Seventh District Senator Paul Hardesty resigned the West Virginia State Senate last week.
The Senator officially left the Senate Monday, November 30. Hardesty said the specific day has no meaningful significance.
“It was nothing more than coinciding with my state retirement,” Hardesty assured. “We’re not doing anything in the Senate right now, so I thought it was a good time to exit stage left.”
Hardesty was appointed to the state legislature in 2019 by Governor Justice following the abrupt resignation of former Senator Richard Ojeda. Hardesty did not run for election to the office in the 2020 election cycle.
Republican Rupert “Rupie” Phillips was elected in November. Phillips’ term begins in January.
Hardesty hopes the best for his successor, but admits Phillips has his work cut out.
“We’ve had a loss of property evaluation in the five-county region over the last five years in excess of $1 billion,” Hardesty said.
Moreover, Hardesty said any new attacks on coal mining from the federal government could be devastating.
“It will be tougher and tougher for Southern West Virginians to make it and survive.”
The Seventh Senate District comprises Logan, Boone, Lincoln and portions of Mingo and Wayne counties.