WILLIAMSON – Local attorney and Mingo County Commissioner Greg “Hootie” Smith announced his candidacy for the 6th District Senate in the West Virginia Legislature.

Smith ran against incumbent H. Truman Chafin in 2006. Chafin has held the seat for over 20 years, and the last election was a close one. Chafin, a Mingo County native, lost to Smith in Mingo and Wyoming counties, and won by a very narrow margin in Mercer, McDowell and Wayne counties.

“It was just too close not to run again,” Smith said. “I feel the people are ready for a change.”

Smith, a graduate of Williamson High School and a county commissioner since 2001, has served as the attorney for the City of Williamson as well as Mingo County, and Assistant Mingo County Prosecuting Attorney.

Smith said he feels the 6th District has not been represented as it should be in Charleston.

“The people here deserve so much more than they have been getting,” he said. “I will see we are heard. We may still sit in the back row, but if we raise enough Cain, people will hear us.”