Modesitt changes mind, files pre-candidacy papers
By PAMELA BRUST, pbrust@newsandsentinel.comPARKERSBURG -After stating publicly last fall he would not seek re-election, Wood County Commissioner Rick Modesitt has filed precandidacy papers to run for office.
Filing precandidacy papers allows candidates to raise funds for a run for office. Modesitt filed his documentation May 4 in the Wood County Clerk's office.
"Actual filing of certificates of announcement for candidacy for office begins Jan. 11 to Jan. 30, 2010," deputy clerk Melody Ross said.
Back in September 2008, Modesitt notified the county Republican executive committee he would not seek re-election in 2010 when his current term ends. Republican chairwoman Beverly Lockhart confirmed she received the letter from Modesitt and said at the time it was presented to the executive committee. At that time, Modesitt refused comment to The Parkersburg News and Sentinel regarding his decision.
Contacted Wednesday about the recent filing, Modesitt told the newspaper he literally had a change of heart.
"I have had a change of heart in more ways than one. One of the reasons why I had contemplated not running was that I was having some heart issues last year that were causing me great concern and worry. That was in the fall of last year, but those problems have since been corrected. I'm feeling fine now and moving forward, thus the change of heart," he said.
"In addition, not a week goes by that someone is urging, suggesting I reconsider. We have a relatively young commission, with one new commissioner and one four-year commissioner. I'll be a 10-year commissioner, and I think experience is important, especially in these financially troubled times. We have a lot of projects still ongoing and I was convinced I should reconsider," Modesitt said.
Modesitt, a Republican, represents District A, which primarily covers Parkersburg and the lower end of the city of Vienna. Although the three commissioners are required to reside within the district from which they run, they are elected countywide.
Modesitt was appointed to the county commission in December 2000 to serve out former county commissioner, the late Dave Couch's term until the next regularly scheduled election, which was November 2002. At that time, Modesitt ran for and was elected to serve out the two remaining years of Couch's term of office. Then in November 2004 Modesitt ran and was elected to serve a full six-year term in office, which concludes Dec. 31, 2010.
Modesitt was a Parkersburg police officer from 1975-1997, serving as chief of police from 1994-1997. He is president of Rick Modesitt and Associates Inc. and a licensed realtor with Metro Realty. He was elected to the House of Delegates, serving in the 74th and 75th Legislatures. He left his last legislative post to become county commissioner.
