Disharmony in the Ranks

West Virginia Republicans continue to disagree over the (re-) hiring of Gary Abernathy as their party's executive director, MetroNews reports.

Melody Potter, Kanawha County's GOP chairwoman, told Talkline that her executive committee discussed the subject during a Tuesday meeting.

"She says an opinion survey among members of her Kanawha County group showed many people are not happy with the direction the state Republican Party is heading and many want (state Chairman Doug) McKinney to be replaced," MetroNews reports.

Kanawha party member Mike Stewart cited a Thursday meeting of Republicans slated for Harrison County, "focused on the future of the Republican Party in this state."

MetroNews has audio of both Stewart and Abernathy, who was asked about the ongoing controversey.

Democrats in Randolph and Pocahontas counties, meanwhile, appear at odds over the committee assigned to recommend a successor to the late Delegate Bill Proudfoot, D-Randolph.

The committe sent three names to Gov. Joe Manchin late Tuesday, The Associated Press reports: former state Sen. Mike Ross, D-Randolph; Carl "Randy" Moore; and Denise L. Campbell.

But the names were relayed only after questions were raised about the Pocahontas seats on the two-county delegate district committee.

Robert Beckwith, Randolph County's Democratic chairman, cites state law to argue that those two seats were not filled properly. He has also questioned the state party's handling of the situation.

Beckwith notes that he's raised his concerns as a party member, and not as chairman, and that his wife, Margaret, sought to make the recommendation list as a recent candidate for the 37th District seat.

The InterMountain of Elkins has covered the dispute, while also reporting on those recommended by the committee. The Charleston Daily Mail has coverage as well.