PARKERSBURG - A legendary pizzaria in Fairmont will be the backdrop at 11 a.m. today for a gubernatorial candidate formally launching her campaign.
Secretary of State Natalie Tennant will be at Colasessano's at 506 Pennsylvania Ave. where she will start the campaign in the special election for governor.
Tennant, a Democrat, is among other state elected officers filing candidacy papers for governor. Also filing were Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and House Speaker Rick Thompson while Treasurer John Perdue, Sen. Brooks McCabe and Sen. Jeff Kessler have made overtures about running.
On the Republican side are former Secretary of State Betty Ireland, Mark Sorsaia and Patrick Lane. Sen. Clark Barnes has also said he may run.
The dates of the special primary and general elections are in question as the Senate and House of Delegates on Tuesday passed bills establishing different days for the elections.
The House version schedules the primary on May 14 and the general on Sept. 13. The Senate dates correspond with Tomblin's proclamation and recommendation that the primary be held on June 20, a Monday and already a state holiday, and the general on Oct. 4.
Tennant, of whom a recent poll has her favored behind Tomblin against Republican candidates, is a native of Marion County. She was chosen in 1990 as the first woman mascot for the West Virginia University Mountaineers.
Colasessano's pizzas and pepperoni rolls are famous in the Fairmont area and all points north, south, east and west. It was opened in 1950 by Filippo and Filomena Colasessano.
