Hatfield wins election as Raleigh County attorney, but says he will renounce the oath of office

BECKLEY, Virginia. — Recently retired Raleigh County District Attorney Ben Hatfield won a new four-year term Tuesday, which he said he would forego.

Hatfield, whose name was the only printed name on the ballot, received just over 19,000 votes, while the write-in candidate, Beckley attorney Jordan Adkins, had only 1,665 votes.

Candidates can be removed from the ballot up to 84 days before the election. Hatfield’s resignation came less than two weeks before the vote.

Hatfield addressed the issue in his resignation letter.

“As we approach the upcoming general election in November 2024, I want to make it clear that if I win re-election as Raleigh County District Attorney, I will respectfully relinquish that position. My decision to resign is final and my focus is now on new priorities outside of public office,” Hatfield said.

Chief Secretary of State Dick Kersey said there is in fact a procedure that Hatfield must follow to refuse the oath of office. He said that will happen when the term begins on Jan. 1. It would create an official vacancy that would allow the Raleigh County Commission to appoint a prosecutor for two years until the 2026 general election, Kersey said.

The Raleigh County Commission has appointed Tom Truman to serve until the end of his current term. The commission could reappoint Truman for the next two years after Hatfield’s expected withdrawal.

Hatfield’s resignation follows months of controversy over his alleged conduct. Several investigations were launched and the county commission began the process of removing Hatfield from office.