Ron Thompson is History - UPDATED (again)

The House of Delegates declared Ron Thompson's seat vacant on a voice vote.

It was not unanimous.

As I noted below, the authorities I consulted say Thompson is the first state legislator in West Virginia _ and perhaps the country _ to lose his seat for refusing to take his oath of office.

The Raleigh County Democrat did not appear for the 9 a.m. House Rules Committee meeting, or for the 11 a.m. floor session where the House approved the resolution.

SIXTEEN delegates recorded "nay" votes afterward. Some later said House leaders should have done more to understand Thompson's situation. Others believe press reports had fanned the flames and accelerated the process.

Thompson's continued absence had also become a distraction in the House and for fellow members of the 27th Delegate District. The district has four other delegates, whose efforts this session have been overshadowed by their no-show colleague.

One of the 27th's remaining members, Delegate Virginia Mahan, D-Summers, was among those recording a "nay" vote.

UPDATED: Ahem. It turns out I was correct the first time. All 16 names submitted after the vote count toward the official record.

In addition to Mahan, nay votes were recorded for: Amores, D-Kanawha; Andes, R-Putnam; Beach, D-Monongalia; Browning, D-Wyoming; Campbell, D-Greenbrier; Craig, D-Cabell; Ennis, D-Brooke; Hutchins, D-Ohio; Long, D-Mercer; Michael, D-Hardy; Pino, D-Fayette; and Varner, D-Marshall.

The additional delegates are Cann, D-Harrison; Kominar, D-Mingo; and Stalnaker, D-Lewis.