By ANDREA LANNOM
The Register-Herald
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice appointed Jeff Campbell, a teacher and radio broadcaster in Greenbrier County, to the House of Delegates District 42 seat left vacant when Stephen Baldwin was named to the District 10 Senate seat.
The round of changes started when former Sen. Ron Miller resigned in September to take a position with the Justice administration.
The 42nd District encompasses most of Greenbrier County and portions of Monroe and Summers counties. Campbell will complete Baldwin’s two-year term in the House. Justice announced the appointment Monday.
The 42nd Delegate District Democratic Executive Committee forwarded Campbell’s name along with those of Cindy Lavender-Bowe and Cathey Sawyer last week to the governor for consideration.
Campbell has been a teacher in Greenbrier County since 2001, teaching social studies at Eastern Greenbrier Middle School in Ronceverte for the last nine years.
He has worked as a radio broadcaster in Greenbrier County for 33 years, broadcasting Greenbrier East football and boys basketball games for radio WRON. He also has served as a statistical coordinator for West Virginia University football broadcasts for 29 years.
Campbell remembered the unfolding of events over the weekend down to the time he heard the news. He said he and his friends had gone out to TGI Fridays in Clarksburg after a game in Morgantown.
His friend Casey Crane had messaged the governor earlier asking him if he would stop by the radio booth. The governor said he couldn’t make it but said to tell “Delegate Campbell” to call him in the morning so he could congratulate him.
Campbell said he couldn’t believe the news at first and had asked Crane to screenshot the message and send it to him.
“I had to have proof to believe it,” he said. “But that’s how I found out, through a text message to Casey Crane at a TGI Fridays in Clarksburg at Saturday at 5:47 p.m.”
Campbell had already planned to run for the seat in 2018 and had filed his pre-candidacy papers.
“I was already committed as far back as this spring when I decided to run for it,” Campbell said. “Then the opportunity came up with Senator Miller taking a job in the administration and Delegate Baldwin moving to the Senate. It created an opportunity that I had prepared for for months.”
Campbell said he spoke with House Minority Leader Tim Miley, D-Harrison, Monday. He said Miley had planned to recommend him to House Speaker Tim Armstead for some committees, including education.
“Education is absolutely where I want to be,” Campbell said. “I definitely want to be on the education committee. I see issues every day I’m concerned about that I think we need to work on and make better.”
Campbell said he’s also passionate about infrastructure issues.
“With the passage of the road bond a few weeks ago, I’m excited about what opportunity that may bring to the district.
Email: [email protected]; follow on Twitter @AndreaLannom
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