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Plenty of contested races await W.Va. voters; polls open until 7:30 p.m.

By MATTHEW UMSTEAD

matthew.umstead@herald-mail.com

May 8, 2012

MARTINSBURG, W.Va.

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Voters in Berkeley and Jefferson counties have no shortage of contested races to decide in Tuesday’s primary election.

In addition to voting in presidential, U.S. House and U.S. Senate races, there also are primary contests for governor, secretary of agriculture, state treasurer and Supreme Court.
 
There are four contested races for seats in the state House of Delegates, two each in Berkeley County and one in Jefferson County.


Among county races, incumbent sheriffs Kenneth Lemaster (Berkeley County) and Robert E. “Bobby” Shirley (Jefferson County) both face opposition. Lemaster, of Martinsburg, is opposed by Michael W. Cox II of Bunker Hill, W.Va., and Charles “Chip” O’Roke of Martinsburg. Republicans James W. Barbour III of Martinsburg and John Orem of Inwood, W.Va., are vying to be the Republican nominee for sheriff.

Shirley, of Kearneysville, W.Va., is opposed by former Sheriff Everett “Ed” Boober of Charles Town for the Democratic Party’s nomination. The winner will be opposed in November by Republican Earl Ballenger of Millville, W.Va., who is running unopposed.

Morgan County Sheriff Vincent Shambaugh, of Great Cacapon, W.Va., is opposed in the Republican Party’s primary by Tim Johnson of Berkeley Springs, W.Va. The winner in Morgan County’s only contested race in the primary will face Democrat Larry Bradley of Berkeley Springs in the general election. Bradley is running unopposed.

Other current elected officeholders who have primary election opponents are:


Primary Tuesday

Polls open Tuesday at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Berkeley County voters can obtain directions to their assigned voting location on the Internet at http://berkeleywv.org/electionpollingplace. Voter-registration information may be obtained on the Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.wv.gov.