Jeffrey Kessler
Jeffrey Kessler (Democratic Party) was a member of the West Virginia State Senate, representing District 2. Kessler assumed office in 1997. Kessler left office in 2016.
Kessler ran in a special election for judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. Kessler lost in the special general election on November 6, 2018.
Kessler is a former Democratic member of the West Virginia State Senate, representing District 2 from 1997 to 2016. Kessler served as minority leader from 2015 to 2016.[1] He was elected as the first acting Senate President in state history on January 12, 2011, after Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin (D) became acting governor following former Gov. Joe Manchin's (D) election to the U.S. Senate in November 2010.[2] On November 14, 2011, Kessler was sworn in as Senate President and Lieutenant Governor of West Virginia.[3] He served as president of the Senate and lieutenant governor from 2011 to 2014.
Biography
Kessler earned his B.A. from West Liberty State College in 1977. He went on to earn his J.D. from the West Virginia College of Law in 1981.[4]
Kessler has worked as attorney and partner for Berry, Kessler, Crutchfield, Taylor and Gordon. Previously, Kessler worked as an associate for Rickey, Chase, Chase and Hyre from 1981 to 1983. He also served as a municipal court judge in McMechen, West Virginia from 1982 to 1989. From the year of 1983 to 1997, Kessler worked as a city solicitor in Benwood, West Virginia. He went on to work as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Marshall County, West Virginia from 1985 to 2000.[4]
Committee assignments
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Kessler served on the following committees:
| West Virginia committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Confirmations |
| • Economic Development |
| • Finance |
| • Rules |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Kessler served on the following committees:
| West Virginia committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Rules, Chair |
| • Government and Finance |
| • Special Investigations |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Kessler served on these committees:
| West Virginia committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Children, Juveniles and Other Issues |
| • Economic Development |
| • Government and Finance |
| • Law Institute |
| • Rules, Chair |
| • Workforce Investment for Economic Development |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Kessler served on these committees:
| West Virginia committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Banking and Insurance |
| • Economic Development |
| • Energy, Industry and Mining |
| • Government Organization |
| • Judiciary |
| • Rules |
Issues
Future Fund
Kessler was a proponent of the West Virginia Future Fund. The bill died in committee during the 2013 session.[5]
Kessler planned to model the fund after the North Dakota Legacy Fund, which was set up to be financed by oil and gas revenue. Kessler's plan was to finance the West Virginia Future Fund with revenue from the burgeoning Marcellus shale industry. “If we can create the fund and begin investing in it now, it will send a powerful message to Wall Street that West Virginia, during these tough economic times, is not only balancing its budget but also saving for the future,” Kessler said. “A permanent endowment future fund will create real wealth and opportunity that will last long after the natural gas is gone.”[5]
Southern Coalfields Organizing and Revitalizing the Economy initiative
Kessler was an organizer of the Southern Coalfields Organizing and Revitalizing the Economy (SCORE) task force, which was "an initiative aimed to give southern West Virginia much-needed opportunities to diversify the economy and strengthen communities." It was placed on hold after the West Virginia State Senate shifted from a Democratic to a Republican majority.[6][7]
The initiative was a series of town halls held around the southern part of West Virginia to give community members an opportunity to discuss ideas and concerns regarding the economy and community. The final meeting was held in December 2014. “We’re committed to working together to try and improve the lot of the people of our state and particularly the distressed region of southern West Virginia that’s taken such a hit in the downturn of the coal market,” Kessler said after the final meeting.[6][8]
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2018
General election
Special general election for Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
The following candidates ran in the special general election for Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Evan Jenkins (Nonpartisan) | 36.0 | 182,133 | |
| Dennise Renee Smith (Nonpartisan) | 13.9 | 70,394 | ||
| Jeffrey Kessler (Nonpartisan) | 11.9 | 60,077 | ||
| Jim Douglas (Nonpartisan) | 9.4 | 47,609 | ||
| Robert Frank (Nonpartisan) | 5.9 | 29,751 | ||
| William Stewart Thompson (Nonpartisan) | 5.9 | 29,613 | ||
 | Jim O'Brien (Nonpartisan) | 5.7 | 28,766 | |
| Brenden Long (Nonpartisan) | 4.0 | 20,443 | ||
| Marty Sheehan (Nonpartisan) | 3.7 | 18,639 | |
| William Schwartz (Nonpartisan) | 3.6 | 18,291 | ||
| Total votes: 505,716 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||||
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2016
Kessler ran for the Democratic nomination for governor of West Virginia in 2016. He faced former United States Attorney Booth Goodwin and businessman Jim Justice in the Democratic primary. The election was to succeed Governor Earl Ray Tomblin (D), who was barred from running due to term limits.[9][10]
Jim Justice defeated Booth Goodwin and Jeff Kessler in the Democratic primary for governor.
| Democratic primary for Governor, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Jim Justice |
51.37% | 132,704 |
| Booth Goodwin | 25.32% | 65,416 |
| Jeff Kessler | 23.31% | 60,230 |
| Total Votes (1,745 of 1,745 precincts reporting) | 258,350 | |
| Source: MetroNews | ||
Primary race background
- Main article: West Virginia races we're watching, 2016
The Democratic contest focused on multiple issues, including jobs, the state's budget, infrastructure, and drug abuse.
Goodwin's campaign website emphasized his record as a prosecutor and stated his support for improving communication, transportation, natural gas mining and drinking water infrastructure; expanding community programs for children; higher teacher pay and expectations; and investments in tourism, law enforcement, and senior citizen programs.[11] It also pointed to his time as the federal prosecutor in the trial stemming from one of the worst mine explosions in United States history: the 2010 explosion of West Virginia’s Upper Big Branch mine that killed 29 men.[12]
Kessler's campaign website emphasized his record as a senator and stated his support for improving transportation infrastructure, increasing workforce participation, combating drug abuse through treatment programs, and investment in the state's Future Fund.[13][10]
Justice attributed many of the state's issues—including the teacher shortage, drug abuse epidemic, and the budget crisis—to a lack of available jobs. Justice was a businessman and the owner of Greenbrier, a resort located in West Virginia, as of the election.[14]
A March 9, 2016, a poll released by West Virginia Veterans, a nonprofit group, found that Justice led Goodwin and Kessler with 36 percent support from 600 likely Democratic primary contest voters in West Virginia. Goodwin received 20 percent, and Kessler received 16 percent, with 28 percent undecided. The full poll can be found here.
2012
Kessler ran in the 2012 election for West Virginia State Senate, District 2. Kessler ran unopposed in the May 8 primary election and was unchallenged in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[15][16][17]
2011
Kessler was one of six candidates running for the Democratic nomination in West Virginia's special election for governor. Other candidates included Secretary of State Natalie Tennant, State Treasurer John D. Perdue, House Speaker Richard Thompson, Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin, and Charleston, W.Va. landlord Arnie Moltis.[18]
His platform included raising the visibility of vocational schools, reforming the prison system, and keeping more mineral revenue in the state; he told an interviewer, "I’d rather see them leave it in the ground than give it away to someone else."[19]
Kessler placed 5th in the May 14, 2011 primary, with 5.30 percent of the votes.
| 2011 Race for Governor - Democratic Primary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Percentage | |||
| Jeffrey V. Kessler | 5.30% | |||
| Arnie Moltis | 0.38% | |||
| John D. Perdue | 12.54% | |||
| Natalie E. Tenant | 17.30% | |||
| Richard "Rick" Thompson | 24.11% | |||
 Earl Ray Tomblin
|
40.37% | |||
| Total votes | 126,888 | |||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Jeffrey Kessler was elected to the West Virginia State Senate, District 2.[20]
Kessler raised $23,875 for his campaign, while Brunner raised $5,295.[21]
| West Virginia State Senate District 2 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Jeffrey Kessler (D)
|
23,875 | 63.77% | ||
| Frederick Brunner (R) | 13,564 | 36.23% | ||
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.
2016
In 2016, the West Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 13 through March 12.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the West Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 14 through March 14.
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2014, the West Virginia State Legislature was in session from January 8 through March 10.
|
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Jeffrey and his wife, Gretchen, have had five children; Jacob, Lauren, Jackson, Hastings, and Griffin.[4]
Additional reading
- Ballot News: Lawmakers return from N.D. trip, push Future Fund, August 30, 2013
- Ballot News: W.Va. lawmakers planning trip to explore Future Fund, July 12, 2013
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Jeffrey Kessler West Virginia Senate. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Lieutenant Governor of West Virginia
- Lieutenant Governor
- West Virginia state executive official elections, 2011
- Earl Ray Tomblin
- West Virginia State Legislature
- West Virginia State Senate
- West Virginia Senate Committees
- West Virginia Joint Committees
- West Virginia state legislative districts
- Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
- West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals special elections, 2018
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
Footnotes
- ↑ West Virginia Legislature, "Members of the Senate," accessed January 24, 2015
- ↑ West Virginia WatchDog, "WVLEG: State Senate Changes Hands, Kessler Takes Reins," January 12, 2011
- ↑ The State Journal, "Art Kirkendoll, Jeff Kessler Sworn Into Senate Roles," November 14, 2011
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Project Vote Smart, "Jeff Kessler's Biography," accessed April 30, 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The Register-Herald, "Kessler not giving up on future fund," July 4, 2013
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 West Virginia Public Broadcasting, "State Lawmakers Meet in Fayette Co. to Discuss Revitalizing Southern Coalfields," November 19, 2014
- ↑ The Herald-Dispatch, "With GOP flip, W.Va. coalfields initiative on hold," November 12, 2014
- ↑ MetroNews, "Kessler says SCORE effort not wasted," December 22, 2014
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Morning digest: Now West Virginia Democrats get three gubernatorial candidates to choose from," January 7, 2016
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 National Journal, "Democrats face crowded primary in...West Virginia," January 5, 2016 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "bruggeman" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Booth Goodwin, "Official campaign website," accessed February 11, 2016
- ↑ The New York Times, "No Survivors Found After West Virginia Mine Disaster," accessed February 11, 2016
- ↑ Jeff Kessler, "Issues," archived March 18, 2016
- ↑ Wall Street Journal, "Jim Justice, West Virginia Billionaire, Launches Campaign for Governor," accessed January 26, 2016
- ↑ 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 WatchDog, "Eight Republicans, Six Democrats file for Governor," February 13, 2011
- ↑ The Register-Herald, "Gubernatorial candidate profiles: Democrat Jeff Kessler," April 23, 2011 (dead link)
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Election Results," accessed April 30, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 contributions," accessed April 30, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by ' |
West Virginia State Senate District 2 1996–2016 |
Succeeded by Mike Maroney (R) |
 |
State of West Virginia Charleston (capital) |
|---|---|
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