Election workers, candidates and interested citizens gather at the Wood County Courthouse to await Tuesday’s primary election returns. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

PARKERSBURG – It’s looking like a rough night for some incumbent lawmakers as the votes are being tallied in Wood County’s primary election.

With 54 of the county’s 69 precincts reporting at deadline, Wood County Dels. Vernon Criss and Scot Heckert were trailing challengers Charles Hartzog and Melissa McCrady, respectively, by significant margins in the Republican primaries for House Districts 12 and 13.

The winners in those races will face Democrats Dennis V. Rempel and Marley Umensetter in the general election.

Full, unofficial results can be viewed online at NewsandSentinel.com and in Thursday’s print edition.

Haley Meredith and Simon Hargus had commanding leads in the race for three seats on the Wood County Board of Education.

They were among nine candidates in the nonpartisan race, whose winners will take office this summer.

The candidates were, from District A, John D. Merritt and Simon Hargus; from District B, incumbent Justin Raber, Allen W. Shultz and Haley Meredith; and from District C, Kevin Burkman, incumbent Debbie Hendershot, Jim Stout and Jason McCrady.

Because no more than two members from the same magisterial district can serve on the school board at one time, the election outcomes are limited by district representation rules. According to the Wood County Clerk’s Office, the results could include one candidate each from Districts A, B and C, or two candidates from District C alongside one candidate from either District A or District B.

Also set to be decided Tuesday was a race between incumbent Pat Peters and Marty Seufer and challenger Jeff Meeks for two seats on Williamstown City Council.

The occupants of seats in the West Virginia Legislature and on the Wood County Commission will be determined in November, with Tuesday’s voting narrowing the fields.