(Editor's Notes by Christina Myer - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

West Virginia House Speaker Roger Hanshaw has some work to do, doesn’t he? Who would have thought he’d walk into 2025 knowing he needed to have conversations with delegates about, well, behaving as though they understand they represent the state legislature as a whole and that they are elected public servants with a job to do.

First was Joseph de Soto, who had been elected as a Republican to represent southern Berkeley County — District 91. He didn’t make it far, as he was ousted Wednesday by fellow lawmakers while he is confined to house arrest. He faces charges related to making terroristic threats after an investigation that determined he made “several threatening/intimidating threats against government officials.”

Hanshaw was allegedly one of de Soto’s targets.

De Soto has since changed his party affiliation to Democrat.

Meanwhile, just as he was being named chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Del. Brandon Steele, R-Dist. 42, was dealing with reports that his wife, Brianne, had called 911 on Dec. 23 to report the delegate was drunk and brandishing weapons outside their home.

When Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded, they found Del. Steele sitting on his couch … with AR-15 style rifles.

“Brandon…stated that he has had some recent issues with possible threats toward him regarding trials that he is working on,” wrote Deputy T.S. Gore. “Brandon stated that he observed a vehicle driving slowly past his home and he then exited his home with one of the rifles and approached the vehicle. Brandon stated that the occupants of the vehicle stated that they were looking at Christmas lights in the neighborhood.”

Reports also show Brianne Steele made another 911 call that night, telling deputies he “is extremely paranoid,” and “a severe alcoholic.”

No charges were brought, though the report suggested Brianne left the home that evening with her children “to allow Brandon to sober up.”

It appears as though Hanshaw became aware of the situation only after he had appointed Steele to lead the judiciary committee.

But if anyone is equipped to be the adult in the room and remind the rest of those serving in the House of Delegates what is expected of them, it is Hanshaw. For a fifth time his colleagues voted him in as House Speaker. This time the vote was 84-8.

He spoke repeatedly about how humbling the honor was.

House Minority Leader Sean Hornbuckle, D-Dist. 25, had high praise for Hanshaw.

“He’s done so much for our state over the past decade,” said Hornbuckle, who introduced Hanshaw after Wednesday’s vote. “He has integrity at the core. He is witty, he’s wise, he’s knowledgeable, and more than anything, he’s understanding. Roger, he’s about the process … He is working for all of us in the state and he does what is right every single time, making sure that the process plays out.”

It’s a good thing he is understanding, though I’m guessing he’d prefer fewer surprises like those he got on de Soto’s and Steele’s reported behavior.

He told members of the House it has been a privilege to have “the opportunity to lead our collective effort to advance the state of West Virginia.” And that’s what he (and the rest of them) must now bear in mind. Their job is to ADVANCE the state.

Poor personal behavior and embarrassingly backward socio-cultural crusades do nothing but cripple it further.

But, no doubt, Hanshaw will have that conversation — over and over in the coming months. If he can succeed in making lawmakers understand, there’s no telling where we might go.

Christina Myer is executive editor of The Parkersburg News and Sentinel. She can be reached via e-mail at cmyer@newsandsentinel.com