Bob Beach
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Bob Beach
| state_senate = West Virginia
| district = 13th
| alongside =
| term_start = December 1, 2010
| predecessor = Mike Oliverio
| state_delegate1 = West Virginia
| district1 = 44th
| term_start1 = December 1, 2000
| term_end1 = December 1, 2010
| predecessor1 = Nancy Houston
| successor1 = Anthony Barill
| term_start2 = April 24, 1998
| term_end2 = December 1, 1998
| predecessor2 = Robert C. Beach
| successor2 = {{plainlist|
- Sheirl Fletcher
- Nancy Houston
- Charlene Marshall
}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|7|21}}
| birth_place = Morgantown, West Virginia, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| spouse = Rachel Plybon
| children = 5
| education = Fairmont State University
| termend = December 1, 2022
| successor = Mike Oliverio
}}
Robert D. Beach (born July 21, 1959) is an American politician and a Democratic member of the West Virginia State Senate representing District 13{{cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Senate1/lawmaker.cfm?member=Senator%20Beach|title=Robert Beach|publisher=West Virginia Legislature|location=Charleston, West Virginia|accessdate=April 10, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/52354|title=Bob Beach's Biography|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=April 10, 2014}} since January 2011. Beach was also the Democratic nominee for West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture in 2020. Beach served consecutively in the West Virginia Legislature's House of Delegates from January 2001 until January 2011, and non-consecutively from his May 1998 appointment to fill the vacancy caused by the passing of his father, the late Delegate Robert C. Beach, until December 3, 1998, in the West Virginia House of Delegates within the 44 Delegate District.
Senator Beach has served in a variety of legislative positions; including Chairman of Agriculture and Transportation Committee, member of the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability and the WV Holocaust Education Commission. Beach currently serves on the Agriculture and Rural Development, Banking and Insurance, Education, Judiciary, Natural Resources, and Transportation and Infrastructure committees.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=West Virginia State Senate|url=https://www.wvlegislature.gov/senate1/lawmaker.cfm?member=Senator%20Beach|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215053723/http://wvlegislature.gov/Senate1/lawmaker.cfm?member=Senator%20Beach |archive-date=2016-12-15 |access-date=February 15, 2021|website=West Virginia Legislature}}
Education
Beach attended Fairmont State College -Spruce School of Real Estate - Andrew Young School of Leadership Studies.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Robert D. Beach (D - Monongalia, 13) Biography|url=https://www.wvlegislature.gov/senate1/biography.cfm?member=Senator%20Beach|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114023113/http://wvlegislature.gov/Senate1/biography.cfm?member=Senator%20Beach |archive-date=2017-01-14 |access-date=February 15, 2021|website=West Virginia Legislature}}
Elections
=2020=
Senator Beach ran for West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture in 2020, seeking to challenge incumbent Republican Commissioner and former state senator Kent Leonhardt.{{Cite news|date=October 18, 2020|title=Meet the Candidates: Commissioner of Agriculture|work=Charleston Gazette-Mail|url=https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/politics/meet-the-candidates-commissioner-of-agriculture/article_82b68443-868a-579e-ad23-ed7b82fa3bab.html|access-date=February 16, 2021}} Beach won the Democratic nomination with a plurality of the vote (48.0%) over fellow farmers William Keplinger and Dave Miller. However, Beach lost the November general election to Leonhardt 65% to 35%.{{Cite web|title=November 3, 2020 General Election Results|url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/WV/106210/web.264614/|url-status=live|access-date=February 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104020536/https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/WV/106210/web.264614/|archive-date=November 4, 2020}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2020 Commissioner of Agriculture General election
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Kent Leonhardt (incumbent)
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 480,386
| percentage = 64.98%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Bob Beach
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 258,912
| percentage = 35.02%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 739,298
| percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2020 Commissioner of Agriculture Democratic primary
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Bob Beach
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 81,074
| percentage = 48.0%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = William Keplinger
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 44,084
| percentage = 26.1%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dave Miller
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 43,916
| percentage = 26.0%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 169,074
| percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2018=
Beach captured the May Democratic Primary Nomination after running unopposed. On November 6, 2018, Robert Beach defeated challenger Republican candidate and former WV State Senator Michael Oliverio in the general election.
{{Election box begin no change
|title = 2018 West Virginia's 13th Senate district General election
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Bob Beach (incumbent)
| votes = 18,692
| percentage = 52.18%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Mike Oliverio
| votes = 17,129
| percentage = 47.82%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 35,821
| percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2014=
Beach captured the May Democratic Primary Nomination after being unopposed. On November 4, 2014, Beach defeated challenger and former West Virginia Republican Party Chairman Kris Warner in the general election.
{{Election box begin no change
|title = 2014 West Virginia's 13th Senate district General election
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Bob Beach (incumbent)
| votes = 12,061
| percentage = 51.49%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Kris Warner
| votes = 17,129
| percentage = 45.24%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = American Freedom Party
| candidate = Harry Bertram
| votes = 767
| percentage = 3.27%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 23,424
| percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2010=
When 13th Senate District Democratic Senator Mike Oliverio challenged incumbent Alan Mollohan for the Democratic nomination to the United States House of Representatives in West Virginia's 1st congressional district, he vacated his state senate seat. Beach immediately filed for the 13th Senate District seat and captured the Democratic Primary nomination with 5,443 votes (71.8%),{{cite web|url=http://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2010&eid=5&county=Statewide|title=Statewide Results Primary Election May 11, 2010 Official Results|publisher=Secretary of State of West Virginia|location=Charleston, West Virginia|accessdate=April 10, 2014}} and narrowly won the November 2, 2010 General election with 16,882 votes (50.3%) against Republican state Delegate Cindy Frich.{{cite web|url=http://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2010&eid=6&county=Statewide|title=Statewide Results General Election November 2, 2010 Official Results|publisher=Secretary of State of West Virginia|location=Charleston, West Virginia|accessdate=April 10, 2014}}
{{Election box begin no change
|title = 2010 West Virginia's 13th Senate district General election
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Bob Beach
| votes = 16,882
| percentage = 50.31%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Cindy Frich
| votes = 16,676
| percentage = 49.69%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 33,558
| percentage = 100%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2010 West Virginia's 13th Senate district Democratic Primary
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Bob Beach
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 5,443
| percentage = 71.78%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ronald Paul Justice
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 2,140
| percentage = 28.22%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 7,583
| percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2008=
Beach again captured the Democratic Primary nomination to the West Virginia House of Delegates with 7,139 votes (18.8%) on May 13, 2008.{{cite web |url= http://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2008&eid=3&county=Statewide|title=Statewide Results Primary Election May 13, 2008 Official Results|publisher=Secretary of State of West Virginia|location=Charleston, West Virginia|accessdate=April 10, 2014}} Beach was re-elected to a fifth term after finishing third (out of fourth) in the November 4, 2008 General election with 16,168 votes (17.9%) behind incumbent Delegates Alex Shook and Charlene Marshall, and ahead of Delegate Barbara Fleischauer.{{cite web|url=http://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2008&eid=4&county=Statewide|title=Statewide Results General Election November 4, 2008 Official Results|publisher=Secretary of State of West Virginia|location=Charleston, West Virginia|accessdate=April 10, 2014}}
===2006===
When Delegate Houston retired from the Legislature and left a district seat open, Beach again captured the 2006 Democratic Primary nomination to the West Virginia House of Delegates. He was re-elected to a fourth term during the November 7, 2006 General election alongside incumbent Charlene Marshall (D), returning Delegate Barbara Fleischauer, and Democratic nominee Alex Shook.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=2006 General Election, WV House of Delegates|url=https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2006/2006%20House%20of%20Delegates%20Gen.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423161914/https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2006/2006%20House%20of%20Delegates%20Gen.pdf |archive-date=2021-04-23 |access-date=|website=}}
=2004=
Beach won the 2004 Democratic Primary nomination to the West Virginia House of Delegates{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=2004 Primary Election, House of Delegates|url=https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2004/2004%20House%20of%20Delegates%20Pri.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423140109/https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2004/2004%20House%20of%20Delegates%20Pri.pdf |archive-date=2021-04-23 |access-date=|website=}} and was re-elected on November 2, 2004. Beach was re-elected alongside incumbents Cindy Frich (R), Houston (D), and former Delegate Charlene Marshall (D), who unseated Delegate Barbara Fleischauer (D).{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=2004 General Election, WV House of Delegates|url=https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2004/2004%20House%20of%20Delegates%20Gen.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423140104/https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2004/2004%20House%20of%20Delegates%20Gen.pdf |archive-date=2021-04-23 |access-date=|website=}}
=2002=
When Delegate Charlene Marshall ran for the West Virginia State Senate and Delegate Fletcher left the Legislature, two district seats were opened in the multi-member district. Beach again captured the 2002 Democratic Primary nomination to the West Virginia House of Delegates{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=2002 Primary Election, WV House of Delegates|url=https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2002/2002%20House%20of%20Delegates%20Pri.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423110402/https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2002/2002%20House%20of%20Delegates%20Pri.pdf |archive-date=2021-04-23 |access-date=|website=}} and was re-elected on November 5, 2002, leading the general election ticket followed by incumbents Delegate Barbara Fleischauer (D), returning Delegate Houston, and Republican nominee Cindy Frich.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=2002 General Election, WV House of Delegates|url=https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2002/2002%20House%20of%20Delegates%20Gen.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423101346/https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2002/2002%20House%20of%20Delegates%20Gen.pdf |archive-date=2021-04-23 |access-date=|website=}}
=2000=
Beach won the Democratic Primary nomination to the West Virginia House of Delegates{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=2000 Primary Election, WV House of Delegates|url=https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2000/2000%20House%20of%20Delegates%20Pri.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423061815/https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2000/2000%20House%20of%20Delegates%20Pri.pdf |archive-date=2021-04-23 |access-date=|website=}} and was elected during the November 7, 2000 General election alongside incumbents Delegates Barbara Fleischauer (D), Fletcher (R), and Charlene Marshall (D), and unseating Delegate Houston (D) in the multi-member district.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=2000 General Election, WV House of Delegates|url=https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2000/2000%20House%20of%20Delegates%20Gen.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423061810/https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2000/2000%20House%20of%20Delegates%20Gen.pdf |archive-date=2021-04-23 |access-date=|website=}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Senate1/lawmaker.cfm?member=Senator%20Beach Official page] at the West Virginia Legislature
- https://www.beachforwv.com
- {{CongLinks | congbio = | votesmart = 52534 | fec = | congress = }}
- [http://ballotpedia.org/Ron_Miller_(West_Virginia) Robert Beach] at Ballotpedia
- [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/uniquecandidate.phtml?uc=7383 Robert Beach] at the National Institute on Money in State Politics
{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=Walt Helmick}}
{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Agriculture Commissioner of West Virginia|years=2020}}
{{s-aft|after=Deborah Stiles}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beach, Bob}}
Category:Fairmont State University alumni
Category:Democratic Party members of the West Virginia House of Delegates
Category:Politicians from Morgantown, West Virginia
Category:Democratic Party West Virginia state senators
Category:20th-century members of the West Virginia Legislature
Category:21st-century members of the West Virginia Legislature