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PARKERSBURG -- As the leadership of the Wood County Republican Executive Committee remains uncertain, so do the appointments made by the chairman, the Wood County Commission was told Monday.
Wood County Clerk Mark Rhodes informed the commission on Monday he had received two different appointments for the Republican ballot commissioner for a two-year term in Wood County. One came from Roger Conley and one came from Rob Cornelius. Both men have claimed the chairman position for the Wood County Republican Party.
Cornelius is involved in a lawsuit in Kanawha County Circuit Court against West Virginia Republican Party Chair Melody Potter after she removed him last summer from his position as county chairman and as an elected committee member. Potter made appointments to the Wood County Republican Executive Committee, including Conley, who was first appointed acting chairman and was then elected by the board in July to fill out the remainder of the term which is up in 2022. Conley had previously served on the board.
Cornelius is seeking his position back on the board he was elected to and for the Secretary of State's Office to recognize appointments he made to the committee as opposed to the ones Potter made. Potter has said her reasons for removing Cornelius included acts of party disunity and mismanagement. She accused Cornelius of conducting a smear campaign against her and harassment through social media.
The ballot commissioner has to approve the ballot, make sure names are spelled correctly, that all of the races that are up for election are included, if a race has more than one position that the correct number of spots is included and make sure no one running is left off the ballot, Rhodes said.
''It is to make sure the ballot is correct,'' he said.
The county commission does not approve the county party's ballot commissioner appointee; they just have to "receive it" from the county clerk.
Both nominations were turned in on time, by last Friday, and met the requirements, Rhodes said.
Conley appointed Lewis Rexroad while Cornelius appointed Doug Ankrom.
Both have previously served in the role, according to county officials.
Under state law, if the party does not nominate someone, it is up to the county clerk, as the county's chief election officer, to nominate someone to the position.
There was case law to support it in a 1910 court case found by Wood County Prosecutor Pat Lefebure from Wetzel County that said when the party's leadership is in doubt the circuit clerk, who was the chief elections officer at the time, would appoint someone. Those duties have since been given to the county clerk.
Since the chairmanship is being contested and no ruling from a judge has been made yet, Rhodes notified both sides of his intention to appoint just-retired former Wood County Circuit Clerk Carole Jones to the position. She is a Republican and has previously served as the ballot commission chairperson.
The Circuit Clerk's Office also used to take care of the ballots before changes made it the responsibility of the county clerk.
Attorneys for the West Virginia Republican State Executive Committee have been in contact with Rhodes and asked him to delay his decision until Thursday, the deadline to have the appointment made, to see if they could negotiate with Cornelius' attorney to see if they can come to an agreement on an appointment.
''I want a continuance on this matter until Thursday to keep us out of the middle of a party fight,'' Rhodes said.
The commission agreed.
Commissioners Jimmy Colombo and Blair Couch, both Republicans, agreed with Rhodes' position. Commissioner Robert Tebay, also a Republican, was absent from Monday's meeting.
''Selecting one over the other would lend legitimacy to that person's claim (as being the party chairman) while it is in doubt,'' Couch said.
Rhodes agreed, saying at this point he would choose neither.
County officials have tried not to get directly involved in the matter.
''We have stated publicly that we will avoid any party issues until this case is litigated and we have a final decision from a judge,'' Couch said.
Rhodes said he has asked Jones if she was willing to serve as the Republican ballot commissioner for Wood County if an appointment needs to be made and she agreed to it. Jones has over 50 years experience, was elected six times as a Republican to the circuit clerk's position and has dealt with the issues the commissioner would have, Rhodes said. He believed a judge would support the decision if it was challenged by either side.
Colombo said she has the experience to do the job. Couch agreed.
''As long as this thing is in doubt, Mr. Rhodes' option seems to be the best,'' Couch said. ''We should not bring that fight into this process. It is too important.''