Published: January 26, 2008 11:10 pm      

Kessler to continue governor’s quest

CHARLESTON — Feeling any effectiveness as a legislator had been emasculated by his outspoken criticism of the Manchin administration, Delegate Mel Kessler decided Saturday to stay in the governor’s race.

Kessler, D-Raleigh, had been under pressure from a number of supporters not to give up his seat in the House of Delegates ever since he filed to challenge Gov. Joe Manchin in the Democratic primary.

Kessler had until midnight Saturday to make a switch at the secretary of state’s office, but chose to stick it out in the governor’s contest.

Many sought to dissuade him, saying his voice was needed in the House, but Kessler said any power he had to change policy there was weakened.

“I couldn’t when I was down there because you were just hitting your head against a brick wall,” he said.

“And I sure wouldn’t be able to now that I’ve made everybody mad. I think I got the leadership and everybody mad at me. They’re all scared to death of Manchin. I would be ineffective staying.”

Kessler has been a strong critic of Manchin, especially over the privatization of the workers’ compensation system.

Kessler said he knew he would encounter a full-scale assault on him, regardless if he stayed in the House and sought a second term, or had he run for governor.

“I don’t know what I’m going to have to put up with,” he said, looking ahead to the campaign, adding he expects a barrage of lies against him.

As for staying in the House, he said, “I can’t compete with him and his machine.”

If he is unsuccessful in winning the nomination, the freshman Democratic lawmaker said he could always seek to regain his seat in the House in 2010.

Kessler said his filing last week triggered a number of calls from people who were divided about which race he should enter.

“I’m doing what I think is right,” he said. “I think the people will respect that.”

Kessler wasn’t the only Beckley resident to file for governor.

Former state Sen. Russ Weeks, who recently wrote a book chronicling his one term in the Legislature, filed as a Republican candidate — the only one from his party to do so.

— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com