Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
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Delegate Nathan Brown Sworn into Office

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Delegate Nathan Brown took the oath of office Thursday morning in the West Virginia House of Delegates chamber.

Brown, of Williamson, is a democratic member representing the 20th District, which covers parts of Logan and Mingo counties.

Brown works as a lawyer. He received his bachelor’s from the University of Pikeville, his M.B.A. from the University of Charleston, and his J.D. from Appalachian School of Law.

Joining him in Thursday’s ceremony was his wife Brandy and sons, Garrett, Grayson, and Gavin. Assistant House Clerk and Parliamentarian Bo Hoover administered the oath of office.

Delegate Rodney Miller Sworn Into Office

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Delegate Rodney Miller was sworn into office Wednesday afternoon in the West Virginia House of Delegates chamber.

Miller, of Madison, is a democratic member representing the 23rd District, which covers part of Boone County.

Circuit Judge William S. Thompson, from the 25th circuit, administered the oath of office. Miller’s son Michael, daughter Jennifer, wife Cozetta, and in-laws, Jim and Gay Salyer, assisted. 

Miller is a retired sheriff/executive director of the West Virginia Sheriffs’ Association. He received his bachelor’s from West Virginia State University and associate degree from West Virginia University Institute of Technology.

Delegate Jeff Campbell Sworn Into Office

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Delegate Jeff Campbell was sworn into office Wednesday in the West Virginia House of Delegates chamber.

Campbell, of Lewisburg, is a democratic member representing the 42nd District, which covers parts of Greenbrier, Monroe, and Summers counties.

House Speaker Roger Hanshaw administered the oath of office. Campbell’s brother Danny, and cousins, Joann Carter, and Jerri Gillespie, assisted.

Campbell graduated from Concord College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Bachelor of Science in Education. He was appointed to the House Nov. 9, 2017.

Delegate Chris Phillips Sworn into office

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Delegate Chris Phillips was sworn into office Monday morning in the West Virginia House of Delegates chamber.

Phillips, of Buckhannon, is a republican member representing the 47th district, which covers Barbour County and part of Tucker County. He works at a family business.

Assisting in Monday’s ceremony were Phillips’ girlfriend Lisa Weese; daughters, Cari, Annie, and Mimi; father Craig Phillips; son Logan Phillips; mother-in-law Candace Jacques; and brothers-in-law Matt Jacques, and John Sturn. House Clerk Steve Harrison administered the oath of office.

Delegate Christopher Toney Sworn Into Office

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Delegate Christopher Toney was sworn into office Monday morning in the West Virginia House of Delegates chamber.

Toney, of Beckley, is a republican member representing the 31st District, which covers parts of Raleigh and Wyoming counties. Toney works as a school bus driver.

He received his associate’s from New River Community and Technical College and his bachelor’s from Concord University.

Toney was surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues in Monday’s ceremony. His grandmother Judy assisted and his uncle Roger and pastor Matthew Denny led in prayers. House Clerk Steve Harrison administered the oath of office.

Delegate Lisa Zukoff Sworn Into Office

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Delegate Lisa Zukoff was sworn into office Monday morning in the West Virginia House of Delegates chamber.

Zukoff, of Moundsville, is a democratic member representing the 4th District, which covers Marshall County. She is a small business owner. She received her bachelor’s in political science from West Virginia University.

Zukoff’s husband Jack, daughter Kristen, granddaughter Charlee, sister Alice and aunt Paula assisted in Monday’s ceremony. House Clerk Steve Harrison administered the oath of office.

Delegate Evan Worrell Sworn Into Office

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Delegate Evan Worrell was sworn into office Friday afternoon. Worrell, of Barboursville, is a republican member representing the 18th district, which covers part of Cabell County.

Justice Tim Armstead administered the oath of office in Friday’s ceremony. Assisting were Worrell’s wife Jen; his children, Faith, Christian, Charlotte, Jack, and Eleanor; his mother Cheryl and father Jay; and his father-in-law Rex and mother-in-law Tami. 

Worrell works as a health care data management analytics consultant. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. 

Delegate John Mandt Jr. Sworn Into Office

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Delegate John Mandt Jr., was sworn into office Friday afternoon. Mandt, of Huntington, is a republican member representing the 16th district, which covers parts of Cabell and Lincoln counties.

West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Tim Armstead administered the oath of office in Friday’s ceremony. Mandt was surrounded by his family. His wife Ami, and children, Phillip, Briana, and Mason assisted.

Mandt is a restaurant owner. He previously served six years in the Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation District. 

Caleb Hanna sworn in to West Virginia House of Delegates

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Caleb Hanna was sworn in Wednesday morning in the West Virginia House of Delegates Chamber.

Hanna, of Richwood, is a republican delegate representing the 44th district, which covers parts of Nicholas, Randolph, Upshur, and Webster counties.

Justice Evan Jenkins swore him in. Hanna’s parents, Judy and Chuck, assisted. He was surrounded by family, friends, and eighth grade students from Sissonville Middle School.

Hanna is a full-time student, majoring in economics at West Virginia State University.

Office of Chief Medical Examiner Administrative Director Discusses Caseload, Staffing

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The West Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has faced issues with an increasing caseload and staff shortages, the administrative director told legislators in Monday’s Joint Standing Committee on the Judiciary.

Matthew Izzo, administrative director of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, said the office is budgeted for six people, including the position of the chief medical examiner, Izzo said. There are currently two vacancies. Izzo said based on West Virginia’s caseload and national certification standards, the office should have 10 people.

Since the beginning of this year, the office has had 7,100 cases. Out of those, 2,150 are autopsies. The caseload has steadily increased through the years. Izzo said this year marks a 14 percent increase from the previous year and a 30 percent increase from the year before.

Izzo said certification standards recommend that one forensic pathologist should not complete more than 250 autopsies for year. But Izzo says the office “far exceeds that.” The chief medical examiner did 415 autopsies last year, Izzo said, and is on pace to complete more than that this year.

The forensic pathologist who had the lowest number still had more than the recommended amount, performing between 380-390 autopsies. And that was with taking five months of maternity leave, Izzo said. Izzo estimated all pathologists will perform more than double the accreditation standards by the end of the year.

One issue he sees is that West Virginia needs to position itself to recruit more forensic pathologist. This year, 27 have graduated from fellowships throughout the country, he said. Those 27 graduates attended fellowships from a few dozen programs in the country, Izzo said. He listed programs in New Mexico, Ohio, and Maryland. He said there are fellowship seats that go unfilled and there are people who complete the program who do not end up practicing forensic pathology. 

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West Virginia State Police 1st Sgt. Scott Pettry and Parkersburg Chief of Police Joseph Martin, also addressed the committee Monday, discussing protocols for responding to missing persons reports.

Pettry delved into the state’s statistics. This year, the West Virginia State Police reported 68 missing persons. There are 211 reported missing for more than a year.

Pettry explained the State Police follow national procedures for entering missing persons on the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database. In that database, there are six categories: Disability, endangered, involuntary, juvenile, catastrophe, and other.

As of Oct. 31, there are 36 that fall into the disability category, 40 in endangered, 16 in involuntary, 193 juvenile cases, two missing under the catastrophe category and 94 other cases.

The oldest case in the system goes back to 1979—a case out of Gauley Bridge.

Pettry talked about the NamUs database, which is a repository system on missing persons and unclaimed deceased. The database is searchable by anyone but sensitive data is only available to the coroner’s office and law enforcement.

“This is an avenue that allows families to enter key information into the system that law enforcement has access to along with the general public,” Pettry said.

Pettry said he wants to introduce NamUs to law enforcement, dispatchers, and all cadet classes. He said he wants to teach them how to use the system along with the benefits of using it.