In a February interview published on Observer Online(www.wvobserver.com) Senator John Unger discussed why, at the last minute, he pulled out of the Democratic primary race for House of Representatives. One of the main reasons he gave was a lack of support from the Democratic leadership in Charleston.

OBSERVER: Did you not get support from Charleston?

UNGER: I didn’t get the support I needed from the West Virginia Democratic leaders, particularly those from Charleston.

OBSERVER: Did that include Governor Joe Manchin?

UNGER: Well, there is a very close relationship between the Manchins and the Moores. I don’t want to talk about Joe. I don’t think it was personal to me.

OBSERVER: What is extraordinary is that you didn’t do this a week before. At best you could say that you were being inconsiderate to your party colleagues by pulling out at the last minute.

UNGER: There is no way you can fight both the Democrat and Republican parties. Nick Casey [West Virginia Democratic Party Chair] wouldn’t return my calls till the week of the filing. I called him repeatedly before Christmas, over New Year. He wouldn’t return my calls.

In response to this interview, The Observer received a letter from the Casey:

“Senator Unger has been a fine Democrat Senator. He would have been a great Democrat candidate to defeat Shelley Moore Capito. Unfortunately, he was unrealistic about how to win. He expected others to raise the necessary money, to find him a treasurer, to secure a staff and headquarters space and to do the hard work that only the candidate can do. Despite the outpouring of support and overwhelming time devoted to him by the DCCC, our West Virginia Congressmen, the Governor and the State party, it was just not enough to motivate him to run.”

Casey’s letter goes on: “On Saturday 26 2008, just hours before the filing deadline, Senator Unger made the personal decision not to run. I know of no one who criticizes his personal decision. However, it is disingenuous for him to say his decision was based on lack of support the DCCC, Governor Manchin or the West Virginia State Democrat Party.”

Bob Adams has come out in favor of Bill 4511, which would allow residents of Jefferson County to trigger a referendum on the new zoning ordinance. On state senate candidate and county commissioner Rusty Morgan’s opposition to this bill, Adams said Morgan “demonstrates a total lack of respect for democracy and the rights of citizens to have a voice on local issues. I am shocked that any elected official would be so open in his disdain for the will of the people to be expressed through the democratic process.”

Angie Banks has placed her name on the ballot for the position of Jefferson County Assessor. Banks, age 43, is a lifelong resident of Jefferson County. She has lived the past 23 years in Shepherdstown.  Banks has spent the past fourteen years serving as deputy clerk in the Assessor’s office. “As a lifelong resident of Jefferson County, I fully understand the concern over recent increases in real estate tax because of assessments being based on sales,” said Banks. “However, as the real estate market continues to soften, our assessments will decline over time as they have in several areas for the 2008 tax year.” Banks is endorsed by current Assessor Ginger Bordier, who is stepping down at this election. Former Jefferson County Clerk, John E. Ott, will serve as treasurer of her campaign.

Bob Bastress, who is running in the Democratic primary race for Supreme Court, has called for an independent investigation of Chief Justice Elliott “Spike” Maynard. Another candidate, Menis Ketchum, has called for Maynard to withdraw from the race. Bastress cited conflict of interest allegations stemming from photos showing Maynard in Monaco with Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship in July 2006. At the time, Richmond-based Massey had several appeals pending or heading to the high court. Court Administrator Steve Canterbury says the court can’t investigate itself. He says he can only refer Bastress to the Judicial Investigation Commission. The commission oversees the ethical conduct in the state’s courts

Elections in Shepherdstown are slated for June 3. One-term current mayor Lance Dom is not seeking reelection. Instead he has filed to run for recorder, a post similar to that of a deputy mayor. He will run against planning commission chairman John Meeker. The two candidates for mayor are John Mathews, who was recently unceremoniously ushered out of his zoning officer by Mayor Dom, and Jim Auxer, who held the position from 2000 to 2004. There are eight candidates running for five town council positions, including current council members Neal Martineau, Wanda Smith, Howard Mills and Stuart Wallace, as well as challengers Mason Waleski, Lori Robertson, Chris Crawford and Thomas Martin. Current town recorder and chair of the finance committee, Jim Ford, is not running for reelection.