Collett wins Randolph Commission seat
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ELKINS - Republican Russ Collett won election to the Randolph County Commission’s Tygart District seat Tuesday night.
Collett received 4,009 votes across the county, topping Democrat Steve Wamsley, who totaled 3,166 votes in the General Election. The Tygart District Tseat was held for years by the late Chris See, and is currently filled by Kenna Barger, who is not on the ballot.
Collett told The Inter-Mountain Tuesday evening that it was “exciting” to win.
“I’ve never run for anything before so it’s a little bit stressful,” Collett said after the election results were read at the Randolph County Courthouse Tuesday night. “It’s one of those things where… I just want to come home and help my community.
"This place has been very good to me growing up… this is home, and I want our community to be the best it can be and it’s already a great place to be and a great place to raise your children, so, we’re excited.”
Collett currently serves as superintendent of Hampshire County Schools. Collett is an Elkins High School graduate who attended Shepherd University. He is a former football coach at Tygarts Valley and Philip Barbour high schools. Collett also served as an assistant superintendent in the Upshur County Schools system.
When asked Tuesday night how he would be approaching the County Commission’s new EMS fee, Collett said it’s been very difficult to take a stance for or against the fee.
“You can’t come out and be against the fee because then you don’t support emergency responders and EMS,” Collett said. “You also can’t be for the fee cause then you’re against small business. I want to help small business and I want to help our emergency responders.
"What a lot of people don’t know, what I’ve learned through all the meetings I’ve attended and talked with a lot of people, it’s more than EMS that needs help. Our volunteer fire departments need help. Our 911 center needs help. I think we need to take a different look, maybe, at the budget.”
As a Randolph County Commissioner, Collett said he plans to prioritize accountability, transparency and communication with the community. He also stated he plans to learn as much as he can from his fellow commissioners in Randolph, as well as other elected officials around the state.
Collett thanked everyone who came out and voted during this election cycle, “period.”
“Even if you didn’t vote for me, that’s totally OK,” Collett said. “I’m an old history teacher. I was excited to see the numbers be so much higher than they were in the spring. Makes my heart feel good. Especially those people that supported me and voted for me, and everybody that had kind words. I’ve never had so many people reach out.”