Howard
HUNTINGTON - Barboursville attorney Greg Howard has kicked off the race for a Cabell Circuit Court judicial seat.
Howard announced last week that he filed pre-candidacy paperwork to run for the open judge's seat.
A seat recently became open when Judge John Cummings announced he would not run for re-election after 17 years as a circuit court judge.
Howard is currently a partner in the law firm Bailey & Howard, PLLC. He said he started hearing rumors about a year ago that there would be an open seat, and he decided it would be an opening he wanted to explore.
" I saw the opportunity to mix my profession with public service," Howard said. " I though it would be a great opportunity to go ahead and file."
Howard said his first job in the legal field was as a law clerk for Cummings, and at that time he became interested in a career as a judge.
"Over the past 10 years I tried to make my practice well-rounded," he said. "I've tried to get experience in all different types of legal work to make me a more well-rounded candidate for a judge."
In addition to being a partner in his law firm, Howard has recently been named Chief Counsel for West Virginia Secretary of State Betty Ireland. He is also a former Cabell County Assistant Prosecutor.
Others who already have announced plans to run for a spot on Cabell Circuit Court are Paul Farrell and Frances Jane Hustead.