The West Virginia state treasurer is the state's chief financial officer.[1] It is one of six constitutionally mandated offices.[2] Elected statewide for a four year term, the treasurer is responsible for overseeing state operating funds, monitoring state debt and performing banking and accounting duties in accordance with state law.[1] The state treasurer also serves on several state government financial boards.[1]
Qualifications
In accordance with the West Virginia State Constitution, qualifications for state treasurer include being a citizen of West Virginia who is entitled to vote, and who has been a resident of West Virginia for at least the preceding five years.[3] There are no limits on the number of terms the state treasurer can serve.[3]
In the event of a vacancy, the governor is authorized to appoint a treasurer until a special election can be held for the remainder of the term.[4] In making the appointment, the governor is required to choose from a list of three nominees submitted by the executive committee of the state party to which the previous treasurer belonged.[4] If the nominees are not submitted within 15 days, the governor is empowered to appoint within five days a qualified nominee of the previous treasurer's party.[4]
History and functions
The state treasurer's office was created at the 1863 Constitutional Convention that founded the state of West Virginia.[2] The functions of the state treasurer's office are detailed in various sections of the West Virginia Code.[2]
The state treasurer is the state's chief financial officer and has responsibility for the cash management of West Virginia’s government.[2] Duties include:[2]
- Receiving and disbursing state funds
- Filing and retaining paid checks and state bonds
- Collecting crime victim's compensation, law enforcement training, regional jail authority and litter control fund fees
- Disbursing coal, oil and gas severance taxes, liquor taxes, wine taxes and the fire and casualty insurance premium tax to local governments
- Issuing quarterly and annual reports state debt reports
- Providing safekeeping
- Other banking and accounting functions related to state finances
Another role of the state treasurer is membership on several state government financial boards.[2] The treasurer serves as chair of the Board of Treasury Investments and Prepaid Tuition and Savings Program Board of Trustees.[2] In addition, the treasurer serves on the:[2]
- Agricultural Land Protection Authorities Board of Trustees
- Board of Public Works
- Board of the School Fund
- Consolidated Public Retirement Board
- Council of Finance and Administration
- Enterprise Resource Planning Board
- Higher Education Student Financial Aid Advisory Board
- Hospital Finance Authority
- Housing Development Fund Board of Directors
- Investment Management Board
- Lending and Credit Rate Board
- Municipal Bond Commission
- Purchasing Card Advisory Committee
- Special Reclamation Fund Advisory Council
- Tobacco Settlement Finance Authority
List of West Virginia state treasurers
Individuals who have served as West Virginia state treasurer include:[2]
- 1863-1866 – Campbell Tarr (R-Brooke)
- 1866-1868 – Jacob H. Brister (R-Taylor)
- 1868-1870 – James A. MaCauley (R-Ohio)
- 1870-1876 – John S. Burdette (D-Taylor)
- 1876-1876 – Sobieski Brady (D-Ohio)
- 1876-1880 – Thomas J. West (D-Harrison)
- 1880-1884 – Thomas O'Brien (D-Ohio)
- 1884-1892 – William T. Thompson (D-Cabell)
- 1892-1896 – John M. Rowan (D-Monroe)
- 1896-1900 – M. A. Kendall (R-Wood)
- 1900-1904 – Peter Silman (R-Kanawha)
- 1904-1908 – Newton Ogden (R-Pleasants)
- 1908-1916 – E. Leslie Long (R-McDowell)
- 1916-1932 – William S. Johnson (R-Fayette)
- 1932-1950 – Richard E. Talbott (D-Barbour)
- 1950-1956 – William H. Ansel Jr. (D-Hampshire)
- 1956-1960 – Orel J. Skeen (D-Jackson)
- 1960-1975 – John H. Kelly (D-Kanawha)
- 1975-1976 – Ronald G. Pearson (R-Marion)
- 1976-1984 – Larrie Bailey (D-Marion)
- 1984-1989 – A. James Manchin (D-Marion)
- 1989-1990 – Thomas E. Loehr (D-Wetzel)
- 1990-1996 – Larrie Bailey (D-Marion)
- 1996-2021 – John D. Perdue (D-Kanawha)
- 2021-present – Riley Moore (R-Jefferson)
