CHARLESTON – A circuit judge has issued an order officially putting the ousted chairman of the Wood County Republican Executive Committee back in the position.
Kanawha Circuit Judge Joanna Tabit issued the final order February 21 granting Rob Cornelius’ Petition for Writ of Mandamus and Complaint for Declaratory Judgment.
"This is a victory for the law, our Constitution and the Republican voters of Wood County whose ballots were cancelled for nearly three years,” Cornelius told The West Virginia Record. “Judge Tabit's ruling speaks for itself.
“That an unrelated person or entity in another county has no ability to nullify an election in Wood County. That the State Republican Party must act lawfully in all facets, specifically WV Code 3-1-11 and follow it's own legal bylaws. That the will of the voters has primacy. And that my due process rights and the civil rights of voters in Wood County were absolutely violated, repeatedly, by Ms. Potter and those purporting to be the leadership of the West Virginia Republican State Executive Committee.”
Cornelius was removed from the position in 2019 by former state GOP Chairwoman Melody Potter. He filed his complaint soon thereafter against Potter and West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner.
The final hearing took place January 20. Tabit handed down her ruling that day following oral arguments, but the final order wasn’t issued until February 21.
The ruling restores Cornelius as a member of the Wood County committee and as its chairman. Tabit’s ruling also ordered Warner to accept a list of county executive committee members submitted by Cornelius after Potter made changes to the committee’s membership.
Potter had said she removed Cornelius from the post for comments he made about her and Gov. Jim Justice. Justice won election in 2016 as a Democrat, but he switched to the GOP in 2017 at the request of President Donald Trump. Potter also said Cornelius made personal attacks against her and Justice. Potter resigned as state GOP chairwoman in 2020.
Cornelius was represented by Tony Majestro and J.C. Powell of Powell & Majestro in Charleston. Potter was represented by Andrew Dornbos of Charleston, and Warner was represented by John Gianola of Gianola Barnum Wigal & London in Morgantown.
Cornelius said it’s now time to get back to work. He also said he is running for a spot on the Wood County GOP Executive Committee again this year. Such elections are held during the primaries of even-numbered non-presidential elections.
“We have a job to do in Wood County, to elect Republicans and give the folks here the conservative leadership they elected,” Cornelius told The Record. “I'm glad to be back at it and make sure we elect the best people this year.”
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 19-P-332
