(Two Republican candidates will face each other in the May 12 primary. Businessman Joe Eddy and incumbent Laura Wakim Chapman. The victor in the primary race will then face Democrat Shawn Fluharty who is running unopposed in the Primary.)
The first district has two senators who run in alternating two-year elections. Previously the District consisted of Hancock, Brooke and Ohio counties, but with re-districting the district now extends south to Wetzel County.
Joe Eddy retired in April 2019 as President/CEO of Eagle Manufacturing Company in Wellsburg, WV and Executive VP of Justrite Safety Group in Chicago, IL, after successfully integrating these two world class manufacturers after Eagle was acquired by Justrite in March 2018. Joe maintains an ownership interest in the Justrite Safety Group platform of companies, and manages his energy and management consulting company, Enhanced Technologies, his energy development company, Pinnacle Holdings, and real estate investment trust, Heritage Holdings, LLC.
During his 24-year career at Eagle, Joe was honored as a recipient of The State Journal’s Who’s Who in WV Business, Sistersville (WV) High School Hall of Fame, WV Executive’s Sharp Shooter Award, and was inducted into WVU’s West Virginia Business Hall of Fame in 2022. Joe has written over 100 business and professional articles, mostly relating to energy development, business strategy, manufacturing, and economic development. During Joe’s tenure, Eagle ranked No. 5 nationally by Chief Executive Magazine’s “Best Private Companies for Leaders”; won the National Association of Manufacturers Sandy Trowbridge Award for Excellence in Community Service; won the President’s E-Award for Excellence in Export Growth; and was named HBS Dealer’s “Top Brand” in West Virginia and one of the Top 50 manufacturing brands in the United States.
Joe has served on boards for West Virginia Manufacturers Association (Chair), National Association of Manufacturers, National Institute of Standards & Technology, West Virginia Northern Community College Foundation, Shale Crescent USA, IN-2-Market, Oglebay Foundation, McDonough Center for Leadership and Business at Marietta College, West Virginia Economic Development Authority, Regional Economic Development Partnership, Warwood Tool Company, DeFelice Care, Beaver Steel Services, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Industry Advisory, and founded the Joseph and Debra Eddy Foundation, and the Joseph Eddy Technology Scholarship at West Virginia Northern Community College.
Joe earned his BS in Petroleum Engineering from Marietta College and completed advanced technical and business studies at the University of Wyoming and University of Chicago. Prior to joining Eagle in 1996, he held engineering and management positions at Hearn Oil Company in Newport, OH, Lauderman Oil and Gas Company in St. Marys, WV, Amoco Production Company in Andrews, TX; Gulf Oil Corp. in Bakersfield, CA; Spectrum Resources in Marietta, OH; and Tazwell Corp. in Jackson Hole, WY. Joe is a private pilot and flies his own Piper Turbo Arrow IV aircraft. Joe and his wife Debbie have been married for 38 years and reside in Wheeling, West Virginia.
