Randy Yohe Published

Del. Storch Resigns To Take Legislative Liaison Position With Appalachian Power

Lady with glasses on sitting at desk, looking at papers
Del. Erikka Storch in a legislative committee meeting.
Will Price/WV Legislative Photography
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Del. Erikka Storch, R-Ohio, has sent a letter of resignation to House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, resigning from the House of Delegates effective Friday.  

“After a great deal of thought, prayer and discussion with my family, I have decided to pursue and accept a private sector employment opportunity that will not allow me to continue service in the legislature,” Storch said in the letter.

Storch leaves 13 years of lawmaking behind to become an external affairs manager for Appalachian Power, working in the Northern Panhandle region. She said her job duties will include local community outreach and could extend back to the Capitol in Charleston.

“I will be helping with the development of company strategies, serving as their local legislative contact and liaison advocating on corporate positions, building and maintaining economic development and community contacts,” Storch said.

She said her duties will include lobbying for Appalachian Power, but she also said she will follow the revised code that requires former legislators to not participate in lobbying activities for the year following their leaving office.   

“I can be present,” Storch said. “I guess I have lifetime floor privileges. But I will be diligent to make sure that there’s no impropriety on my part in the time between when I’m able to officially participate in lobbying activities.”

Storch was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2010. Her recent leadership roles included Chair of the House Pensions and Retirement Committee and Deputy Majority Whip. She said one key thing learned over her lawmaking tenure was issue presentation. 

“If it’s local government officials or statewide,” Storch said. “You have limited time to present your position, and it’s also very important to always present the truth.”

She said she will miss the positive, meaningful, working relationships she has developed with legislative colleagues and governmental staff from both sides of the aisle. However, Storch said she hasn’t enjoyed the current state of politics. 

“It’s the legislating where we’re playing political games that occur in Charleston,” she said. “I don’t mean to make it sound trivial, but at times, it does feel like a game.” 

Storch said she wanted to thank the voters that have sent her to Charleston through the last seven election cycles. 

“You can’t imagine how honored and humble I am every time that vote results come in and you see that so many people place their confidence in you,” she said.

Storch said even though her legislative resignation is effective Friday, she’s already started her new job.