by Ron Gregory | ronjgregory@gmail.com
CHARLESTON — Kanawha County’s Republican Vice Chairman Lance Wheeler has filed to take on incumbent Democrat Commissioner David Hardy in the 2016 election.
Wheeler serves as Vice Chair of the County GOP executive committee. He lists a St. Albans address.Wheeler ran unsuccessfully in 2014 for the Republican nomination for State Senate from the 17th District. He lost that race to Dr. Tom Takubo, who went on to win the general election.
Wheeler attended the University of Kentucky before returning to his native St. Albans to help care for a grandparent. He also opened his own janitorial and commercial cleaning company.
After losing to Takubo, Wheeler served as the new Senator’s secretary during his first legislative session in Charleston.Hardy, a Pratt native, had already filed to seek another six-year term on the Commission. He previously served on Charleston City Council.