TUNNELTON, W.Va.– New 52nd District Delegate Steven Shaffer sees Preston County’s place in the state legislature much like West Virginia’s situation in the federal government, an area that can get overlooked simply because it doesn’t have the population of other regions.
“It’s like West Virginia compared to California, New York or Florida in the national government and where does West Virginia stand compared to them?” says Shaffer who will assume the seat formerly held by Democrat Larry Williams.
Williams stepped down in April to take a job with the state Department of Agriculture. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin appointed Shaffer to the seat this week from a pool of three candidates.
Shaffer, who ran for the state senate in 2012, wants to bring a voice to a part of the state he feels is sometimes voiceless.
“Preston County is a rural county but it is filled with good people. We need infrastructure and we need businesses,” asserted Shaffer.
Shaffer says he was honored when he learned on Wednesday he had been appointed to the seat. He adds he has large shoes to fill following Delegate Williams in Charleston.