PARKERSBURG — Multiple incumbents signaled their intent to run for new terms on Monday, the first day to file for the upcoming West Virginia primary election.

At least one is eyeing a new role.

Four-term Delegate John Kelly, R-Wood, opted to seek a Senate seat rather than face off against fellow Delegate Vernon Criss, R-Wood, in the newly created single-delegate House District 12. That sets up a likely primary matchup with incumbent Sen. Mike Azinger, R-Wood, who has filed precandidacy papers.

“Nothing personal,” Kelly said.

Criss, in his third consecutive House term and fourth overall, is the vice chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and Kelly said he didn’t want to risk knocking a local representative out of a seat like that.

“That’s a committee that provides such a great opportunity for Wood County,” he said.

Criss filed to run for the District 12 seat Monday.

Azinger is completing his first full term after being elected to fill an unexpired term in 2016,. Senate District 3 includes Wood, Pleasants, Ritchie and Wirt counties.

Republican Kevin Siers filed to run in the new House District 14, which includes southern Wood County and a portion of western Wirt County.

In Wood County, Commissioner Jimmy Colombo, Circuit Clerk Celeste Ridgway and Sheriff Rick Woodyard filed to run for the seats they now occupy, county Clerk Mark Rhodes said.

Colombo was elected in 2016 after serving 18 months as Parkersburg mayor following the retirement of Bob Newell.

Ridgeway was appointed clerk in early 2020 and ran unopposed to complete the unexpired term after Carole Jones retired.

Woodyard took over as sheriff Dec. 1 upon the retirement of Steve Stephens.

Also filing locally Monday was Amanda Raber-Ables, a Republican seeking the office of Wood County clerk. Rhodes, a Democrat, has announced he will not seek re-election.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com