GOP Searching For Ireland's Successor

With Secretary of State Betty Ireland, the sole Republican on West Virginia's Board of Public Works, choosing not to seek re-election, the state GOP is looking for a candidate to keep the office in its column.

Hoppy Kercheval of MetroNews has in his column today that Sen. Mike Hall of Putnam County "is seriously considering running for the Republican nomination."

Fresh from last year's successful jump from the House to the state Senate, Hall could run for statewide office while keeping his legislative seat. "But the fact that Hall joined the senate not that long ago is one issue that’s giving him pause," Kercheval writes.

“I’m sensitive to the fact that I just got elected (to the senate),” Hall told Kercheval.

"Another concern for Hall," the column notes "as it is with most candidates, is the ability to raise enough money for a viable statewide campaign."