD — Two of Preston County’s elected representatives, the Sypolts, won’t seek re-election and have decided to retire from the state legislature.
There were a number of factors leading to her decision, said Del. Terri Funk Sypolt, R-Preston, 52.
“First, I would say maybe my age, I’m getting to the age where I’m ready to retire. I’ve already retired from one job — that was being the assessor in Preston County,” she said. “With my age comes grandchildren and great-grandchildren. And I’m wanting to spend more time, you know, with them.”
Sypolt spent 38 years in the assessor’s office and was the assessor for the last 16. After her time in county government, she went right into state government and has been a delegate for six years.
While she won’t be a member of the House, Sypolt said she won’t sit back doing nothing, and she still plans to express her opinions.
She also believes it might be time for somebody younger with some different ideas to take over.
“I was definitely looking for somebody to run that held the same conservative values on a lot of the issues that I felt were important to me that I’ve been here fighting for,” Terri Sypolt said.
That person is George Street, whom Terri Sypolt said she supports.
Sen. Dave Sypolt R-Preston, 14, said he’s been thinking about retirement, as well, and after 16 sessions — eight in the minority and eight in the majority — he’s decided it’s time to move on.
“I’ve seen a lot of different changes over the years. And I feel like I’ve accomplished some really important things. And I’ve also helped block some things that I thought were detrimental and I think it’s just time to move on and let someone else step into the spotlight,” he said. “I firmly believe that nobody should make a career out of being a public servant.”
The senator said he wanted to spend more time with his wife without the hustle and bustle of Charleston.
Sypolt said he sold his land-surveying business in January 2020, right before the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything — including any travel plans he and his wife had.
“So I had an opportunity to sit at home with my wife and drink some coffee in the morning instead of running off to the surveying job, and we found out that we liked each other pretty well and you know, there’s a certain amount of satisfaction out of not having to roll out of bed at five o’clock in the morning to be at work at six and come home all sweaty and tired and just want to lay down,” Sypolt said.
The Sypolts said one of their travel goals is to visit all of West Virginia’s State Parks.
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