By Thomas Harding 

Another year, another round of political battles in West Virginia. The filing period for the 2010 political races is now closed, and there are many interesting matchups. Here are a few of them.

West Virginia Supreme Court

Just over a year into his first term, Circuit Judge John Yoder is running for West Virginia Supreme Court. Yoder will run against in a special election incumbent Thomas McHugh, who was appointed interim Justice by Governor Manchin in 2008 after the death of Justice Joseph Albright.

House of Representatives

Democrat Virginia Lynch Graf of Charles Town will try to unseat U.S. Representative Shelley Moore Capito. A former nun and educator, Graf will have no competition in the Democratic primary. On her website, Graf says, “I’m sticking out my neck for WV, and ask WV voters to do the same for me.”

County Commission

In the Shepherdstown district, Commissioner Jim Surkamp has two formidable primary opponents in the Democratic primary: former federal prosecutor and Ruth McQuade and Paul Taylor, a Martinsburg lawyer. In 2008 McQuade was a candidate for Jefferson County prosecutor attorney. The Repubilcan candidate from the Shepherdstown District is Walt Pellish.  In the Charles Town district race, current Commissioner Dale Manuel does not appear to be facing any opponents at this time after challenger Derek Lambert filed a pre-candicacy but chose not to file his candidacy by 30 January 2010.

Jefferson County Clerk

County Clerk Jennifer Maghan has a surprising foe on her hands: Ronda Lehman. Maghan, who is also vice chair of the West Virginia Federation Young Republicans, may face a tough battle against Lehman, the organizer of an impressive grassroots petition drive to force a zoning referendum last year.

WV Senate District 16

Senator John Unger faces an challenger in Craig Blair, a four-term West Virginia Delegate from Berkeley County. In March 2009 Blair introduced House Bill 3007, which calls for random drug testing for recipients of federal-state assistance like food stamps, state assistance programs, and for recipients of unemployment compensation

House of Delegates

No Democrat filed to run against Delegate Tiffany Lawrence in the state’s 58th district. Blake Thompson was the sole Republican filed in this district. In the race for the 57th District seat, incumbent Delegate John Doyle has a primary challenger. Lori Rea, who is currently head of the Gateway New Economy Council told The Observer she had already raised considerable campaign funds and had formed a team of campaign volunteers. In the GOP, Elliot Simon will run against Donny Jones for the GOP nomination.

School Board

Five candidates have filed for school board: Laurie Ogden and Karan Townsend for the Harpers Ferry district, Mariland Dunn Lee and Scott Sudduth for the Middleway district, and Pete Dougherty for the Kabletown district.