New candidate announces run for Shepherdstown’s state delegate position

Benzinger
SHEPHERDSTOWN — After Shepherdstown was redistricted at the end of last year, due to the results of the 2020 U.S. Census, its longtime delegate in the West Virginia Legislature, John Doyle (D-WV), announced his decision not to run in the 2022 election for Shepherdstown’s new district. That decision left the floor open for a new Democratic candidate to run and potentially win District 100.
On Tuesday at 11 a.m., Shannondale resident Susan Benzinger officially filed to run for the seat, at the Eastern Panhandle Business Hub in Martinsburg. The first-time political candidate and retired attorney has spent the last decade devoting her time and money to bettering the Eastern Panhandle, and views serving as District 100’s delegate as an opportunity to expand that work.
“Last winter, I decided that it was time to get off my couch and do something for my community. I have been retired since 2012. I am coming out of retirement to address issues in our community, which I will do on a full-time basis,” Benzinger said in an interview Tuesday afternoon. “I was tired of seeing children going to school hungry; of constant problems with high-speed internet, which, while it is not a big deal if you are retired, is a big deal if you are going to school or working; and poor state maintenance of roads, which I have personally been a witness to, as I live on a mountain.”
District 100 includes a large part of eastern Jefferson County, including all of the mountain east of the Shenandoah River, communities along portions of the Shenandoah River, as well as Bolivar, Harpers Ferry and the Corporation of Shepherdstown.
Benzinger said her concern with maintaining Jefferson County’s lifestyle, heritage and natural resources is clear, as she currently serves on the Jefferson County Parks & Recreation Commission. Much of her focus, if she is elected, will be on improving public education. She and her husband are already involved with fighting for local education, as they currently sponsor a scholarship to Blue Ridge Community and Technical College and have been recently asked to serve on the college’s Foundation.
“My goal is to improve education for all — from our young children to, and including, college students,” Benzinger said. “West Virginia is a wonderful state, and we need to work to improve our education system so that our children are competitive and can obtain good paying jobs, without leaving the state. In addition, I believe it is high time that we bring high-speed internet to everyone who wants it. The time for talking about it is over. We need to get it done — for children, for home-based workers and for businesses — small, medium and large. We need high-speed internet to keep our businesses competitive, so that more jobs are created here in Jefferson County. Lastly, I will support and encourage applying additional resources to protect our natural resources.”
Benzinger graduated from the George Mason University School of Law (Now Antonin Scalia Law School) in 1982, and spent her career as a trial and pension attorney. According to her, this background has well prepared her for the political sphere.
“Studying the law teaches you to ask questions, investigate issues and prepare reasoned practical solutions to issues. This will help me evaluate issues that arise in our community, and will help me to bring District 100 voices to the legislature in Charleston,” Benzinger said.
The primary for the 2022 election is on May 10.
Learn more about Benzinger at susanforjefferson.org, or follow her campaign on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SusanforJefferson.