Mark Sorsaia, who served as cabinet secretary for the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security, is leaving his position to serve as a Putnam County Circuit Court judge.
Gov. Jim Justice announced his appointment to the 29th Judicial District during Wednesday’s press conference. Sorsaia has served as cabinet secretary since August last year, taking over the position after former minister Jeff Sandy retired.
Justice said Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Rob Cunningham will take over as interim head of the department following Sorsaia’s departure.
Before joining the state, Sorsaia worked for much of his career in the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office. He began his career there in 1988 as an assistant district attorney. He was first elected as the county’s prosecutor in 1996 and served five terms, which the judge said makes him particularly qualified to serve as a judge there.
“I don’t think anyone can dispute the qualifications you have to take this position,” Justice said of Sorsaia during the briefing.
Also on Wednesday, Justice appointed Raymond “Joe” Funkhouser to the House seat vacated last week by Del. Paul Espinosa, R-Jefferson, had become vacant. Espinosa has served in the House of Representatives since 2013 and decided to run for the Senate this election cycle. He lost his primary to incumbent Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, who received 51.1% of the vote compared to 48.9%.
During last week’s special session, it was announced that Espinosa was resigning from the House of Representatives months before the end of his term to work at the West Virginia Racing Commission. The Racing Commission is responsible for overseeing the breeding and racing of thoroughbred horses and greyhounds throughout the state of West Virginia.
Funkhouser — who is running for Espinosa’s House seat after winning the May primary against fellow Republican Barbara Fuller — also has ties to the state’s racing industry. Accordingly Reports At the West Virginia Ethics Commission, Funkhouser worked as a lobbyist for the Thoroughbred industry group West Virginia Racing United during the 2017 And 2018 legislative periods.
On his Campaign websiteAccording to Funkhouser, he supports the development of West Virginia into a “leader in free-market and conservative politics.” These include protecting Second Amendment rights, anti-abortion policies, government funding of charter schools, expanding the Hope Scholarship and reducing taxes.
Funkhouser will face the Democrats in November Troy Miller in the general election to retain control of the seat.
