Crime and Corruption

West Virginia Political Corruption: State Senate Presidents Go Down
Part Two in a Series

By Huntingtonnews.net Staff

If Democratic Governor Wally Barron symbolized political corruption for a whole generation of West Virginians in the 1960s and 70s, the legislative branch was to take it's turn in the late 1980s.

Not one but two Senate Presidents, in rapid succession, went down on corruption charges: Dan Tonkovich and Larry Tucker.

Dapper Dan

Tonkovich was a tall, handsome State Senator from Marshall County with aspirations for the Governor's Mansion. He an impressive background: After earning his B.A. degree from nearby West Liberty State College, he received a Masters degree from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse. He was always a hit with veterans' groups, as he ad served in Vietnam as an army infantryman.

However, Tonkovich came out of a Northern Panhandle political environment that has had gambling interests in play for decades. For all his potential, he succumbed to those gambling interests and threw away his promising career in West Virginia politics for extorting $5,000 from gambling interests.

Tucker Goes Down Fast, Too

Immediately upon Tonkovich's removal from office, State Senator Larry Tucker of Nicholas County was elected to the State Senate President's position. Yet only a few months later, he, too, was found guilty on similar charges. Tucker was sentenced to six months in prison and fined $20,000 for taking an illegal $10,000 payment from gambling interests.

Interestingly, years later Tucker ran competitively for Nicholas County Commission in 2008, losing only by 66 votes in the general election. Apparently, Nicholas Countians can be a forgiving folk.

The scar left by two Senate leaders going to prison on gambling related corruption charges not only hurt West Virginia's public image nationally. The gambling industry also came under greater scrutiny by the public, who voted down many local and state gambling refernenda for the next twenty years.

My Name is Earl

Another Democratic State Senate President, current State Senator Earl Ray Tomblin, is under renewed scrutiny since he has the potential to become the state's next Governor should Joe Manchin win the U.S. Senate race in November against John Raese. According to the state's succession law, the Senate President fills the immediate vacancy of a Governor until an election is set.

Tomblin has long been derided for the $260,000 state grayhound breeding contracts awarded to his mother during his time in the State Senate. Tomblin has also had significant ties to gambling interests.

Concern about Tomblin promoting his family's financial interest has intensified as some voters wonder what he might try as Governor. Already, Tomblin's office has said that it is trying to get more influence with the Governor's budget in the event that Tomblin assumes the position.

In light of the state's corruption history and the current federal probe into the Manchin Administration on possible financial gains made on the Fairmont Gateway road project, such talk may be worrisome to many voters. Tomblin's office reaching out for influence with the Governor's budget way ahead of schedule may not be what voters across West Virginia want to hear right now.