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Ex-US Attorney Announces Run for West Virginia Governor
By: Associated Press
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – Former U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin has announced a bid for West Virginia governor, joining an already-contested Democratic primary.
Goodwin touted his record as a prosecutor while launching his campaign Wednesday in Charleston.
Goodwin filed pre-candidacy papers Friday with the secretary of state, four days after announcing he was stepping down as southern West Virginia’s top prosecutor.
His resignation came less than a month after the federal trial of ex-Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship. The coal executive faces up to a year in prison for conspiring to purposely violate mine safety standards.
Goodwin joins billionaire coal businessman and owner of The Greenbrier resort Jim Justice and state Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler in the Democratic primary in May.
West Virginia Republicans largely have unified around state Senate President Bill Cole.