BUCKHANNON — The Upshur County Republican Executive Committee hosted its annual 2026 Lincoln Day Dinner on Sunday at the Bicentennial Inn. Providing an opportunity for community members to hear directly from republican candidates for office.
The event began with a social hour, followed by dinner provided by JAWS BBQ. Attendees heard from candidates who were each given 2 minutes to speak on why they are running for office and the current priorities their campaigns are built upon. Chairman Robbie Martin welcomed guests and stated that every candidate eligible for election in Upshur County had been invited to attend. “I will let you know that everyone who is running for office that you are able to vote for in Upshur County was invited to tonight,” Martin remarked.
Among those present were West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey, candidates for U.S. Senate Tom Willis and Alexander Gauesterude, State Senate candidates Jack Reger and Robert Karnes, Supreme Court candidate Tod Kirby and Bill Flanigan, West Virginia GOP Chairman Josh Holstein, County Commission candidates Patrick Lane and Scott Williams, and Intermediate Court of Appeals candidate Dan Greear. Sen. Bill Hamilton a candidate for state senate was not in attendance.
In a statement provided to the Mountaineer Journal, Vice-Chairwoman LeVera Gillum reflected on both the success of the event and her decades of service to the Republican Party in Upshur County.
Gillum, who welcomed attendees at the start of the dinner, announced that she will not be seeking re-election to the Executive Committee following the conclusion of her current term on June 30, 2026.
“On January 31st, I made one of the hardest decisions I have made in a very long time,” Gillum said, explaining that her decision was influenced by her husband’s recent heart attack in November 2025. “I feel I need to put him and my family first now and nurture him back to good health.”
Gillum has served on the Executive Committee since her initial appointment in 1999 and was subsequently elected to six consecutive four-year terms. She expressed gratitude to the voters of Upshur County for their continued support over the years.
“It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Upshur County,” she said. “I will always be thankful for their support.”
