Doug Skaff, a prominent Charleston businessman and former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, died Tuesday in a car crash on Interstate 79 in Lewis County, according to multiple state officials.
Skaff, 48, of South Charleston, was traveling southbound between the Jane Lew and Weston exits when the crash occurred around 4:15 p.m., officials said.
Skaff served in the House of Delegates for more than a decade and held the position of House Minority Leader during his tenure. He also made unsuccessful bids for the State Senate and Secretary of State. In October 2023, he changed his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican.
At the time of his death, Skaff was president of HD Media, which publishes the Charleston Gazette-Mail and other outlets. He was also part of an investment group that recently purchased Fazio’s Italian Restaurant, a longtime staple in Charleston. In a May 22 appearance on “580 Live” with Dave Allen, Skaff said the new ownership aimed to preserve the restaurant’s traditional recipes and atmosphere.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey shared condolences Tuesday on social media.
“I am heartbroken to hear about the passing of our friend Doug Skaff,” Morrisey wrote on 𝕏. “Doug was a longtime state legislator, the Minority Leader of the West Virginia House of Delegates, and omnipresent in the Charleston community. He will be greatly missed by many. Please keep Doug’s family and loved ones in your prayers as they grieve this tragic loss. So sad as we just saw him last week at his new restaurant.”
Skaff was also known for advocating for government transparency and press freedom. As president of the Gazette-Mail and the Interim Executive Director of the West Virginia Press Association, he spoke out earlier this year against House Bill 3412, which he argued would undermine access to public information.
“Freedom of Information has been around since 1966,” Skaff said at the time. “We just want to make sure that these laws provide a legal basis and a framework that government records, meetings — all the doings within the public body of this capital — are available to recognized media outlets in this state.”
Skaff’s legacy as a lawmaker, media executive and advocate for government accountability is expected to resonate for years to come throughout West Virginia’s political and civic institutions.
