Craig Howell REPUBLICAN NOMINEE – Tony Viola, of Weirton, took the Republican primary for the District 2 seat in the West Virginia House of Delegates, Tuesday, unseating long-time incumbent Mark Zatezalo.

WEIRTON – A political newcomer unseated a long-time incumbent in the race for the Republican nomination for West Virginia’s House of Delegates District 2 on Tuesday night.

According to unofficial votes, Tony Viola of Weirton received a total of 626 votes, compared to 465 votes for incumbent delegate Mark Zatezalo.

“I want to acknowledge Mark Zatezalo and his years of service to Brooke and Hancock counties,” said Viola shortly after the full results were announced, adding he appreciates Zatezalo operating a clean campaign.

The vote was broken down to 287 votes for Viola in Brooke County, with 121 for Zatezalo. In Hancock County, Zatezalo led with 344 votes compared to 339 votes for Viola.

“I really feel representatives should reflect the times of the people at hand,” Viola said, explaining he believes his experience in real estate and economic development, along with his involvement in the community, have prepared him to serve in Charleston and work for the people of the 2nd House District.

He said one of his major goals is to continue working on infrastructure needs in the area, pointing, in particular, to concerns with the water system in Weirton, saying he plans to continue lobbying for grant funding and other support to address the needs of the people.

As a first-time candidate, he said he is excited by the outcome and looks forward to getting to work.

“The odds were stacked against me, so I appreciate the voters’ support,” he said.

Viola currently is set to face Democratic challenger Daniel Joseph Day, also of Weirton, in the November general election.

Day received 828 votes in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.

Zatezalo said he had been hoping to serve another two years, pointing to the accomplishments of the West Virginia Legislature in recent years, as well as potential goals in the coming years.

“I believe I could have helped with what’s coming,” he said.

He acknowledged, though, political decisions, such as the vote by the West Virginia Republican Executive Committee to close the party’s primary to independent voters, could have played a role in Tuesday’s results.

In other local House of Delegates races, incumbent Republican Pat McGeehan was the lone candidate in his primary in District 1, receiving 1,546 votes. McGeehan will face Democrat Quincy Wilson in November’s general election. Wilson received 776 votes in the Democratic primary for the district.

In District 3, Republican incumbent Jimmy Willis received 775 votes. He will face Democrat Mike Robinson, who received 758 in the district’s Democratic primary.