Ronald Miller is resigning his position as state senator of West Virginia’s 10th District. He will soon join Governor Jim Justice’s cabinet as agricultural liaison, working to help promote West Virginia’s agricultural development.
“I’m looking forward to getting started in the governor’s office as agricultural liaison,” said Miller. “I hope to do some good for the industry.”
Miller will be leaving his position effective Saturday, September 30, after handing in his resignation two days before. West Virginia’s 10th District, including Greenbrier, Monroe, Summers, and Fayette counties, will be left without a senator until a replacement is found.
The process of choosing a replacement for Miller begins with the assembly of an executive committee, which will select three possible replacements, from which Justice will decide. The procedure for selecting a replacement also mandates that the new senator be affiliated with the same party as the departing senator.
“There was speculation that the governor might pick a Republican, but that’s not right,” Miller said. “The committee has to pick a Democrat.”
According to Miller, the committee will present three possible replacement options to Justice in approximately two weeks, around October 13. The governor will then make the final decision as to who will replace Miller in the state Senate.
Miller also expressed some shock with how fast the story of his resignation spread, saying that after he turned in his resignation, he was already seeing publications about it, despite having not released a press statement.
“I’m a little shocked; the press was able to report [so fast],” Miller said. “It was [about] 2 [PM] the same day.”
West Virginia Commissioner of Agricultural Kent Leonhardt applauded Miller’s decision to join his team.
“I have always worked well with Ron,” said Leonhardt. “It is refreshing to see that our state’s leaders are finally taking agriculture seriously. With the right team, I know agriculture will be a part of West Virginia’s comeback story. … We are moving full steam ahead to grow agriculture in our state. I’m extremely happy the governor is jumping on board.”
Read more in the Friday, September 29, edition of The WV Daily News.
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