July 10, 2010
WV Governor Manchin Calls Special Legislative Session July 15
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Charleston, WV (HNN) – Following conflicting legal opinions of the interpretation of state law, WV Governor Joe Manchin called a special legislative session to clarify the process of filling the U.S. Senate seat of the late Robert C. Byrd.
Ambiguities in the statute concerning the “when” aspect of a special election to seat Byrd’s successor prompted the governor to call the legislature into session.
In his call for the special session, the governor stated:
“I agree with the recommendation that I received from my general counsel, which is why I will be calling members of the state Legislature into a special session this coming Thursday, July 15, at noon, to immediately address the succession process. After receiving opinions from both our state’s Secretary of State and Attorney General, it is apparent that we must have clarity in the law or we risk judicial intervention, which would cost much more than a special session and could delay West Virginians from having representation.
“The most precious thing that our citizens have is their vote - and the last thing that I want is for a citizen to go to the polls to cast a vote, only to realize that his or her vote did not count because a judge had declared the election process invalid.
“Senator Byrd was indeed a stickler for the constitution and the laws that guide our land and I feel as though he would want us to act responsibly to clear up any ambiguities that exist in order to move forward with this matter.”
Simultaneously to the special session, speculation has been increasing on whom the candidates will be. Former WV Secretary of State Betty Ireland (R) told WSAZ-TV that she would not be a candidate for Byrd’s seat. She had been mentioned among possibilities as the last GOP member to hold a statewide office.
Gov. Manchin stressed he would not appoint himself to fill the seat, but he has not ruled out running for the position. Rasmussen released a poll Friday in which Manchin scored 53% of votes and Rep. Shelly Moore Capito tallied 39%.
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WV Governor Manchin Calls Special Legislative Session July 15
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Charleston, WV (HNN) – Following conflicting legal opinions of the interpretation of state law, WV Governor Joe Manchin called a special legislative session to clarify the process of filling the U.S. Senate seat of the late Robert C. Byrd.
Ambiguities in the statute concerning the “when” aspect of a special election to seat Byrd’s successor prompted the governor to call the legislature into session.
In his call for the special session, the governor stated:
“I agree with the recommendation that I received from my general counsel, which is why I will be calling members of the state Legislature into a special session this coming Thursday, July 15, at noon, to immediately address the succession process. After receiving opinions from both our state’s Secretary of State and Attorney General, it is apparent that we must have clarity in the law or we risk judicial intervention, which would cost much more than a special session and could delay West Virginians from having representation.
“The most precious thing that our citizens have is their vote - and the last thing that I want is for a citizen to go to the polls to cast a vote, only to realize that his or her vote did not count because a judge had declared the election process invalid.
“Senator Byrd was indeed a stickler for the constitution and the laws that guide our land and I feel as though he would want us to act responsibly to clear up any ambiguities that exist in order to move forward with this matter.”
Simultaneously to the special session, speculation has been increasing on whom the candidates will be. Former WV Secretary of State Betty Ireland (R) told WSAZ-TV that she would not be a candidate for Byrd’s seat. She had been mentioned among possibilities as the last GOP member to hold a statewide office.
Gov. Manchin stressed he would not appoint himself to fill the seat, but he has not ruled out running for the position. Rasmussen released a poll Friday in which Manchin scored 53% of votes and Rep. Shelly Moore Capito tallied 39%.
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