Submitted by the candidate

What makes a Magistrate? The answer might look different depending on whom you ask. Legally, a magistrate is defined as a civil officer who administers the law. Some would add that a magistrate is a community servant, and others, simply a person who values honor, fairness, and integrity. Mark Davis, the current Upshur County Magistrate – Division 1, is running a campaign anchored on these definitions.

Mark was first appointed to the position by the Upshur County Circuit Court in February 2021 after applying to fulfill an unexpired term of former magistrate Mike Coffman. He had recently retired as a Captain with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Department, where he had gained more than 34 years of experience with the West Virginia justice system. He has since held the office for more than a year.

When he and fellow magistrate Alan Suder (who was appointed in the same month to fulfill the unexpired term of former magistrate Kay Hurst), the COVID-19 pandemic had taken a significant toll on the operations of the county court system. Together, Mark and Alan set to work, aiming to process cases that had been placed on hold due to the public health crisis. Together, in a year’s time, Mark and Alan have disposed more than 900 civil cases and over 2,000 criminal cases – a record number.

Mark says, “We’ve been keenly focused on bringing the Magistrate’s Court back up to its expected quality and efficiency. We’ve worked tirelessly to deliver justice on these outstanding cases, and through dedicated teamwork with the Upshur County Court Magistrate Assistants, we’ve been able to deliver justice on these outstanding cases. This is why we’re here, and the numbers back us up. We are making a measurable difference in the community.”

He continues, “I’m honored to have served Upshur County as Magistrate for the past year, and I’m passionate about the opportunity to continue doing so. I deeply understand the challenges we face as a community when it comes to law and order, and I hope that as Magistrate, I can continue helping us build a stronger, safer place to call home by being fair and impartial in the cases that are brought before our local court. That’s why I’m asking for your vote in May.”

Mark resides in Tennerton with his wife Brenda. His daughters LeAnne Morrison and Laura Ellis grew up as proud Buccaneers and now reside in Atlanta, Georgia and West End, North Carolina, respectively. He is a proud grandpa to four children, Campbell, Deacon, Paxton and Margaret. 

Local candidates are invited to submit a candidacy announcement to My Buckhannon by emailing a document and photo to news@mybuckhannon.com. Announcements will be published first-come, first-served and must be received at least two weeks prior to the start of early voting on April 27.