Mayor Reelected in W. Virginia Capital

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Republican Mike Roark was elected to a second four-year term as mayor of West Virginia’s capital city by a wide margin Monday, defeating a longtime political adversary.

With all precincts reporting, Roark had 7,836 votes, or 59%, and one-time U.S. Rep. John Hutchinson had 5,405, or 41%.

Hutchinson, also a former Democratic mayor, conceded defeat shortly before 10 p.m.

The often-bitter campaign focused on drugs and the homeless more than street paving or garbage collection.

Roark, 41, and Hutchinson, 52, asserted that economic development and the crumbling South Side Bridge over the Kanawha River were the top campaign issues. But media attention focused on Hutchinson’s comments about the homeless being undesirable “vagrants” and Roark’s alleged cocaine use. Roark vehemently denies that he has ever used drugs.

Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans in Charleston 19,811 to 12,199.