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ELKINS -- Four candidates have filed to run for Randolph County's second circuit judge position in the May 14 primary.
For the second circuit judge position, now known as Division 2, the candidates who have filed include Frank P. Bush Jr., Ray Lamora III, William "Ty" Nestor and Jaymie Godwin Wilfong.
Bush is a former prosecuting attorney in Randolph County, while Lamora is a former prosecuting attorney in Tucker County who currently works for Legal Aid of West Virginia.
Nestor, who is currently a Republican delegate representing the 66th District, recently announced that he would not seek re-election to the state legislature in order to run for Randolph's second circuit judge position.
Godwin Wilfong formerly served as a circuit judge and family court judge in Randolph County.
Current Circuit Court Judge David Wilmoth's term will end at the end of 2024. Wilmoth's position (Division 1), along with the newly added second judge in the county (Division 2), will both be on the ballot May 14.
Wilmoth has filed to run for re-election. As of Thursday there were no other candidates listed for Division 1.
"We are in the middle of the filing period for the primary election and at this point and time only David Wilmoth has filed for Division 1," Randolph County Clerk Brenda Wiseman told The Inter-Mountain Thursday. "Everyone else who has filed has filed for Division 2."
After House Bill 3332 was signed into law by Gov. Jim Justice in 2023, Randolph County was required to have two circuit judges beginning in the year 2025. The bill created new judicial circuits for the state and assigned the number of judges each one will have.
"The judges' race is a nonpartisan race, so it will be determined during the primary election," Wiseman said. "It won't go on to the November general election; it will be determined in the primary. There's two divisions, a Division 1 and a Division 2, and when the candidates file to run with the Secretary of State's office, they choose what division they want to run for."
The filing period for candidates will remain open until midnight on Jan. 27.
Early voting for the May 14 primary election will take place from May 1 to May 11. Randolph County residents wishing to vote early can do so at the Wees Annex on Randolph Avenue in Elkins, and at the Russell Memorial Public Library in Mill Creek.