(a) (1) Any person desiring to contest the qualifications of another person whose nomination in the primary election, nomination by petition, or nomination by appointment to fill a vacancy on the ballot, has been certified and filed pursuant to article five, chapter three of this Code, as a candidate for the office of county commission at a general election, shall file a verified petition specifically setting forth the grounds of the challenge not later than thirty days after the date of the primary election.
(2) The court may permit a petition to be filed after the thirtieth day after the primary election upon a finding that the petitioner was unable to discover the grounds for challenging the qualifications of the candidate prior to the thirtieth after the primary election despite the exercise of reasonable diligence.
(3) The petition shall be filed with the circuit court of the county in which the candidate is seeking office.
(b) The circuit court shall at the earliest possible date set the matter for hearing, but in no event shall the hearing be held later than thirty days after the filing of the petition.
(c) The matter shall be tried by the circuit judge, without a jury. After hearing the evidence, the circuit judge shall determine whether the candidate whose qualifications have been challenged is legally qualified to have his or her name placed upon the ballot in question. The circuit judge shall issue a written decision on each challenge by separately stating findings of facts, conclusions of law within ten days of the conclusion of the hearing.
(d) The burden of proof shall be upon the petitioner, who must show by a preponderance of the evidence of the record as a whole that the candidate is not qualified to be a candidate for county commission.
(e) Within five days after judgment is rendered by the circuit court, the petitioner or the candidate, or both, may file an appeal in the Supreme Court upon giving a cost bond in the sum of $300. The appeal shall be immediately docketed in the Supreme Court and shall be decided at the earliest possible date, as a preference case over all others.
(f) The procedure set forth above shall be the sole and only manner in which the qualifications of a candidate for county commission may be challenged prior to the time of his or her election. After any such person has been elected to public office, the election may be challenged as otherwise provided by law. After any person assumes an elective office, his or her qualifications to hold that office may be contested as otherwise provided by law.
Structure West Virginia Code
Chapter 7. County Commissions and Officers
Article 1. County Commissions Generally
§7-1-1. County Commissions Corporations; How Constituted; Election of President
§7-1-1b. Legislative Findings; Qualifications for County Commissioners
§7-1-3. Jurisdiction, Powers and Duties
§7-1-3bb. Levy For, Establishment and Operation of Sheltered Workshops; Financial Aid
§7-1-3d. Levy For, Establishment, and Operation of Fire Prevention Units; Financial Aid
§7-1-3e. Acquisition of Land For, and Operation Of, Public Refuse Dumps and Sanitary Landfills
§7-1-3ee. Providing for Payment of Service Fees at Banking Institutions
§7-1-3f. Establishment and Operation of Garbage and Refuse Collection and Disposal Services
§7-1-3g. Acquisition, Operation, and Maintenance of Sewerage Systems and Sewage Plants
§7-1-3gg. Lease Agreements for Equipment or Materials With Option to Cancel or Renew
§7-1-3i. County Commission May Cooperate With Other Governmental Units
§7-1-3k. Authority to Lease, Rent or Permit the Use of County Property
§7-1-3kk. Authority to Provide for the Elimination of Hazards to Public Health and Safety; Penalty
§7-1-3m. Authority to Employ, Fix Compensation for and Discharge Personnel
§7-1-3mm. Transfer of Development Rights in Growth Counties
§7-1-3n. Authority of Certain Counties as to Building and Housing Codes; State Building Code
§7-1-3oo. Authority to Enter Into Energy-Savings Contracts
§7-1-3p. Authority to Require Permits for Mobile Homes or House Trailers; Penalty
§7-1-3pp. Additional Powers and Duties of Commission; Areas of Special or Unique Interest
§7-1-3rr. Accessible County Records; Required Information
§7-1-3s. Authority to Govern Traffic and Parking; Rules and Regulations; Penalties
§7-1-3tt. Restriction on the Regulation of Trades, Occupations, and Professions
§7-1-3u. Authority of Counties and Municipalities to Treat Streams to Prevent Floods
§7-1-3x. County Information Referral Service
§7-1-3y. Authority to Grant Funds to Nutrition Programs
§7-1-3z. Authority of Counties to Govern Business of Massage
§7-1-5. Duties of County Commissioners; Payment for Services Other Than Services in Court
§7-1-5a. Excusal of Commissioner From Voting Where Conflict of Interest Involved
§7-1-6. Power to Punish for Contempts
§7-1-8. Continuance of Matters at End of Session
§7-1-9. Creation of Special Funds
§7-1-10. Special Account for Federal and State Grants-in-Aid Authorized
§7-1-11. Purchasing in Open Market or Competitive Bids; Debarment
§7-1-12. Authority for Establishing County Curfews; Jurisdiction for Violations
§7-1-13. Regulation of Amateur Radio Antennas
§7-1-15. Challenge of Candidate for County Commission; Residency