VIENNA — A local attorney has filed to run for the 3rd District State Senate seat.

Jim Leach of Vienna, a Democrat, filed to run for the seat currently held by Mike Azinger, R-Wood. Leach, who filed with the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office, will face Democrat Simon Hargus of Parkersburg in the primary. Hargus is the owner of First Settlement Physical Therapy.

Leach, who serves on Vienna City Council, said the state has opportunities in the energy field and in agriculture which he feels will be able to create opportunities for job growth. He wants to work on those issues in the Senate.

”West Virginia is poised for growth,” Leach said on Monday. ”It is a great opportunity. We want our kids to stay here in West Virginia, but they need jobs.”

West Virginia is sitting on a great reserve of natural gas, but the process has been slow in being able to get it out of the ground and be able to move it, Leach said. ”We have all of these resources, but no infrastructure to move them,” Leach said.

Work is underway on transmission lines and distribution lines. Once those are in place and operational, it will open markets all over the world for the natural gas in West Virginia, he said.

”Once we are able to distribute it, it will be an economic boom to West Virginia,” Leach said.

Leach’s son Morgan has filed to run as a Democrat for a seat in the House of Delegates’ 10th District.

Jim Leach describes himself as a “conservative Democrat” which he believes can help him work with the Republican majority. ”We are all interested in less government and prosperity,” he said.

In other filings, Garrett Foggin, District A, Parkersburg, filed to run for the Wood County Board of Education.