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New West Virginia Delegate Appointed to Fill Vacancy
By: Associated Press
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has appointed Trenton C. Barnhart to a vacant state House of Delegates seat.
Justice’s office said in a news release that Barnhart is a lifelong resident of Pleasants County and lives in St. Marys. His was among three names that the West Virginia Republican Party submitted to Justice.
The vacancy was created last month by the resignation of Republican Del. Jason Harshbarger. Harshbarger has been assistant majority whip and chairman of the committee on natural resources. He was also on the energy, judiciary and industry and labor committees.
Harshbarger has been employed by Dominion Energy for 14 years. A company spokeswoman said earlier that he would become the company’s state policy director but won’t lobby the legislature until a year after his resignation.