Diana Winzenreid Appointed to District 4 House of Delegates Seat
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WHEELING -- A new delegate will now represent a part of Ohio County and District 4 in the West Virginia House of Delegates.
Republican Diana Winzenreid was appointed to the position by Gov. Jim Justice, according to a statement released Monday afternoon by the governor's office.
Winzenreid was one of seven candidates who sought the seat vacated by the resignation of former Delegate Erikka Storch. Storch left the seat to take a job with Appalachian Power.
Winzenreid noted she does intend to run for election to the seat in 2024.
Winzenreid is a neighbor of Storch's in Woodsdale, and also lives close by Delegate Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, in District 5.
"I am extremely honored to be in this position," she said. "I am looking forward to serving the people of District 4."
Winzenreid, 40, was born in the Ohio Valley, but she and her family moved away when she was a child. She went on to attend high school in Canada, and later graduated from a high school in New Jersey.
Winzenreid next attended Indiana University, earning a bachelor of arts in political science and a master of business administration focusing on international business. She decided to move back to the Ohio Valley in 2016, and began work as a local sales and marketing executive.
She started her own marketing business, "Wins@Reid," last year.
"The Ohio Valley was always home," Winzenreid said. "Even though we moved away, our extended family was always here. I always loved the valley."
The Ohio County GOP executive committee sent Justice the names of three candidates they selected from which he was to appoint the District 4 candidate.
Their recommendations included Winzenreid; Michael Haney, a Wheeling firefighter; and Amy Wade, a farmer on Dallas Pike.
Others applying for the vacant seat but not selected by the committee included Robert Coram, a pharmacist; David Gaudino, a teacher and career counselor for Marshall County Schools; Libby Reasbeck, past district director for former U.S. Rep. David B. McKinley, R-W.Va.; and Dolph Santorine, a businessman, past delegate candidate and current member of the Ohio County GOP executive committee.
The release from the governor's office indicated that Justice selected Winzenreid based on her expertise in consulting for Fortune 100 companies, particularly in the automotive, manufacturing, energy, and logistics industries.
"She believes West Virginia is an attractive location for companies in these industries looking to relocate or expand," the release stated.
The governor's office added that "in addition to professional pursuits, Winzenreid has dedicated her time to various philanthropic causes, including domestic violence, hospice care, and foster care training."
She noted it was her desire to help the community that led her to apply for the vacated House of Delegates seat.
"I love it here. I love being a part of the community. It's just small enough where you get to be a part of it," Winzenreid said.
She added she mostly is a homebody.
"I spend most of my time working in my yard, working on my house and playing with my dog," Winzenreid said.
She explained that as of right now she has no specific issue she wants to address at the West Virginia Capitol.
"I will leave that to my constituents to direct me on," Winzenreid said.
"As I was not elected, but appointed, I believe I should do my diligence and see what is important to constituents and represent them fairly."
Winzenreid noted she also looks forward to working with her neighbor and fellow delegate Fluharty.