Former South Charleston Mayor Richie Robb Wins State Senate Seat
Robb defeated Anne Charnock in November with 14,732 votes, raising the Democratic count in the West Virginia Senate to four.
By Chioma Brooks ·
Richie Robb defeated Republican incumbent Anne Charnock in the November election for the unexpired 17th State Senate District.
The former mayor of South Charleston received 14,732 votes, securing 53 percent of the total. This victory, combined with the win in the 13th District by John Williams, increases the Democratic caucus in the state Senate from two members to four. Robb served as mayor of South Charleston for eight terms over 32 years, a period during which he frequently traveled to the Capitol to testify on matters affecting local government and economic development. He first won the mayoral race at age 29. His successor, Frank Mullens, recently won a sixth term in that office.
Robb attributed his electoral success to a desire for change among voters in his district and roughly half of Kanawha County. He stated that he believes the state and nation are moving in the wrong direction and intends to steer them toward a different path. He plans to draw on his decades of local leadership experience, emphasizing the importance of listening to constituents to determine their needs and making informed decisions based on those observations.
Robb is scheduled to take office in January. He identified public education as a critical factor for West Virginia’s future, arguing that a strong education system supports economic development. He noted that the two areas are not mutually exclusive and that a solid public education system will bolster the state’s economic resources, which have diminished in recent years.
