The West Virginia Senate Chamber. (West Virginia Legislative Photography)
Dr. Steven Eshenaur, Health Officer of the Ministry of Health at Kanawha-Charleston, started a campaign for the Senate of West Virginia on Thursday.
Eshenaur was the KHD Public Health Officer and Executive Director Since March 2022. He is currently the Fayette County Health Officer.
He runs as a Republican for the Senate seat of the 8th district, which is currently held by Senator T. Kevan Bartlett, also Republican. This district represents Clay and Roane Counties as well as parts of Kanawha, Wirt, Jackson and Putnam Counties.
“In recent years in public health, I have had the opportunity to clarify members of the legislator about health issues,” said Eshenaur. “Now I had the need to join them to provide additional medical know -how and to improve the life of all West Virgins.”
After Foreign Minister West VirginiaBartlett has submitted preparations for pre -quandids to keep his current position in the upcoming elections in 2026. Bartlett was appointed Senate in the Senate in January to fill the seat after the former Senator Mark Hunt had won the election as the state auditor.
Kanawha County Commissioner Lance Wheeler, a Republican, is also a campaign for the seat.
Another candidate, Chase Linko-Looper, is listed as a pre-candidate and runs as a member of the Mountain Party for the seat.
Eshenaur said that he feels about his chances in one, which has already developed into a crowded republican area code.
In addition to his role in the Ministry of Health, Eshenaur continues to work as an emergency doctor at the WVU-Jackson General Hospital in Ripley and two other regional hospitals. At the age of 30 in the US Army, he previously worked as the west virginia National Guard and as a medical director of the Summit Bechtel reserve.
ESHENAUR said that his career focused on public health and health policy – Eshenaur holds a Master of Business Administration for the healthcare system and a doctor of osteopathic medicine – his campaign of the Senate of 2026 State Senate largely focuses on creating jobs and the improvement of the economy.
He is the owner of Trophy Whitetail Hunts in Kenna, a tiny company that operates hunting tours for paying customers. He also operates the lodge that is bound to the hunting area.
“This is the most important piece that I would like to add to the legislator – a focus on our economy. It is the sheet that all ships rises,” said Eshenaur. “I have experienced the challenges in business in West Virginia and the importance of supporting companies so that they can offer our employees better opportunities.”
Eshenaur said that he was concerned about continuous removals in the legislator to lift the certificate of needs. He worked in rural hospitals, he said, he saw first -hand how critical they are to keep the communities safe and sound. He said he fears that Con repeal could threaten these tiny, critical access hospitals.
“I’m just not sure if we can afford this risk,” said Eshenaur.
As a health officer, Eshenaur was opposite Regarding legislative attempts to water the strict vaccine requirements in West Virginia for children of school age. He testified to the legislator In terms of meaning Vaccines for children for public health and the task of childhood criticized claims People who say that the requirements of the state vaccine will not endanger the health of the community.
The law of West Virginia comprises some of the strongest guidelines for the immunization of childhood in the country. In recent years, however, a growing group of republican legislators has removed these guidelines due to concerns regarding personal freedom.
Bartlett, in the legislative period 2025, agreed to support Add laws non -medical exceptions to the requirements for the state’s school vaccine. This calculation ultimately failed in the househowever Executive order From governor Patrick Morrisey to doing it is still in force. Litigation Is still running In relation to the executive regulation.
Eshenaur said that he was still steadfast in his support for the politics of common sense-a single in the mighty demands on the vaccine in childhood, which will probably reappear in the next legislative period.
With his background – and his experience still treats patients in rural West Virginia – he would like to clarify members of the Senate about these questions in order to form a better policy.
“I demonstrated for a lifetime after the servant of West Virginians, from the first to the war as a member of the West Virginia National Guard at the age of 20,” said Eshenaur. “I would like to continue to serve you with the same grain and reliability with which I grew up.”
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