by Ron Gregory
ronjgregory@gmail.com
CHARLESTON — Former House of Delegates member Nancy Guthrie is apparently considering a run for Mayor of Charleston.
A robotic telephone survey Thursday afternoon ended with a tag line saying it was paid for by Guthrie’s committee.
The survey itself asked those called to rate six different individuals. Those given the highest marks received a “1” while “5” was assigned to the lowest.
Named were Charleston City Councilman Andy Richardson, Guthrie, former Assistant to the Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin, former Delegate Mark Hunt, Councilwoman Mary Jean Davis and Delegate Mike Pushkin.
Both Richardson and Goodwin have told friends they are planning to run for Mayor when Danny Jones’ term ends. Jones, the city’s longest serving mayor, has said he will not seek re-election.
Guthrie toyed with the possibility of running for other offices in 2016 before filing for re-election. She lost, finishing fourth in the three-member House district.
Goodwin is the wife of former United States Attorney Booth Goodwin, who successfully prosecuted coal baron Don Blankenship. In addition to serving as an assistant to Mayor G. Kemp Melton, Amy Goodwin worked as press spokesman for Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and as director of tourism activities for the state.
According to knowledgeable sources, Hunt has given no indication of being interested in the Mayor position. He is a former Democrat member of the House of Delegates. It is not known if Davis or Pushkin are considering the seat.
All of those listed are Democrats who apparently would run in the Democrat city primary. Mayor Jones has endorsed Republican J.B. Akers as his successor.