Zakaib
CHARLESTON - In most of the circuit court races across the state, incumbents seem to lead the way back to the bench Tuesday.
In Kanawha County, current judge Paul Zakaib, a Republican, defeated John G. Hackney, Jr., by more than 10,800 votes, according to unoffical results.
Also in Kanawha County, Democratic judges Irene Berger, Tod Kaufman, Louis Bloom, Jennifer Bailey Walker and Charles King, as well as Republican James Stucky, ran unopposed.
In Division 5 of West Virginia's 23rd Judicial Circuit, Democrat Gina M. Groh seemed to have her spot secure. Groh, the district's first female judge, was appointed in 2006 by Gov. Joe Manchin. The district consists of Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan Counties, the three easternmost counties in the state.
Groh unofficially defeated Republican Harry P. Waddell, an attorney. Results are unofficial until the week after the election.