New Ag Commissioner Elected

Kent Leonhardt has become the first Republican in 28 years to win election as West Virginia’s agriculture commissioner. Leonhardt defeated incumbent Democrat Walt Helmick on Tuesday night in a rematch of the 2012 race. Leonhardt will be the first Republican agriculture commissioner since Cleve Benedict was elected in 1988 and served a four-year term. Currently a state senator, Leonhardt raises sheep, cattle and goats and sells hay from a 380-acre farm in Monongalia County. Helmick is a former state senator and delegate who runs a spring water bottling company with his wife on their 200-acre farm in Pocahontas County. Helmick is the last remaining Democratic elected agriculture commissioner in the country — only 12 states actually elect them.