We have about one week remaining until the filing deadline for West Virginia’s May 12 primary election, and…honestly…I’m a little disappointed in what I’ve been seeing so far.

I’ve mentioned it before, but, while having more candidates does tend to mean more work for your local journalists covering these elections, it also means more choice for you, the voters. I prefer to see more names on the ballot no matter the election, because it means options.

There’s so much talk about wanting change, but how can that happen if only the incumbets are running for the office?

I’ve been monitoring the West Virginia Secretary of State’s website for the last two weeks, and I’m really hoping to see more names added to the roster of candidates before the Jan. 31 deadline.

The biggest race, as of the time I’m compiling this column Friday morning, is the election for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Shelley Moore Capito. Capito signed her paperwork to seek re-election in recent days, but there are several others who have thrown their names into the ring.

That includes four other Republicans and three Democrats.

They include current state Senator Tom Willis, a Republican from Martinsburg, along with other primary challengers David Purkey of Fairmont, Janet McNulty of Martinsburg, and returning candidate Alexander Gaaserud or Parkersburg. Current Democrat challengers are Rachel Fetty Anderson of Morgantown, Rio Phillips from Charleston, and Zachary Shrewsbury of Princeton.

There are two candidates seeking to represent the northern part of the state in Congress’ other chamber, the House of Representatives, with incumbent Riley Moore (nephew of Shelley Moore Capito), and Democrat Steven Wendelin of Lost City.

Looking toward Charleston, there currently are two candidates seeking the seat up for grabs this year in the West Virginia Senate which represents our area of District 1: incumbent Laura Wakim Chapman and challenger Joe Eddy. Both are Republicans from Wheeling.

As of 10 a.m. Friday, only the incumbents were listed on the Secretary of State’s website as registering for our local seats in the West Virginia House of Delegates, even though there previously had been those expressing interest in offering a challenge.

Pat McGeehan in District 1, Mark Zatezalo in District 2, and Jimmy Willis in District 3 will, again, be unopposed unless someone else completes their registration by the end of the month.

Locally, there are a handful of seats set to appear on the ballot, including one spot each in our respective county commissions.

Eron Chek, incumbent Republican from Weirton, has filed her paperwork in the hopes of returning for a second term in Hancock County

There are a few county magistrate spots going before the voters as well, with all resulting from appointments to unexpired terms.

In Hancock County, Matt Harvey of New Cumberland has signed up to make his appointment last year permanent in Division 2. Brooke County, meanwhile has Sarah E. Delong in District 1 and Michelle Heaton in District 2. Both also were appointed to fill vacancies and are hoping for election to a full term.

Kevin Himmelrick, of Colliers, has signed up to seek the Brooke Commission seat representing the Weirton District. Notably absent, to date, is incumbent Stacey Wise.

Brooke County’s school board has three candidates for its three seats set to appear on the ballot. Incumbents Ted Pauls of Bethany and Kristin Newton of Follansbee are set to seek re-election, while Pete Bolock of Weirton has registered for the third seat currently held by Stacy Hooper.

That brings us back to Hancock County.

You’ve hopefully read the article in Friday’s edition where we noted that no one had thrown their hat in for the three seats on the ballot for that county’s board of education.

That was still the case of of this writing, and I know it’s a complicated situation, but it would be nice to still see someone put their name out there. For all intents and purposes, the Hancock County Board of Education is all but powerless after the school district was taken over by the state just over a week ago.

I can’t imagine it’s an appealing spot to seek an office where you, realistically, aren’t making the decisions, but it’s still important to have people in there when the time does come where the local board is back in control.

In the event no one signs up, or if vacancies remain after the election, it’s my understanding those seats would be filled by appointment from the West Virginia Superintendent of Schools. More concerning though, is if those seats remain empty for a sizeable period of time, business can’t be conducted as it would leave only two current members of the board in place.

There’s still a week – the deadline, again, is Jan. 31 – so I would hope if there is anyone still planning, or even thinking about, stepping into the world of government, especially local government, they take this opportunity.

(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter/X @CHowellWDT)