Tag: West Virginia House of Delegates

2 W.Va. Delegates Announce Plans to Resign

Two state lawmakers say they are planning to resign within about a week.

Democrat Linda Goode Phllips says she will resign on Dec. 31 and won’t seek another term in the House of Delegates. Republican Amanda Pasdon says she’s resigning Jan. 1 from the House.

The Register-Herald reports that Phillips announced her resignation on Tuesday.

In a news release Wednesday, Pasdon said she is leaving for personal and family reasons. The Monongalia County lawmaker is a business development director and was first elected to the House in 2010.

Phillips is a retired elementary school counselor and business owner. The Wyoming County lawmaker was first elected to the House in 2008.

Local committees will recommend successors to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, who will appoint replacements.

House Approves Bill on Teacher Certification

West Virginia House lawmakers have approved a bill opening up teacher certification to more people without education degrees.

The push is aimed at allowing programs like Teach For America to start up in the state.

On Tuesday, the Republican-led House of Delegates voted 60-35 in favor of the reform.

Bill proponents said the option would be essential to fill hundreds of teaching vacancies across the state.

Opponents said formal education training prepares teachers for situations they otherwise may not be able to handle.

Some delegates who voted “no” said it’d be more productive to focus on getting raises for teachers, so their pay is more competitive.

The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Former W.Va. Lawmaker Tapped to Become House Clerk

  A former West Virginia lawmaker is being tapped to become the 22nd clerk of the House of Delegates.

In January, Steve Harrison is set to replace Greg Gray. Gray has been House clerk since 1996 and is the third-longest serving House clerk in state history.

Harrison served in the House from 1993-2002 and served one term in the Senate from 2003-06.

The Charleston Gazette reports that Harrison is leaving his position as an executive at Poca Valley Bank at the end of the year, ending an 18-year career there.

When elected Jan. 14, Harrison will become the first Republican House clerk since 1929.

W.Va. House, Senate Republicans Name Leaders

  Republican lawmakers have chosen a new West Virginia Senate president and House of Delegates speaker.

The West Virginia Republican Party says Mercer County Sen. Bill Cole was named as Senate president and lieutenant governor during a caucus of GOP senators on Sunday. House Republicans named Kanawha County Delegate Tim Armstead as House speaker during their caucus.

In January, Republicans will hold majorities in both the House and the Senate for the first time in eight decades following the November general election.

Armstead previously served as House minority leader.

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