Published: May 14, 2008 01:44 am         

Some old names join 27th House group

Two big names from the past — Bill Wooton and Sally Susman — proved their popularity with Democrats remains strong by joining three incumbents in the winners circle Tuesday in the 27th House District and clearing the first hurdle in a political comeback bid.

You can’t say the Democrats and Republicans didn’t give their faithful ample choices this year in lieu of a familiar echo in the delegate races. Not too many years ago, the Democrats put up only their incumbents and the out-matched Republicans couldn’t fill a ballot.

Now that the dust has settled, each party has a full slate of five candidates vying for that many seats to serve in the Legislature next winter.

The Democrats posted the most crowded field — 10 candidates in all — and half a dozen Republicans also sought their party’s nomination.

Susman, a loser her last time out in a Senate race, led the ticket with 9,271 votes with all 75 precincts unofficially counted.

Wooton, a former Senate judiciary chairman ousted in 2002 by an unknown Republican, was in second place with 9,164 votes, followed closely by all three incumbents in the party — Rick Moye, 7,830 votes, Virginia Mahan, 7,318, Louis Gall, 6,284.

“It feels pretty good to be a winner,” Wooton said. “I’m real pleased. I worked hard and had a lot of people helping me.”

Looking back on his last two times out in a campaign — both losing efforts — Wooton laughed and remarked, “After the last several elections, any result would surprise me.”

“I’m extremely gratified,” the longtime Beckley attorney said.

“I’m very grateful to a host of people that helped me and did a lot of work on my behalf.”

Of the five Democratic losers, four were newcomers to local politics in the Raleigh-Summers county district — Al Martine, who has attempted to seek office before was sixth with 5,5,336; followed by Mick Bates; 4,647; Jack Covey, 4,280, Kelley Sponaugle, 3,717 and Andrew Moscarito Jr., 3,303.

Leading the GOP charge into the November battleground will be perennial favorite Linda Sumner, a retired school teacher, who had 3,113, followed by Dereck Severt, 2,245, Jeffrey Pack, 2,099; Kevin Honaker, 1,892 and Philip Stevens, 1,523. The sixth Republican on the ballot, Wayne Conner, had 1,346.

By law, one of the five delegates must reside in Summers County.

Susman was the top spender in the race — and the entire House of Delegates statewide — shelling out more than $72,000 that included a barrage of glitzy television spots.

Susman voiced gratitude to her supporters, saying, “I probably had to work a little harder than anybody else. I just want to get back there and help people. I just don’t know of anything else I’d rather do.”

“Third feels better than last,” Moye said, “but not as good as first.”

Moye wasn’t surprised to be topped by Wooton and Susman, noting they were old hands at politics while he is still the new kid on the block.

“It’s a pretty reasonable showing,” the freshman delegate said.

“I’ll just go out there and work as hard as I know how to for the people and do the best I know how. If they like me, they’ll send me back. If not, they’ll send me home.”

Sumner led the fall election ballot two years ago and said it felt “wonderful” to occupy first place with Republican voters.

“When you’ve been there for three terms and they still pick you as No. 1, you must be doing something right and the voters approve of my record,” she said.

Looking ahead to autumn, Sumner felt the GOP will put up “a very strong team” against the Democrats.

“We have a variety of ages and backgrounds,” she added.

Susman and Wooton sought a return to the Legislature after the Democrats in 2006 spurned both in the primary election captured by the 9th District’s eventual new senator, Mike Green, who ousted one-term Republican Russ Weeks that November. Weeks had pulled off a major upset four years earlier by beating Wooton.

Except for Sumner, this district has belonged exclusively to the Democrats, but the resignation of a popular vote-getter, Ron Thompson, prompted a rash of filings by a number of newcomers.

Beset with an emotional disorder that put him under the care of a Beckley psychiatrist, Thompson called it quits last summer after the House initially passed a resolution vacating his seat, then rescinded that action upon learning that he was suffering bipolar two, a condition involving a deep state of depression.

— E-mail:

mannix@register-herald.com