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HARLESTON -- With two Republican senators not returning and a handful of new members, the West Virginia Senate Thursday updated its committee leadership positions.
Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, announced the new committee leadership in a press release.
"We have put together a leadership team that has knowledge, experience, and above all, a passion for making West Virginia a world-class leader in critical areas like education and economic development," Carmichael said. "We are blessed to have senators from across the state and a leadership team with such diverse careers and backgrounds."
One of the new committee assignments was announced two weeks ago when Carmichael appointed Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, as the new chair of the Senate Education Committee. She replaced Sen. Kenny Mann, R-Monroe, who will replace Rucker as vice chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Development Committee.
Sen. Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, will replace former senator Robert Karnes of Upshur County as vice chair of education. Karnes was defeated for re-election in the May Republican primary by Bill Hamilton, R-Upshur, who previously served in the House of Delegates.
Mann will also replace Sen. Greg Boso, R-Nicholas, as vice chair of the powerful Senate Finance Committee. Boso will replace former senator Ed Gaunch of Kanawha County as chair of the Senate Government Organization Committee. Gaunch lost re-election in November and was recently appointed by Gov. Jim Justice as secretary of the state Department of Commerce. Sen. Chandler Swope, R-Mercer, will become vice chair of the committee.
The second most powerful committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee, will not see any changes to committee leadership. Sen. Charles Trump, R-Morgan, chairs the committee, with Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Brooke, serving as vice chair.
Carmichael also announced earlier this month the appointment of Sen. Mike Maroney, R-Marshall, as the new chair of the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee, replacing the promoted Majority Leader Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha. Newly-elected Sen. Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, will take Maroney's place as vice chair of the committee. Maroney also replaces Sen. Donna Boley, R-Pleasants, on the Senate Military Committee.
Sen. Mike Azinger, R-Wood, will replace Karnes as chair of the Senate Pensions Committee, with Hamilton taking Azinger's place as vice chair. Takubo, as majority leader, will replace former senator Ryan Ferns of Ohio County on the Senate Confirmations Committee.
Sen. Mark Maynard, R-Wayne, was promoted to chair of the Senate Economic Development Committee, with Swope taking Maynard's place as vice chairman. Newly-elected Sen. Rollan Robert, R-Raleigh, will serve as vice chair of the Senate Enrolled Bills Committee. Azinger will take Maynard's place as vice chair of the Senate Interstate Cooperation Committee. Replacing Boso as chair of the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will be Sen. Charles Clements, R-Wetzel. Swope will replace Clements as vice chair.
Along with Judiciary, the Banking and Insurance; the Energy, Industry and Mining; the Natural Resources committees will see no committee leadership changes.
"Each of these chairmen and vice chairmen brings such a unique perspective, and I am excited to see the outstanding work that will come from them during the session," Carmichael said.
New W.Va. Senate Committee Leadership
Agriculture and Rural Development
Chairman Sen. Dave Sypolt, R-Preston
Vice Chairman Sen. Kenny Mann, R-Monroe*
Banking and Insurance
Chairman Sen. Mike Azinger, R-Wood
Vice Chairman Sen. Charles Clements, R-Wetzel
Confirmations
Chairman Sen. Donna Boley, R-Pleasants
Vice Chairman Sen. Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha*
Economic Development
Chairman Sen. Mark Maynard, R-Wayne*
Vice Chairman Sen. Chandler Swope, R-Mercer*
Education
Chairman Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson*
Vice Chairman Sen. Craig Blair, R-Berkeley*
Energy, Industry, and Mining
Chairman Sen. Randy Smith, R-Tucker
Vice Chairman Sen. Dave Sypolt, R-Preston*
Enrolled Bills
Chairman Sen. Mark Maynard, R-Mercer
Vice Chairman Sen. Rollan Roberts, R-Raleigh*
Finance
Chairman Sen.Craig Blair, R-Berkeley
Vice Chairman Sen. Kenny Mann, R-Monroe*
Government Organization
Chairman Sen. Greg Boso, R-Nicholas*
Vice Chairman Sen. Chandler Swope, R-Mercer*
Health and Human Resources
Chairman, Sen. Mike Maroney, R-Marshall*
Vice Chairman Sen. Eric Tarr, R-Putnam*
Interstate Cooperation:
Chairman Sen. Sue Cline, R-Wyoming
Vice Chairman Sen. Mark Maynard, R-Wayne*
Judiciary
Chairman Sen. Charles Trump, R-Morgan
Vice Chairman Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Brooke
Military
Chairman Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Brooke
Vice Chairman Sen. Mike Maroney, R-Marshall*
Natural Resources
Chairman Sen. Mark Maynard, R-Wayne
Vice Chairman, Sen. Kenny Mann, R-Monroe
Pensions
Chairman Sen. Mike Azinger, R-Wood*
Vice Chairman, Sen. Bill Hamilton, R-Upshur*
Rules
Chairman Sen. Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson
Transportation and Infrastructure
Chairman Sen. Charles Clements, R-Wetzel*
Vice Chairman Sen. Chandler Swope, R-Mercer*
Workforce
Chairman Sen. Chandler Swope, R-Mercer*
Vice Chairman Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Brooke
*New Assignments