A recent candidate has entered the race for Raleigh County Attorney.
Wyoming County native Jordan Adkins is running as a candidate for Raleigh County prosecutor against incumbent Benjamin Hatfield, who was the subject of a recent domestic violence petition and is under investigation by the FBI and the West Virginia Bar.
Adkins said he was aware of the allegations against Hatfield, and while it influenced his decision to run, it wasn’t the only reason.
“It wasn’t the deciding factor,” Adkins said. “Running for office, trying to make a positive impact and positive change in the community, was something I always tried to do and I just saw this as an opportunity to do that.”
Adkins earned a bachelor’s degree in political science, geography and philosophy from Concord University.
He began law school at West Virginia University College of Law, where he received his law degree in 2020, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
After graduating from law school, he worked for two years at Hamilton Burgess Young & Pollard, PLLC in Fayetteville, practicing bankruptcy and consumer litigation.
At the end of 2022, he began working at the Mercer County Public Defender’s Office in Princeton, where he worked for a year and a half. Adkins said he worked on all types of cases there, including felonies, misdemeanors, truancy, juvenile cases, mental hygiene, extraditions and more.
“In almost all cases where someone was accused of committing a crime, I was able to represent them,” he said.
Most recently, Adkins worked for Katz, Kantor, Stonestreet & Buckner, PLLC, where he handled family law, personal injury and medical malpractice cases.
Adkins said he left the firm in September because he wanted to find a way to operate his law degree to support more people.
“I knew I wanted to do something that would make a difference and help people in the community, and I saw this as a chance to do that,” he said.
Adkins, who has lived in Raleigh County for the past four years, said he believes he can bring a recent perspective and perspective to the DA’s office.
“I’m not entirely fascinated by the justice system there, which seems to be the root of some of the current problems,” he said. “So I think I can definitely come in there and bring a fresh perspective to make positive changes and look at it from a different point of view.”
Adkins said he likes that the office is more see-through about all the issues it deals with, not just the ones that make headlines.
Hatfield, a Republican, was elected in 2020.
Hatfield does not face any Republican challenger in the May 2024 primary election, nor does he face a Democratic opponent in the upcoming general election.
This means that Adkins, as a registered candidate, is the only person running against Hatfield in the race for Raleigh County prosecutor.
How to vote for candidates entered in the register
To be considered a write-in candidate, you must report to the appropriate office no later than 49 days before the election.
Tammy Richardson, chief election official for the Raleigh County Clerk’s Office, confirmed Tuesday that Adkins had filed the necessary paperwork to be considered a candidate for Raleigh County prosecutor.
As the name suggests, Adkins will not appear on the ballot for the 2024 WV general election, but must be listed by voters wishing to vote for him.
Richardson said Adkins’ name will appear on a list of registered candidates that will be posted at every polling place. This list will also include the names of everyone who has expressed interest in running for any office, from President of the United States to Treasurer of West Virginia.
Richardson said Adkins is the only registered candidate to file in the Raleigh County race.
Richardson said that due to the county’s electronic voting systems, there will be a “write-in” box under each race on the ballot.
Email: jmoore@
