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PARKERSBURG -- Roger Conley has stepped down from the Wood County Republican Executive Committee and as its chairman.
Conley confirmed Thursday he was stepping down after handing in his resignation Wednesday evening, effective immediately. He is focusing on other things going on in his life right now.
"By and large, nothing is really going on," Conley said. "As far as I am concerned, the Wood County Republican Executive Committee is the best and strongest committee in the state of West Virginia.
"We have been through a lot in the last several years and a lot of people know the history."
Conley had served on the committee for a number of years. He was also elected to the House of Delegates in 2020, one of three members who represented the state's 10th District, before the state reorganized all of its Delegate districts into single member districts.
Conley was appointed by the West Virginia Republican Party to replace Rob Cornelius as chairman when the state party removed Cornelius from the committee and as chairman in 2019. Back in January, Kanawha County Circuit Court Judge Joanna Tabit reinstated Cornelius to the committee and as chair.
Conley was elected to the Executive Committee during the May primary election and was elected chairman by the committee.
Earlier this year, Conley lost the Republican primary for the newly created House of Delegates District 11 to retired DuPont plant manager Bob Fehrenbacher even after questions arose regarding Fehrenbacher's candidacy after it was learned he was not registered with the party when he filed to run.
Conley said it was always his goal to get the committee on solid footing and having the past put behind them.
He pointed to significant gains by the Republican Party in the recent 2022 election.
"That is not a testament to me, but the committee who worked extremely hard, we raised money, we got out and worked with the candidates and we could not have been more successful," Conley said. "That is the way I want to leave it knowing we accomplished what we set out to accomplish knowing that the committee is extremely strong."
The committee went from around six to eight people to now having over 20 members.
"It is strong and in good hands," Conley said.
He wanted to be sure the committee reorganized and was in a good position and ready to start working on the next election.
"It is time to go to work on 2024," he said. "I know they will do that.
"They will not only survive, they will thrive. They will get better and stronger."
Committee members contacted Thursday said Conley cited "personal reasons" for his departure.
Conley said he has things he is involved in and wants to spend more time with his family as his work with the committee demanded a lot of his time.
"It is just time for me to look at doing something different and in my opinion those are personal reasons," he said. "It is my personal decision. I've got other things going forward that I plan to look into.
"I am not going away."
Vice Chairman Scot Heckert said he will step into the position of chairman until the committee can meet and determine how to proceed.
"Roger's service has been invaluable and he has been a good chairman," he said. "We will miss his participation and leadership on the committee.
"I wish him the best in all his endeavors going forward."
Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com