Four Candidates Vie for West Virginia House District 12 Seat in General Election

Four Candidates Chase West Virginia District 12 Seat in November 3 General Election

Four candidates are actively campaigning for the District 12 seat in the West Virginia House of Delegates ahead of the November 3 General Election. The ballot features a primary rematch dynamic after an incumbent lost his party’s nomination earlier this cycle.

The race brings together Republican Charles Hartzog, Democrat Dennis Rempel, Libertarian Stephen Thomas Smith, and write-in candidate Vernon Criss.

Charles Hartzog Wins Republican Nomination

Charles Hartzog secured the Republican nomination by defeating incumbent Del. Vernon Criss in the primary. Hartzog, a 24-year-old Speedway employee who previously ran for the Monongalia County Commission, stated that he grew tired of seeing the same political promises repeat without execution.

While acknowledging that the 2023 income tax reduction legislation passed under former Gov. Jim Justice was a solid plan, Hartzog pointed out that everyday costs and tax burdens continue to climb. To counteract this, he favors lowering property taxes and generating sales tax revenue through increased tourism and job creation rather than raising tax rates.

Hartzog also addressed education, noting his support for the state’s school choice policies alongside public school improvements. “I’m not against public education. I want to see it improved. But I also promote school choice,” he said, adding that he backs Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s administration in its focus on tourism, infrastructure, and educational reforms.

Dennis Rempel and Stephen Thomas Smith Enter Race

Dennis Rempel, a 62-year-old Air Force veteran and retired Bureau of the Fiscal Service IT assistant manager and mainframe system programmer, entered the race after noticing uncontested elections in past cycles. “I felt that there was no democracy there, and I wanted to make sure that people had a choice,” Rempel said. His platform centers on accountability for the Hope Scholarship program, reliable healthcare access for veterans, and protecting Social Security income for seniors.

Stephen Thomas Smith, a 67-year-old retired finance professional and former West Virginia University at Parkersburg professor, previously ran for the House in 2022. Smith stated he entered this year’s race after meeting Hartzog, though he offered a blunt assessment of his opponent’s background. “He needs to move ahead before he represents all of us in Charleston,” Smith said. Smith’s priorities include placing tighter fiscal parameters around school choice, reforming the foster care system, and addressing clean drinking water access.

Incumbent Vernon Criss Mounts Write-In Challenge

Del. Vernon Criss, 72, filed to run as a write-in candidate after losing the Republican primary to Hartzog. Criss attributed his primary defeat partly to the state Republican Party’s closed primary rules, noting that the nominee secured less than 4% of total citizens’ votes in District 12.

Criss, who works for a family-owned marine barge servicing business, has served in the House since 2017 following an earlier stint from 1987 to 1990. He has spent the last four years chairing the House Finance Committee. Running as a write-in, Criss points to his direct hand in crafting the state budget and eliminating taxes on veterans’ pensions and Social Security as core qualifications.

The primary contest drew significant financial involvement, with Gov. Patrick Morrisey and affiliated political action groups spending thousands of dollars to back Hartzog and oppose Criss. Hartzog maintained that he did not coordinate with the governor, adhering to election laws regarding super PAC independence.

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