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Sheriffs' association backs constitutional tweak so appointees can serve full terms; committee forwards SJR 8
Summary
Senate joint resolution 8 would change county sheriff term‑eligibility so appointees who fill vacancies with less than two years remaining may still serve subsequent terms; the Sheriffs' association testified in favor and the committee reported the resolution to the full Senate.
Senate Joint Resolution 8, a proposed constitutional amendment to alter term‑eligibility rules for county sheriffs, drew support from the West Virginia Sheriffs association and was reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee to the full Senate.
Counsel summarized the measure: under current rules, anyone who serves any part of two consecutive terms is ineligible for the following term; the resolution would exempt appointees who filled a vacancy with less than two years left in the term from that restriction. Rodney Miller, executive director of the West Virginia Sheriffs, told the committee the change is meant to be fair to officeholders who fill unexpected vacancies and noted three current sheriffs (Upshur, Berkeley and Lincoln counties) would be affected by the existing rule.
Miller said the association endorses the resolution because appointees who serve less than two years should be eligible to run for two full terms afterward. The committee voted to report SJR 8 to the full Senate with a recommendation that it be adopted, under its original double committee reference to the Finance Committee.
