Fifth Term Sought
By JOSELYN KING
POSTED: October 29, 2007
WHEELING — Delegate Randy Swartzmiller, D-Hancock, has announced that next year he will seek election to a fifth term the West Virginia House of Delegates.
Two seats actually will be up in the district next year — those of Swartzmiller and of current House Majority Leader Joe DeLong, both D-Hancock. DeLong will instead seek the office of Secretary of State, resulting in an open seat in the district.
Swartzmiller is the fourth candidate and third Democrat to enter the race. Other Democrats having filed are Ted Arneault Jr. and Benson Manypenny, and Patrick McGeehan has filed as a Republican.
“I provide leadership, a strong voice and experience,” Swartzmiller said. “This is important, especially in light of Delegate DeLong moving on.”
Swartzmiller said voters shouldn’t want to be sending two new people to Charleston. “It takes too long to learn the process, who the people are and what you can do for the area,” he said.
Swartzmiller serves as chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, and served on the government organization, political subdivisions and veterans affairs committees.
He is a Hancock County native who graduated from Oak Glen High School in 1978. He then went on to West Liberty State College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree through the Regents Program there and graduated magna cum laude.
Swartzmiller presently is a regulatory specialist for Ergon West Virginia Inc., a refining plant. He oversees regulatory and security issues there.
He also is working on a master’s degree through Mountain State University.
When the state Legislature completes its session each day, most lawmakers quickly head out and back to their offices or the next meeting. Swartzmiller typically walks out the front door to the chamber toward the rotunda, where he takes in the day’s displays and speaks to those present.
He can also tell you just how many steps there are at each entrance to the Capitol building as he has been known to come back and jog up and down them in the evenings.
“I enjoy what I am doing,” Swartzmiller said. “I feel that I am an extension of the people, and that I am helping them to achieve their dreams. I like being a part of that.”
