Attorney to run for open seat in W.Va. House

Editor's note: This is another in a series of Eastern Panhandle candidate previews that The Herald-Mail will be running over the next several months. The announcements also will be posted on our website, www. herald-mail.com, through the West Virginia primary on May 8. To submit announcements, email them and a color photo (preferably a jpeg) to billk@herald-mail.com or matthew.umstead@herald-mail.com. Any questions, call 301-791-7281.



Stephen Skinner, a Jefferson County attorney, has announced his plans to run for the West Virginia House of Delegates seat that has been occupied by John Doyle for the last 19 years.

Doyle, D-57th, announced recently that he's not seeking re-election in 2012.

Skinner, 43, a Democrat, said he would not have considered running if Doyle wasn't stepping down from the position, which thanks to redistricting, is now the 67th Delegate District.

The new district, all in Jefferson County, basically covers Shepherdstown, Harpers Ferry, Bolivar, Shenandoah Junction and part of the Blue Ridge Mountain area north of W.Va. 9, Skinner said.

Elliott Simon, a Republican from Harpers Ferry, lost the November 2010 general election against Doyle. He has already made known his attentions to run again.

Filing dates for all local and state offices runs through Jan. 28, according to the Jefferson County Clerk's office.

Skinner, a Jefferson County native, graduated from West Virginia University Law School in 1994. He worked as an attorney in New York City representing aviation disaster and other victims. He returned to Jefferson County in 2004 to rejoin the Skinner family law firm run by his father and brother.

Since his announcement, Skinner said he has been "overwhelmed" by the support and commitment he has received.

"My No. 1 priority is the people of Jefferson County and I want to fight for them in Charleston," he said.

This marks his first run at elected office other than serving on the local executive committee.