West Virginia Senate

West Virginia Senate
West Virginia Legislature

Type
Type	Upper house
Term limits	None
New session started	January 12, 2011
Leadership
President of the Senate	Jeffrey V. Kessler, (D) since November 14, 2011
President pro Tempore	Joseph M. Minard, (D) since 2011
Majority Leader	John Unger, (D) since January 12, 2011
Minority Leader	Mike Hall, (R) since January 14, 2009
Structure
Members	34
Political groups	Democratic Party (28) Republican Party (6)
Length of term	2 years
Authority	Article VI, West Virginia Constitution
Salary	$20,000/year + per diem
Elections
Last election	November 2, 2010 (17 seats)
Next election	November 6, 2012 (17 seats)
Redistricting	Legislative Control
Meeting place

Senate Chamber West Virginia State Capitol Charleston, West Virginia
Website
West Virginia State Legislature

The West Virginia Senate is the upper house of the West Virginia Legislature. There are 17 senatorial districts. Each district has two senators who serve staggered four-year terms.

The state's districting system is unique in the United States. Prior to the 2010 Census the state's most populous county, Kanawha County constituted two "superimposed" districts. In practical effect, this meant that Kanawha County was a single district electing two members every two years. The remaining 54 counties of the state were divided into fifteen districts, with county lines not respected in most cases.^[1]

Under the unique rule, no multi-county district (and every district except Kanawha's is a multi-county district) may have more than one senator from the same county,^[2] no matter the population. This means, for example, that one of the 5th District's two senators must reside in Cabell County and the other must reside in the tiny portion of Wayne County that's inside the 5th District, even though Cabell County has far more people than the portion of Wayne County that is part of the 5th District. However, both senators are elected by everybody within the district, not just by the people of the county in which the senators reside.

Responding to the 2010 Census the Senate redistricted itself. Kanawha County was divided for the first time in the Senate's history, with the northern and western portions joining a part of Putnam County as the 8th District and the remainder of the county constituting the 17th district on it own. This will reduce the number of Senators from Kanawha County from four to three, as one of the 8th's must be a resident of Putnam.

The remainder of the state was redistricted, reflecting the continuing shift of the state's population to the Eastern Panhandle and to Monongalia County, however no incumbents were placed in districts where they will have to run against one another, except for the Kanawha situation. Because senators are elected for four year terms, half of the senate will represent the old districts until the 2014 election.http://www.legis.state.wv.us/legisdocs/2011/1x/maps/senate/Enr%20SB%201006%20Map.pdf

1 Senate President
2 Composition
3 Leadership of the 80th West Virginia Senate
4 Members of the 80th West Virginia Senate
5 See also
6 Committees
7 See also
8 References
9 External links

Senate President

The Senate elects its own president from its membership. On November 14, 2011, the Senate named Jeffrey V. Kessler Senate President after Earl Ray Tomblin resigned as both Senate President and a member of the Senate upon his inaguration as Governor of West Virginia.^[3]

While the West Virginia Constitution does not create or even mention the title of lieutenant governor, West Virginia Code 6A-1-4 creates this designation for the Senate President. The Senate President is first in the line of succession to the office of governor. As stated in Article 7 Section 16 of the constitution: "In case of the death, conviction or impeachment, failure to qualify, resignation, or other disability of the governor, the president of the Senate shall act as governor until the vacancy is filled, or the disability removed." However, the Senate President may not always serve the remainder of the term as the constitution also states: "Whenever a vacancy shall occur in the office of governor before the first three years of the term shall have expired, a new election for governor shall take place to fill the vacancy."

Composition

2011-2013:

Affiliation		Members
	Democratic Party	28 (82%)
	Republican Party	6 (18%)
Total		34
Majority		22

Leadership of the 80th West Virginia Senate

Position	Name	Party	District	County
President of the Senate/Lieutenant Governor	Jeffrey V. Kessler	Democratic	2	Marshall Co.
President Pro Tempore	Joseph M. Minard	Democratic	12	Harrison Co.
Majority Leader	John Unger	Democratic	16	Berkeley Co.
Minority Leader	Mike Hall	Republican	4	Putnam Co.
Majority Whip	Richard Browning	Democratic	9	Wyoming Co.
Minority Whip	Karen L. Facemyer	Republican	4	Jackson Co.

Members of the 80th West Virginia Senate

District	Senator	Party	Residence	2000 Census District County/Counties (2010 Census District Changes)
1	Orphy Klempa	Democratic	Ohio	Brooke, Hancock, Ohio (Brooke, Hancock, Ohio, Marshall (part))
1	Jack Yost	Democratic	Brooke
2	Larry J. Edgell	Democratic	Wetzel	Calhoun, Doddridge, Marion (part), Marshall, Monongalia (part), Ritchie, Tyler, Wetzel (Calhoun, Doddridge, Marion (different part), Marshall (part), Monongalia (different part), Tyler, Gilmer, Calhoun (part)
2	Jeffrey V. Kessler	Democratic	Marshall
3	Donna J. Boley	Republican	Pleasants	Pleasants, Roane (part), Wirt, Wood (Pleasants, Roane (different part), Wirt, Wood
3	David Nohe	Republican	Wood
4	Karen L. Facemyer	Republican	Jackson	Jackson, Mason, Putnam, Roane (part) (Jackson, Mason, Putnam (part), Roane (different part)
4	Mike Hall	Republican	Putnam
5	Evan Jenkins	Democratic	Raleigh	Cabell, Wayne (part) (Cabell, Wayne (different part))
5	Robert H. Plymale	Democratic	Wayne	Cabell, Wayne (part) (Cabell, Wayne (different part))
6	H. Truman Chafin	Democratic	Mingo	McDowell, Mercer (part), Mingo, Wayne (part) (McDowell (part), Mercer, Mingo (part) Wayne (different part))
6	John Pat Fanning	Democratic	McDowell
7	Ron Stollings	Democratic	Boone	Boone, Lincoln, Logan, Wayne (part) (Boone, Lincoln, Logan, Wayne (different part), Mingo (Part))
7	Art Kirkendoll^[4]^[5]	Democratic	Logan
8	Corey Palumbo	Democratic	Kanawha	Kanawha (Kanawha (part), Putnam (part))
8	Erik Wells	Democratic	Kanawha	Kanawha (Kanawha (part), Putnam (part))
9	Richard Browning	Democratic	Wyoming	Raleigh, Wyoming (part) (Raleigh, Wyoming, McDowell (part))
9	Mike Green	Democratic	Raleigh	Raleigh, Wyoming (part) (Raleigh, Wyoming, McDowell (part))
10	Ron Miller	Democratic	Greenbrier	Fayette (part), Greenbrier, Mercer, Monroe, Summers (Summers, Monroe, Greenbrier, Fayette)
10	Mark Wills^[6]	Democratic	Mercer
11	William R. Laird, IV	Democratic	Fayette	Fayette (part), Clay, Nicholas, Upshur, Webster (Nicholas, Pocahontas, Webster, Upshur, Randolph, Pendleton, Grant (part))
11	Gregory Tucker	Democratic	Nicholas
12	Douglas E. Facemire	Democratic	Braxton	Braxton, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis (Clay, Braxton, Lewis, Harrison, Gilmer (part))
12	Joseph M. Minard	Democratic	Harrison
13	Bob Beach	Democratic	Monongalia	Marion (part), Monongalia (part) (Marion (different part), Monongalia (different part))
13	Roman W. Prezioso, Jr.	Democratic	Marion
14	David Sypolt	Republican	Preston	Barbour, Grant (part), Mineral (part), Monongalia (part), Preston, Taylor (Barbour, Taylor, Tucker, Preston, Monongalia (different part), Grant (different part), Hardy, Mineral (part)
14	Bob Williams	Democratic	Taylor
15	Clark S. Barnes	Republican	Randolph	Berkeley, Grant (part), Hardy, Hampshire, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph, Upshur (part) (Hampshire, Mineral (part) Morgan, Berkeley (different part))
15	Walt Helmick	Democratic	Pocahontas
16	Herb Snyder	Democratic	Jefferson	Berkeley (part), Jefferson (Berkeley (different part), Jefferson)
16	John Unger	Democratic	Berkeley
17	Dan Foster	Democratic	Kanawha	Kanawha (Kanawha (part))
17	Brooks McCabe	Democratic	Kanawha	Kanawha (Kanawha (part))

^ "West Virginia Senate Districts". West Virginia Legislature. http://www.legis.state.wv.us/districts/sd/sd.cfm. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
^ "West Virginia Constitution". West Virginia Legislature. http://www.legis.state.wv.us/WVCODE/WV_CON.cfm#articleVI. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
^ http://www.wowktv.com/story/16039199/art-kirkendoll-jeff-kessler-sworn-into-senate-roles
^ http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/wv/news3.shtml
^ appointed to unexpired term caused by the election of Earl Ray Tomblin as Governor of West Virginia
^ elected to unexpired term caused by the death of Don Caruth

Committees

Agriculture (11 members) - Bob Williams, Chairman
Banking and Insurance (13 members) - Joseph M. Minard, Chairman
Confirmations (9 members) - Larry J. Edgell, Chairman
Economic Development (14 members) - Richard Browning, Chairman
Education (14 members) - Robert H. Plymale, Chairman
Energy, Industry and Mining (13 members) - Mike Green, Chairman
Enrolled Bills (5 members) - Ron Miller, Chairman
Finance (17 members) - Roman W. Prezioso, Jr., Chairman
Government Organization (14 members) - Herb Snyder, Chairman
Health and Human Resources (13 members) - Roman W. Prezioso, Jr., Chairman
Interstate Cooperation (7 members) - Ron Stollings, Chairman; (Senate President is ex-officio co-chairperson)
Judiciary (17 members) - Corey Palumbo, Chairman
Labor (11 members) - Jack Yost, Chairman
Military (9 members) - Erik Wells, Chairman
Natural Resources (13 members) - William R. Laird, IV, Chairman
Pensions (7 members) - Dan Foster, Chairman
Rules (10 members) - Jeffrey V. Kessler, Ex-officio Chairman as Senate President
Transportation and Infrastructure (9 members) - Bob Beach, Chairman

References

^ "West Virginia Senate Districts". West Virginia Legislature. http://www.legis.state.wv.us/districts/sd/sd.cfm. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
^ "West Virginia Constitution". West Virginia Legislature. http://www.legis.state.wv.us/WVCODE/WV_CON.cfm#articleVI. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
^ http://www.wowktv.com/story/16039199/art-kirkendoll-jeff-kessler-sworn-into-senate-roles
^ http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/wv/news3.shtml
^ appointed to unexpired term caused by the election of Earl Ray Tomblin as Governor of West Virginia
^ elected to unexpired term caused by the death of Don Caruth

External links

West Virginia Legislature - official website
Project Vote Smart - State Senate of West Virginia

Members of the West Virginia State Senate

80th State Legislature (2011-2012)
President of the Senate: Jeff Kessler (D) • President pro Tempore: Joseph M. Minard (D) • Majority Leader: John Unger (D) • Minority Leader: Mike Hall (R)

Orphy Klempa (D)
Jack Yost (D)
Larry J. Edgell (D)
Jeff Kessler (D)
Donna J. Boley (R)
David Nohe (R)
Karen L. Facemyer (R)
Mike Hall (R)
Evan Jenkins (D)
Robert H. Plymale (D)

H. Truman Chafin (D)
John Pat Fanning (D)
Ron Stollings (D)
Art Kirkendoll (D)
Corey Palumbo (D)
Erik Wells (D)
Richard Browning (D)
Mike Green (D)
Ron Miller (D)
Mark Wills (D)

William R. Laird, IV (D)
Gregory Tucker (D)
Douglas E. Facemire (D)
Joseph M. Minard (D)
Bob Beach (D)
Roman Prezioso (D)
David Sypolt (R)
Bob Williams (D)
Clark S. Barnes (R)
Walt Helmick (D)

Herb Snyder (D)
John Unger (D)
Dan Foster (D)
Brooks McCabe (D)

Democratic (28) • Republican (6) • West Virginia Legislature • West Virginia House of Delegates • West Virginia State Senate

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State of West Virginia

Charleston (capital)

Topics	Cities Towns Villages Census-designated places History Geography People Governors Delegations Colleges and universities Visitor Attractions

Regions	Allegheny Mountains Allegheny Plateau Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area Blue Ridge Charleston Metropolitan Area Cumberland Plateau Cumberland Mountains Eastern Panhandle Huntington Metropolitan Area North-Central West Virginia Northern Panhandle Potomac Highlands Ridge-and-valley Appalachians Shenandoah Valley Southern West Virginia Western West Virginia

Major cities	Charleston Huntington Parkersburg Morgantown Wheeling

Smaller cities	Beckley Bluefield Clarksburg Elkins Fairmont Martinsburg Weirton

Counties	Barbour Berkeley Boone Braxton Brooke Cabell Calhoun Clay Doddridge Fayette Gilmer Grant Greenbrier Hampshire Hancock Hardy Harrison Jackson Jefferson Kanawha Lewis Lincoln Logan Marion Marshall Mason McDowell Mercer Mineral Mingo Monongalia Monroe Morgan Nicholas Ohio Pendleton Pleasants Pocahontas Preston Putnam Raleigh Randolph Ritchie Roane Summers Taylor Tucker Tyler Upshur Wayne Webster Wetzel Wirt Wood Wyoming