Opinion ID: 1377460
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Fundamental Right to Candidacy

Text: Despite the compelling nature of the rationale employed by the Hurowitz court in forcing Judge Hurowitz to withdraw his name from the ballot, we must proceed to examine whether Justice McGraw has a fundamental right to candidacy which prevents this Court from similarly foreclosing his candidacy. Beginning with this Court's decision in State ex rel. Brewer v. Wilson, 151 W.Va. 113, 150 S.E.2d 592 (1966), overruled on other grounds, Marra v. Zink, 163 W.Va. 400, 256 S.E.2d 581 (1979), we have recognized that the `right to become a candidate for election to public office is a valuable and fundamental right.' 151 W.Va. at 121, 150 S.E.2d at 597 (quoting 29 C.J.S. Elections § 130 at 377); accord Marra v. Zink, 163 W.Va. 400, 403, 256 S.E.2d 581, 584 (1979); State ex rel. Piccirillo v. City of Follansbee, 160 W.Va. 329, 333-34, 233 S.E.2d 419, 423 (1977). [17] In syllabus point two of State ex rel. Billings v. City of Point Pleasant, 194 W.Va. 301, 460 S.E.2d 436 (1995), we held that [t]he West Virginia Constitution confers a fundamental right to run for public office, which the State cannot restrict unless the restriction is necessary to accomplish a legitimate and compelling governmental interest.