John Ellem
John N. Ellem (b. July 19, 1967) was a 2016 candidate for the West Virginia Judicial District 4 in West Virginia.[1] Ellem lost in the general election on May 10, 2016.
Ellem is a former Republican member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, representing District 10 from 2001 to 2014. Ellem did not seek re-election in 2014.
Biography
Ellem earned his B.S. from Wheeling Jesuit University in 1989. He went on to receive his J.D. from West Virginia University College of Law in 1992.
Ellem has worked as a Legal Intern for the Office of Legislative Services. He was a Lawyer for Goodwin and Goodwin Limited Liability Partnership from 1992 to 2000. He has worked as a Lawyer for Ellem Law Office since 2000.
Previously, Ellem served as a Parliamentarian for the Wood County Republican Executive Committee from 1996 to 1997.[2]
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Ellem served on the following committees:
| West Virginia committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Judiciary, Minority Chair |
| • Constitutional Revision |
| • Natural Resources |
| • Joint Judiciary |
| • Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority |
| • Special Investigations |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Ellem served on these committees:
| West Virginia committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Constitutional Revision |
| • Judiciary, Chair |
| • Joint Judiciary |
| • Natural Resources |
| • Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority |
| • Special Investigations |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Ellem served on these committees:
| West Virginia committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Constitutional Revision |
| • Judiciary |
| • Natural Resources |
| • Political Subdivisions |
Elections
2016
West Virginia held general elections for county judicial offices on May 10, 2016. This date coincided with partisan primaries for statewide and federal offices. The 2016 election was the first nonpartisan election for the state's judicial seats since statehood in 1863. Learn more about this change here. Candidates interested in filing for the election submitted paperwork by January 30, 2016. Jason Wharton defeated John Ellem in the general election for the West Virginia Judicial Circuit 4, Division 3 seat.[1]
| West Virginia Judicial Circuit 4, Division 3 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Jason Wharton |
60.89% | 12,700 |
| John Ellem | 39.11% | 8,157 |
| Total Votes | 20,857 | |
| Source: West Virginia Secretary of State, "Election Results Center," accessed May 10, 2016 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election of judges
The judges of the West Virginia Circuit Court are elected in nonpartisan elections to serve eight-year terms. Judges must run for re-election when their terms expire.[3]
The chief judge of each circuit court is selected by peer vote. Term lengths vary by circuit.[3]
Qualifications
To serve on a West Virginia Circuit Court, a judge must be:[3]
- a citizen of West Virginia for at least five years;
- a resident of his or her circuit;
- at least 30 years old; and
- practiced in law for at least five years.
2012
Ellem ran for re-election in the 2012 election for West Virginia House of Delegates, District 10. Ellem, incumbent Tom Azinger, and Frederick Gillespie advanced unopposed in the May 8 primary election. He was challenged by Tom Azinger, Frederick Gillespie, and Daniel Poling in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[4][5][6]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tom Azinger Incumbent |
27.1% | 12,955 | |
| Republican | John Ellem Incumbent |
26.7% | 12,801 | |
| Democratic | Dan Poling Incumbent |
24.7% | 11,844 | |
| Republican | Frederick Gillespie | 21.5% | 10,280 | |
| Total Votes | 47,880 | |||
2010
Ellem was re-elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates District 10. He is one of the three District 10 Delegate positions on the ballot in the November 2, 2010, general election. He was opposed by Democrat Daniel Poling, and Republicans Frederick David Gillespie and Thomas Azinger in the general election. The three top vote-getters were elected. He defeated Republicans Courtney L. Ahlborn, Bill Bell, Denny Harton, Eric Jiles and Randall Rapp in the May 11 primary election.[7][8][9]
| West Virginia House of Delegates, District 10 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| John Ellem (R)
|
10,307 | 28.05% | ||
| Thomas Azinger (R)
|
9,853 | 26.82% | ||
| Daniel Poling (D)
|
8,592 | 23.38% | ||
| Frederick Gillespie (R) | 7,992 | 21.75% | ||
| West Virginia House of Delegates, District 10 Republican Primary (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Thomas A. Azinger (R)
|
2,613 | 16.93% | ||
| John N. Ellem (R)
|
2,558 | 16.57% | ||
| Frederick David Gillespie (R)
|
1,567 | 10.15% | ||
| Randall Carson Rapp (R) | 1,557 | 10.09% | ||
| Eric Shane Jiles (R) | 1,402 | 9.08 % | ||
| Denny P. Harton (R) | 1,263 | 8.18% | ||
| Courtney Lynne Ahlborn (R) | 847 | 5.49% | ||
| William Russell Bell (R) | 429 | 2.78% | ||
2008
In 2008, Ellem was re-elected to the West Virginia House District 10. Ellem (R) finished with 11,003 votes. Ahead of him was Tom Azinger (R) with 11,067 votes and behind him were Dan Poling (D) with 10,086 votes, Brenda Brum (D) with 10,077 votes, Frederick Gillespie (R) with 9,040 votes and Iris McCrady (D) with 6,389 votes.[10] Ellem raised $20,943 for his campaign fund.[11]
| West Virginia House District 10 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Tom Azinger (R)
|
11,067 | |||
| John Ellem (R)
|
11,003 | |||
| Dan Poling (D)
|
10,086 | |||
| Brenda Brum (D) | 10,077 | |||
| Frederick Gillespie (R) | 9,040 | |||
| Iris McCrady (D) | 6,389 | |||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of West Virginia scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2014
In 2014, the West Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 8 through March 10.
- Regenerate WV - House only
- Legislators are scored on their votes for or against Regenerate WV's position.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on lawsuit-related legislation.
- Legislators are scored by the West Virginia Sierra Club on their votes on the Water Resources Protection Act and its amendments.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Ellem and his wife, Sherry, have one child.
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "John + Ellem + West + Virginia + House"
See also
- Courts in West Virginia
- Local trial court judicial elections, 2016
- West Virginia State Legislature
- West Virginia House of Delegates
- West Virginia House Committees
- West Virginia Joint Committees
- West Virginia state legislative districts
External links
- West Virginia Judiciary Court Information by County
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative Profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Candidate Search," accessed February 16, 2016
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Rep. Ellem," accessed April 30, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: West Virginia," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ WBOY.com, "West Virginia General Election Results November 6, 2012," accessed November 7, 2012
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Statewide Results - General Election - November 6, 2012," accessed February 12, 2014
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Statewide Results - Primary Election - May 8, 2012," accessed February 12, 2014
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Statewide Results - General Election - November 2, 2010," accessed February 11, 2014
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Statewide Results - Primary Election - May 11, 2010," accessed February 11, 2014
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Election Results," accessed April 30, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "West Virginia House election results," accessed April 30, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 contributions," accessed April 30, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
West Virginia House of Delegates District 10 2000-2014 |
Succeeded by Mike Azinger (R) |
Federal courts:
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia
State courts:
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia • West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals • West Virginia Circuit Courts • West Virginia Family Courts • West Virginia Magistrate Courts • West Virginia Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in West Virginia • West Virginia judicial elections • Judicial selection in West Virginia
