1996 West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals election

Not to be confused with 1996 West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals special election.

1996 West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals election

←  1992 November 5, 1996 1998 (special)  →

← 1984 2008  →

Nominee Spike Maynard Larry Starcher Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 307,700 306,731 Percentage 31.61% 31.52%   Nominee John C. Yoder Richard A. Robb Party Republican Republican Popular vote 182,423 176,462 Percentage 18.74% 18.13%

Justices before election Arthur M. Recht Democratic Joseph Albright Democratic Elected Justices Spike Maynard Democratic Larry Starcher Democratic

The 1996 West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals election took place on November 5, 1996, to elect two Justices of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia for the next 12 years. The election was concurrently held with a separate special election to complete Franklin Cleckley's unexpired term on the court. The electoral system requires voters to vote for no more than two candidates.

The original holders of the two seats up for election, Democratic Justices William T. Brotherton Jr. and Richard Neely, both retired in 1995. They were replaced by Arthur M. Recht and Joseph Albright, both appointed by Democratic Governor Gaston Caperton. However, both were defeated in the Democratic primary election by Larry Starcher and Spike Maynard, both Circuit Court Judges.

In the general election, Starcher and Maynard managed to defeat Republican candidates John C. Yoder, a State Senator from the 16th district, and Richard A. "Richie" Robb, mayor of South Charleston.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominees

• Larry Starcher, judge of 17th Circuit Court.
• Spike Maynard, judge of 30th Circuit Court.

Eliminated in primary

• Joseph Albright, incumbent Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals.
• Arthur M. Recht, incumbent Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals.
• John R. Frazier, Mercer County Circuit Judge. ^[1]
• Brian Gallagher, member of the House of Delegates from Monongalia County. ^[2]

Results

May 14, 1996 Democratic primary ^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Larry Starcher	110,875	23.88%
	Democratic	Spike Maynard	92,075	19.84%
	Democratic	Joseph Albright (incumbent)	87,892	18.93%
	Democratic	Arthur M. Recht (incumbent)	63,746	13.73%
	Democratic	John R. Frazier	56,390	12.15%
	Democratic	Brian Gallagher	53,231	11.47%
Total votes			464,209	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominees

• John C. Yoder, State Senator from the 16th district.
• Richard A. "Richie" Robb, mayor of South Charleston.

Results

May 14, 1996 Republican primary ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John C. Yoder	71,906	50.60%
	Republican	Richard A. "Richie" Robb	70,190	49.40%
Total votes			142,096	100.00%

General election

Results

1996 West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals election ^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Spike Maynard	307,700	31.61%
	Democratic	Larry Starcher	306,731	31.52%
	Republican	John C. Yoder	182,423	18.74%
	Republican	Richard A. "Richie" Robb	176,462	18.13%
Total votes			973,316	100.00%
	Democratic hold
	Democratic hold

References

1. "Lees files for governor's race". Point Pleasant Register . January 31, 1996.
2. Rochelle Olson (January 23, 1996). "Gallagher touts legislative experience in running for court". Point Pleasant Register .
3. "West Virginia Blue Book - 1996 - Pages 552-553" (PDF). West Virginia Legislature.
4. "West Virginia Blue Book - 1996 - Page 581" (PDF). West Virginia Legislature.
5. "West Virginia Blue Book - 1997 - Page 714" (PDF). West Virginia Legislature.