by Ron Gregory
CHARLESTON — Multiple sources confirmed Saturday afternoon that State Auditor Glen B. Gainer III plans to resign his office.
The confirmation cames after weeks of speculation by political insiders that Gainer, who earlier filed pre-candidacy papers to seek another four-year term in 2016, would not stand for re-election. Democrat leaders had been quietly discussing the possibility prominently during the past few days.
According to two sources, who asked not to be named, the Democrat preference for Gainer’s replacement would be Cabell County Delegate Doug Reynolds. Reynolds has been considering a run for Attorney General, sources have said. If he were to be appointed as Gainer’s replacement, he would obviously have the upper hand toward a potential Democrat nomination in 2016 for Auditor.
Gainer hails from a Wood County family that has held the Auditor position for decades. He is just the latest in a series of Gainers to be elected State Auditor.
In an unrelated political development, Lincoln County Assessor Josh Brumfield, a Democrat, has resigned his post, effective next week.
Brumfield is in his third year as Lincoln’s Assessor, having defeated veteran Lincoln politician Tracy Dempsey to claim the job.
Sources close to Brumfield said he was “disgusted” with his proposed budget from the County Commission. Lincoln, as with other Southern West Virginia, has suffered economically from the downtown in the coal industry. The sources also said Brumfield had agreed to accept a position “back in education, which is his primary field of interest anyway.” Brumfield had been a successful coach and school administrator prior to running for Assessor in 2012.
Brumfield completed his previous education career at Boone County’s Scott High School in Madison.
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