Each day while the House and Senate are in session, lawmakers follow parliamentary procedures, sometimes so routinely, they do so without thinking about the specific rules and structure involved in holding a floor session.
However, House Clerk Gregory Gray and Senate Clerk Darrell Holmes think more about this process during each session than anyone else, not only because it is their job, but also because of their love for the legislative process and their role in it.
“Rules of procedure provide a road map, a framework for the sessions,” House Clerk Gray said. “Someone has to direct the process for people to follow.”
Gray and Holmes lead the members of the House and the Senate during each session by serving as custodians of the official records, keeping the Journal, preparing the electronic voting systems, assisting in taking the count of votes and supervising the clerical business of the houses.
Both Clerks are nominated and elected every two years by the members of the chamber they serve.
Members of the House of Delegates first elected Gray in 1996 and have continued to elect him for 10 years. Gray first came to the West Virginia Legislature in 1973, when he worked under former House Clerk, C.A. Blankenship. His duties included a variety of tasks, including file clerk, messenger, proofreader and gopher.
“Something I will never forget about my responsibilities was that I had to make sure the coffee pot was always fresh,” Gray said.
In his first years of service, Gray was greatly influenced by the House Parliamentarian Oshel Parsons, who took him under his wing. Parsons stressed the importance of the record, proofreading, committee assignments and, according to Gray, he instilled the importance of respecting the House as an institution.
“He [Parsons] told me once that it didn’t matter what they did on the floor, as long as the record is correct,” Gray said. “Because when we’re long gone, it’s the record that stays here – not us.”
When Parsons passed away in 1978, Gray became the House Parliamentarian. Upon his election to House Clerk in 1996, Gray combined the two positions into one because he said he believes the two positions are important to the duties of the House Clerk.
Gray is responsible for 75 part time employees during the regular session and special sessions. When the Legislature is not in session, he oversees 49 full time employees.
Another major responsibility for Gray when the Legislature is not in session is preparing, organizing and distributing the Acts of the Legislature – one of the largest publications printed by the West Virginia Legislature. Published each year, the book is the official record of all bills passed by both houses that have become law and resolutions adopted.
While the House Clerk is responsible for proofreading the bills and resolutions published in the Acts of the West Virginia Legislature, Gray said they only perform grammatical edits, never making a correction that would change the meaning of the law.
Senate Clerk Holmes also has a long history of service in the West Virginia Legislature. Before being elected to the position in 1989, Holmes had 15 years of legislative experience.
In 1974, he was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates as a representative from Kanawha County. After serving in the House for eight years, Holmes continued his political career in the Senate, where he served until 1989.
While Holmes had served as a lawmaker from 1974 to 1989, his passion for the legislative process lead him to becoming the Senate Clerk, a position Holmes says he has truly appreciated over the years.
“It has been an experience I have enjoyed,” Holmes said. “After serving in the Senate I thought it would be interesting to be here full time.”
One aspect of the job Holmes says he loves most is meeting lawmakers from different districts across the state.
“Each member comes from a different environment and has their own personality,” he said. “It makes each session unique and memorable.”
Holmes explained he has enjoyed learning the positive and negative effects about proposed measures. He also said that all legislation that passes might not have a direct impact on the entire state, but it does have an important effect upon a certain district.
“I can read legislation and have my opinion, but it is enjoyable to hear both sides,” he said. “No matter what legislation is introduced, someone is influenced by it tremendously.”
While the Senate is in the regular session or a special session, Holmes oversees 110 part time employees; however, when the Senate is not in session, he is responsible for 39 full time employees.
The Senate Clerk also is responsible for the other major publication printed by the West Virginia Legislature. Each year, the West Virginia Blue Book is produced by the Senate Clerk’s Office. It is a detailed guide of the year’s officials in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of state and federal government. The book includes the Constitutions of both the United States and West Virginia, as well as information on state and federal agencies, counties, municipalities and other organizations.
Holmes said he also enjoys his duties when the Legislature is not in session, including arranging visits for groups and meeting with them once they arrive to discuss the legislative process.
For more than 30 years, both Holmes and Gray have played a role in the legislative process, an experience neither one would change.
“It has been tremendous to have been here since 1974,” Holmes said. “Very few people have the privilege to serve the Senate.”
As Holmes continues to perform a duty he considers a privilege, Gray also continues to be grateful for his position as House Clerk.
“I like my job a lot,” Gray said. “I cannot imagine anything I would rather have done.”
