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Walt Helmick
Walt Helmick (b. April 25, 1944 in Webster Springs, WV) was a Democratic West Virginia commissioner of agriculture. He ran for re-election to a second term in 2016. He was unseated by Kent Leonhardt in the general election on November 8, 2016.
Helmick was a Democratic member of the West Virginia State Senate. He represented District 15 from his appointment in 1990 to 2012. Previously, he served in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1988 to 1989.
Biography
Helmick's political experience began with his membership on the Pocahontas County Board of Education from 1976 to 1978. He was also president/member of the Pocahontas County Commission from 1978 to 1989.
Helmick has worked as owner and operator of a small business and also as a school teacher. He was president of H and S Welding Supply from 1973 to 1987. He also was president of Allegheny Medical Equipment Company from 1983 to 1986. He then worked as vice-president for Quaill Hollow Mining Company from 1987 to 1988. From 1996 to 1997, Helmick was Executive Director of Pocahontas County Development Authority.[1]
Education
Helmick attended Marshall University. He graduated from Menderhall School of Auctioneering in 1991. He went on to earn his B.A. from West Virginia University Institute of Technology in 1993. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute in 1996.
Political career
West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture (2013-2017)
Helmick assumed office as the West Virginia commissioner of agriculture in January 2013. He lost his re-election bid in 2016.
West Virginia State Senate (1990-2012)
Helmick represented District 15 in the West Virginia State Senate from 1990 to 2012.
Committee assignments
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Helmick served on these committees:
- Agriculture Committee, West Virginia State Senate
- Banking and Insurance Committee, West Virginia State Senate
- Council of Finance and Administration, West Virginia State Legislature, Chair
- Economic Development Committee, West Virginia State Senate
- Economic Development Committee, West Virginia State Legislature
- Energy, Industry and Mining Committee, West Virginia State Senate
- Finance Committee, West Virginia State Senate
- Finance Committee, West Virginia State Legislature
- Forest Management Review Commission, West Virginia State Legislature
- Government and Finance Committee, West Virginia State Legislature
- Government Operations Committee, West Virginia State Legislature
- Natural Resources Committee, West Virginia State Senate
- Special Investigations Committee, West Virginia State Legislature
- Water Resources Committee, West Virginia State Legislature
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Helmick served on these committees:
- Agriculture Committee, West Virginia Senate
- Banking and Insurance Committee, West Virginia Senate
- Economic Development Committee, West Virginia Senate
- Energy, Industry and Mining Committee, West Virginia Senate
- Finance Committee, West Virginia Senate
- Natural Resources Committee, West Virginia Senate
- Rules Committee, West Virginia Senate
West Virginia House of Delegates (1988-1989)
Elections
2016
Helmick ran for re-election as commissioner of agriculture of West Virginia in 2016. He was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. He competed in the November 8 general election with state Rep. Kent Leonhardt (R), whom Helmick defeated in the 2012 election, and Libertarian Buddy Guthrie.
General election results
Kent Leonhardt defeated incumbent Walt Helmick and Buddy Guthrie in the West Virginia agriculture commissioner election.
| West Virginia Agriculture Commissioner, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Kent Leonhardt |
48.41% | 321,560 | |
| Democratic | Walt Helmick Incumbent | 41.28% | 274,191 | |
| Libertarian | Buddy Guthrie | 10.31% | 68,502 | |
| Total Votes | 664,253 | |||
| Source: West Virginia Secretary of State | ||||
Primary election results
Incumbent Walt Helmick ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for agriculture commissioner.
| Democratic primary for Agriculture Commissioner, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Walt Helmick Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 194,220 |
| Total Votes (1,745 of 1,745 precincts reporting) | 194,220 | |
| Source: MetroNews | ||
2012
Helmick won election as West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture.[2] He defeated Sally Shepherd, Steve Miller, Bob Tabb and Joe Messineo in the Democratic primary on May 8.[3] Helmick defeated Kent Leonhardt in the general election on November 6, 2012.[4]
Incumbent Gus Douglass did not run for re-election.
| West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Walt Helmick |
51.5% | 268,879 | |
| Republican | Kent Leonhardt | 48.5% | 252,783 | |
| Total Votes | 521,662 | |||
| Election results West Virginia Secretary of State Election Results Center | ||||
| Agriculture Commissioner of West Virginia Democratic Primary, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
| Walt Helmick |
32.9% | 59,376 | ||
| Sally Shepherd | 24.6% | 44,454 | ||
| Steve Miller | 21.7% | 39,130 | ||
| Joe Messineo | 13.6% | 24,613 | ||
| Bob Tabb | 7.2% | 12,976 | ||
| Total Votes | 180,549 | |||
| Election results via The West Virginia Secretary of State. | ||||
Endorsements
Helmick received endorsements from:[5]
- The Charleston Daily Mail
- Times West Virginian
- West Virginia Chamber of Commerce
- West Virginia Hospital Association
- West Virginia Manufacturers Association
- West Virginians for Life
Candidacy questioned
In late-February 2011, Joe Starcher filed a suit against Helmick claiming that he failed to meet the requirement that a candidate for Agriculture Commissioner must have an agriculture business for at least ten years as his chief business.
Chapter 19, Article 1 of West Virginia Code stipulates the commissioner of agriculture "shall be a practical farmer, learned in the science of agriculture, and shall have made agriculture his chief business for a period of ten years immediately preceding his election."[6]
Helmick claimed that he has a business that qualifies.[7] The Charleston Gazette reported "According to his financial disclosure filed with the state Ethics Commission, Helmick's primary occupations are as state senator and owner of Allegheny Lodge LLC, a Pocahontas County company that produces bottled water and rents vacation cabins."[8] On February 27, the state Supreme Court refused to hear Starcher's writ, saying it was premature and should be heard in circuit court first.[9]
On March 1, a Kanawha County Circuit judge refused the petition, ruling Helmick could remain on the ballot.[10]
2010
Walt Helmick was re-elected to West Virginia State Senate, District 15. He defeated Democrat Thomas Ditty in the May 11 primary. He defeated Republican Greg Brown in the November 2, 2010, general election.[11] [12][13]
| West Virginia State Senate, District 15 (2010) General Election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Walt Helmick (D)
|
19,192 | 57.01% | ||
| Jeremy Bauserman (R) | 14,470 | 42.99% | ||
| West Virginia State Senate, District 15 Democratic Primary (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Walt Helmick (D)
|
6,864 | 43.59% | ||
| Thomas Paul Ditty (D) | 3,310 | 21.02% | ||
2006
On November 7, 2006, Walt Helmick won re-election to the West Virginia State Senate, District 15. He was unopposed.[14]
Helmick raised $111,431 for his campaign.[15]
| West Virginia Senate, District 15 (2006) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Walt Helmick (D)
|
21,509 | |||
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.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Helmick and his wife Rita Fay Hedrick have four children.
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Walt + Helmick + West + Virginia + Agriculture"
External links
- Official campaign website
- Biography from the West Virginia Legislature
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 1998
Footnotes
- ↑ Project Vote Smart - Sen. Helmick
- ↑ The Charleston Gazette, "Law clerk joins state Supreme Court race," January 25, 2012
- ↑ The Republic, "State Sen. Helmick wins 5-way Democratic race to become WV agriculture commissioner nominee," May 8, 2012
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Election Results" accessed November 6, 2012
- ↑ Helmick for West Virginia, "Endorsements," accessed August 10, 2012
- ↑ '"West Virginia Code," accessed June20, 2011
- ↑ The Republic, "W.Va. Supreme Court asked to knock lawmaker-candidate off ballot in race for agriculture chief" 2/24/2012
- ↑ Charleston Gazette, "Citizen files challenge to Helmick's ag commissioner candidacy," February 24, 2012
- ↑ Charleston Gazette, "State Supreme Court refuses to hear ag commissioner challenge," February 27, 2012
- ↑ The State Journal, "Kanawha court OK's Walt Helmick's run for agriculture commissioner," March 1, 2012
- ↑ West Virginia official list of 2010 candidates
- ↑ Official Primary Results SOS
- ↑ 2010 General Election results
- ↑ Official Returns for the 2006 Election, Office of the WV Secretary of State
- ↑ 2006 Follow the Money
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Gus Douglass (D) |
West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture 2012–2017 |
Succeeded by Kent Leonhardt (R) |
| Preceded by - |
West Virginia State Senate District 15 1990–2012 |
Succeeded by Donald H. Cookman (D) |
| ||||||||||||||
