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CHARLESTON - Ending weeks of speculation, House Minority Whip Mike Caputo, D-Marion, announced he will seek the West Virginia Senate seat of Democrat Roman Prezioso, who announced he would retire from public office after the 2020 election.
Caputo made the announcement in Fairmont on Tuesday afternoon at the Holiday Inn Express to a room full of supporters. The state Democratic Party live-streamed the announcement from its Facebook page.
"It was a difficult decision, I'm not going to lie to you," Caputo said. "After talking to longtime friends and longtime supporters and the most important people in my life - my family - I guess we'll just get this out of the way right now. I'm going to run for your state Senator."
Caputo has served in the House of Delegates for 23 years, first elected in 1996. He served as majority whip for eight years until the Republicans took the majority in 2014. Caputo is the minority whip under House Minority Leader Tim Miley, D-Harrison, who also announced that 2020 will be his final year in the House.
"I want to thank my good friend and minority leader who has always had my back – Tim Miley," Caputo said. "He was the finest speaker I've ever had the privilege to serve under. He became the minority leader and I still became his assistant and he and I developed a great relationship. I appreciate your friendship, Tim."
Prezioso, a retired teacher and school administrator, was first elected to the House in 1988 and later elected to the Senate in 1996. He served several years as the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee until the Republicans took the majority in 2015 and became Senate minority leader in 2017. The 13th Senatorial District includes parts of Marion and Monongalia counties.
"There were rumors that Sen. Prezioso was not going to seek re-election. I don't think anybody believed that, but there were rumors," Caputo said. "Roman has been a great public servant for this area for many, many years, both in the House and in the Senate. No one was more shocked than I when he announced he was not seeking re-election."
Caputo praised the district that's home to two major universities - West Virginia University and Fairmont State University - and Pierpont Community and Technical College. He also highlighted the district's other assets, such as I-79 High Technology Corridor and WVU Medicine.
"We've got a lot of good things happening right here in North Central West Virginia and we need to keep those things moving," Caputo said. "We're moving a lot of dirt. We're developing a lot of ground."
A retired coal miner and former district vice president for the United Mine Workers of America, Caputo was introduced by UMWA President Cecil Roberts.
"Mike has always made our government work for all of us. Mike has fought for you. He's fought for me," Roberts said. "He's been rallying behind people in struggle his entire life because he's always done the right thing."
Caputo said he was willing to work with Republicans to pass bipartisan legislation, but he made it clear he would stand up against the Republican majority if they tried to pass harmful legislation.
"I want to work in a bipartisan fashion to find compromise that makes sense and continues to bring jobs to North Central West Virginia," Caputo said. "I will tell you this, if (Republican Senate President) Mitch Carmichael and his leadership team want to continue down this past path of disrespecting workers and disrespecting our great teachers and school service personnel, you have my absolute word – if it's a fight, he wants. It is a fight he will get."
A criminal case is pending against Caputo for an incident where he allegedly kicked open a door which struck an assistant doorkeeper.
According to a criminal complaint filed by Capitol Police in Kanawha County Magistrate Court, Caputo - after being angered by an anti-Muslim display placed outside the House Chamber in March - pushed or kicked the door to the chamber open, hitting assistant doorkeeper Logan Casterline. Witnesses saw Caputo hit Casterline with the door, who sought medical attention afterward. Caputo also allegedly injured a delegate on his way to his seat.
Caputo apologized in a floor speech the next day for kicking the door and was removed from all committee assignments by House leadership as punishment. Efforts by some House Republicans to remove Caputo from office or censure Caputo failed. Caputo is scheduled to appear in Kanawha County Magistrate Court on Dec. 5.