West Virginia Secretary of Commerce
| West Virginia Secretary of Commerce | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $120,000 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $5,644,603 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Concurrent with the term of the governor |
| Authority: | West Virginia Code §5F-1-2 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by Governor |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
West Virginia Secretary of Commerce
Matt Herridge | |
| Other West Virginia Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education• Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner• Natural Resources Commissioner • Secretary of Commerce • Commissioner of Labor • Public Service Commission | |
The West Virginia Secretary of Commerce is an appointed state executive position in the West Virginia state government. The Department of Commerce was created in 2005, when the West Virginia Legislature reorganized the Bureau of Commerce and renamed the office, consolidated additional agencies under the department, and created the cabinet-level position of Secretary of Commerce, who is the chief executive officer of the department.[1]
Current officeholder
The current West Virginia Secretary of Commerce is Matt Herridge (nonpartisan). Herridge assumed office in 2025.
Authority
The office of the secretary of commerce is established by §5F-1-2 of the West Virginia Code.[2]
Qualifications
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that establishes the requirements necessary to qualify for a state executive office. That information for the West Virginia Secretary of Commerce has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Appointments
The secretary of commerce is appointed by the governor, with the consent of the state Senate, for the term for which the governor is elected.[3]
Vacancies
In the event of a vacancy, the governor appoints a replacement, by and with the consent of the state Senate, for the term for which the governor is elected.[3]
Duties
As of January 2021, the stated mission of the Department of Commerce was:[4]
| “ | The West Virginia Department of Commerce’s mission is to promote and preserve the well-being of the citizens of West Virginia by providing a cooperative, interagency system that stimulates diverse economic growth, encourages the appropriate use of our state’s abundant natural resources, improves the safety and productivity of our workforce and promotes the beauty and desirability of our state as a world-class tourism destination.[5] | ” |
Divisions
As of January 29, 2021, agencies within the Department of Commerce included:[4]
- Development Office
- Division of Forestry
- Division of Labor
- Division of Natural Resources
- Tourism Office
- Geological & Economic Survey
- Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training
- WorkForce WV
- The Division of Rehabilitation Services
State budget
- See also: West Virginia state budget and finances
The budget for the West Virginia Secretary of Commerce in Fiscal Year 2025 was $5,644,603.[6]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $120,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $95,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2021
In 2021, the commissioner received a salary of $95,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2020
In 2020, the commissioner received a salary of $95,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2019
In 2019, the commissioner received a salary of $95,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2018
In 2018, the commissioner received a salary of $95,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2017
In 2017, the commissioner received a salary of $95,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2016
In 2016, the commissioner received a salary of $95,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2015
In 2015, the commissioner received a salary of $95,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2014
In 2014, the secretary received a salary of $95,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2013
In 2013, the secretary received a salary of $95,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2012
In 2012, the secretary received a salary of $70,000 according to the Council of State Governments.
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the West Virginia Secretary of Commerce has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
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Contact information
West Virginia Department of Commerce
1900 Kanawha Blvd
Building 3, Suite 600
Charleston, WV 25305
Phone: (304) 558-2234
See also
| West Virginia | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ West Virginia Department of Commerce, "About commerce," accessed January 3, 2012
- ↑ West Virginia Code, "§5F-1-2. Executive departments created; offices of secretary created," accessed January 29, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 West Virginia Code, "§5B-1-1. Department of Commerce; office of Secretary of Department of Commerce," accessed January 29, 2021
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedabout - ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ West Virginia Legislature, "Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 200," accessed January 23, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 29, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 29, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 29, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 29, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 8, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 31, 2014
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