Snyder outspending Ruland in W.Va. Senate race

In spending more than $100,000 to retain his 16th district seat in the West Virginia Senate, state Sen. Herb Snyder appears to be outspending his Republican opponent, James Ruland, by a 5-1 margin, according to campaign finance reports filed last week.

On Thursday, Snyder, of Shenandoah Junction, W.Va., reported spending $103,519 on his campaign for a fourth, four-year term in the Senate and $129,187 in contributions, according to his first general election campaign finance report.


The general election is Nov. 6.

Ruland, of Harpers Ferry, W.Va., reported spending $19,645 and $10,100 in contributions, according to his campaign finance report, which was filed Saturday morning — after the Friday deadline, according to Secretary of State Natalie E. Tennant’s office.

Ruland also reported loaning his campaign $25,000 in August, according to his report.

Snyder’s contributions for the most recent campaign finance reporting period include $8,297 he netted at a Sept. 11 fundraiser at the Charleston (W.Va.) Marriott Town Center, according to his report. Before the fundraiser’s expenses were subtracted, Snyder received $9,250 in contributions, according to his report.

Neither candidate faced a primary election opponent. The newly configured 16th Senatorial District includes all of Jefferson County. It crosses the Berkeley County line to include all of the city of Martinsburg, and communities in the eastern and northeastern areas of the county.

Candidates vying in contested races for state House of Delegates seats reported the following campaign expenditures and contributions year-to-date:

61st district

• Democrat Jason Barrett: $8,527 in contributions and $5,464 in expenditures.

• Republican incumbent Walter Duke: $6,570 in contributions and $3,880 in expenditures.

63rd district

• Democrat Donn Marshall: $26,108 in contributions and $15,423 in expenditures.

• Republican Michael Folk: $9,547 in contributions and $6,359 in expenditures.