No drama in commission, assessor races as turnout dips below 30%

May 14—MORGANTOWN — There wasn't much drama to be had in the county races for the Western District seat on the Monongalia County Commission and Monongalia County Assessor.

Both races featured two candidates, each of whom was unopposed in the primary and will represent their respective parties in November's general election.

In the county commission race, incumbent Democrat Tom Bloom received 6, 201 votes. Bloom is seeking his third six-year term on the commission.

He'll face off against Republican MaryAnn (Babich) Folz in the general election. Folz received 5, 721 votes on Tuesday.

In the race for the assessor's office, incumbent Democrat Mark Musick received support from 6, 690 primary voters in his push for a fourth four-year term in the position.

Rich Jacobs, a Republican, previously worked as a field deputy in the county assessor's office. He received 5, 642 votes.

As for Tuesday's turnout, presidential primary numbers continued to drop for a third consecutive cycle.

A total of 17, 651 ballots were cast out of 62, 829 registered voters, for an unofficial turnout of 28.09 %.

That's down from 38.31 % turnout in 2016 and 31.68 % turnout in 2020.

As for party affiliation, the county's registered voters are split pretty evenly three ways between Democrats (22, 778), Republicans (20, 772) and non-partisan (19, 129). There are 151 county residents registered under the Mountain Party.

All vote totals are unofficial until certified.