PARKERSBURG - Conventions to choose nominees for governor will disenfranchise those unable to go, the chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party said.
Among those are soldiers overseas and shut ins in hospitals or nursing homes, Chairman Mike Stuart said.
"They can't participate in a convention," Stuart said.
A debate is brewing in the Legislature, particularly in the House of Delegates, between holding a special primary election and choosing party nominees by convention for the unexpired term of governor.
State code sets forth the convention procedure. That would have to be changed by the Legislature, like it did for the special primary election to choose nominees for the unexpired term, to the U.S. Senate in July.
On Tuesday, on the request of Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, who last week proclaimed a special general election on Oct. 4, a bill was introduced in the Senate to hold a special primary election on June 20, West Virginia Day, and replace the conventions.
"If (House Speaker Richard Thompson) and other legislative Democrats are serious about having a convention to select the nominees for governor, then they must also get serious about the consequences and costs," Stuart said. "A convention is not free in price or in cost to the public."
Choosing nominees for the general election by convention would be similar to how the parties chose presidential delegates in 2008. County conventions would be held followed by a statewide gathering where the nominees would be chosen for the general election.
Party members at county conventions would vote for the delegates to the statewide convention, but there's no provisions for absentee ballots, Stuart said.
"If Speaker Thompson has his way and we are forced to have conventions to select our nominees, political elites will control and the rights of our veterans, our military personnel on the battlefields of new freedom across the globe, the disabled that are unable to make it to a county or state convention, and others shall be thrown under the bus by the Speaker," Stuart said.
The political parties can administer conventions, which would cost several hundred thousand dollars, however, the state has an obligation to commit resources to educate voters about the convention process to ensure the broadest possible participation, Stuart said.
The state, other than legal notifications, is not involved in the conventions, said Jake Glance, a spokesman for the secretary of state, the state's chief elections officer. Parties would determine the process, such as how many delegates each county would receive.
"That's all up to each party," Glance said.
The Senate bill, SB 261, was referred to the Judiciary Committee. The bill should be on the committee's agenda this week, Judiciary Chairman Corey Palumbo, D-Kanawha, said, according to Associated Press
The House version will follow this week. A bill setting a special primary and general election on May 14 and Aug. 6, respectively, was introduced earlier by Republican members of the House.
"In north central West Virginia, I've had nobody crying out for a primary election," House Judiciary Chairman Tim Miley, D-Harrison, told Associated Press. "There are mixed opinions and, quite frankly, considerable concerns about any legislation we pass this year."
Tomblin proclaimed the general election last week after the Supreme Court ruled an election has to be held this year. He became acting governor when Joe Manchin became a U.S. senator.
