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H.C. "Buck" Lewis, IV, grew up in Welch, WV, in the 70's and 80's. In 1986, Buck left Welch and mover to Weirton, WV, following 9th grade. At the time, more than 30 families a month were leaving McDowell County because of the economic downturn of the coal industry.
In 1989, Buck graduated from Weir High School with honors. Buck graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in Finance with honors, Cum Laude, in 1993. He then enlisted with the United States Army and served three years as an Airborne/Ranger with the elite 3d Ranger Battalion. In Battalion, Buck served as an RTO, Rifleman, Sawgunner, Team Leader, and NCO of the Operations section. In 1998, Buck left the military to obtain a law degree. In 2001, Buck graduated from West Virginia University's College of Law and was admitted to practice in West Virginia state and federal courts in October 2001. He also obtained a second bachelors degree in Accounting in December 2001. Following 9/11, Buck joined the West Virginia Army National Guard as a JAG Officer and was deployed in February/March 2003 to February 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Buck served in the gulf as a Captain/JAG Officer and Trial Counsel for the 111th Engineer Group, now Brigade. In the summer of 2003, Buck served as a Magistrate Judge at Camp Cropper at Baghdad International Airport and assisted with the rebuilding of the Iraqi legal system. Following his OIF deployment, Buck served in the cleanup operations from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in New Orleans and various flood duties with the West Virginia Army National Guard. Buck was also a member of the West Virginia CERF Team for 2 years.
Buck maintained his private practice (LewisLaw) in Morgantown from 2001 to 2012 while raising his son, Zachary. In 2010, Buck earned a Masters degree in Athletic Coaching Education from West Virginia University. During his time in Morgantown, he coached his son's baseball, football, hockey teams and served as a counselor/board member for Camp Lincoln, an annual conservative leadership camp for teenagers.
In 2012, Buck moved to Clay County where he practiced in and around Charleston, WV, from his camp on the Elk River. In October 2019, Buck retired from private practice. In 2020, Buck came back to Welch, WV, to help care for his elderly grandfather and grandmother who he had promised to keep out of a nursing home. Buck's grandfather, H.C. "Kit" Lewis, Jr., passed away later that year and His grandmother, Jo Ann "Poe" Lewis, passed away in early 2023. During that time, Buck's mother, Carol Lewis retired from her teaching position at the Tennessee School for the Blind in Nashville, TN, and moved back to Welch and is now a special education teacher at Welch Elementary.
Buck hopes to earn your vote and trust to become the next nonpartisan Circuit Judge for McDowell and Wyoming Counties, District 12, Division 1.
Thank you for the question. I have to say that as a kid growing up in Welch, I did spend some time in Wyoming County fishing with my dad at RD Bailey Lake, swimming or golfing at Twin Falls State Park, and of course driving through Pineville/Mullins on the way to Crossroads mall in Beckley or my family's camp on the Elk River. My dentist was in Pineville (Dr. Bowling). Now a days, I travel to Pineville sometimes to get my fix at Tudor's Biscuit World. I do remember the days of Curt Warner. What a great running back. I need to get over there to enjoy the Hatfield McCoy trail system. It is amazing how many people are coming to southern West Virginia now a days to enjoy the trails. I hope to meet more Wyoming countians from now to election day (May 14th).
Thanks for the question. I have copied and pasted my announcement below which details why I am running for Circuit Judge. Please feel free to ask me any additional questions that you may have:
Hello All.
With much prayer and supplication, I have decided to run for the nonpartisan position of Circuit Judge for the free state of McDowell and Wyoming Counties, now District 12, Division 1. The legislature realigned the Circuit Judge positions for 2025 by combining McDowell and Wyoming counties and eliminated one judge position. McDowell and Wyoming used to be their own separate districts with 2 judges in McDowell and 1 judge in Wyoming county. Beginning in January 2025, the counties will be combined into one District 12 with two divisions, Division 1 and Division 2. Division 1 must be a judge from McDowell County and Division 2 must be a judge from Wyoming County. I am running for Division 1 or McDowell County. There are 3 candidates in Division 1 and 2 candidates in Division 2. The 3 candidates vying for the McDowell County seat are myself, (H.C. "Buck" Lewis, IV), Rudolph J. Murensky and Clayton W. Patterson. The 2 candidates from Wyoming county are Josh Miller and Joshua Thompson. Division 1 and Division 2 are separate contests and each voter in McDowell and Wyoming counties will have one vote in each Division. So McDowell county will be voting in the election for the judge from Wyoming county and the Wyoming county voters will be helping to select the judge from McDowell county.
In past elections, there are roughly 4500 Wyoming county voters and 2500 McDowell County voters that turn out to vote. That's roughly 7000 voters that will likely turn out to vote on election day.
In addition, the races will be decided during the Primary Election held on May 14th, 2024. That means that candidates have less than 3 months to get their names out and earn your vote. Since there are three candidates in Division 1, the 30% rule applies for the Primary meaning that if no candidate obtains 30% or more of the vote in the Primary, then the top two candidates will have a runoff that will be held during the General election.
The Circuit Judge races are nonpartisan meaning that no party affiliation will be beside the name and the two divisions listing the respective candidate names will be in the nonpartisan section of the ballot.
Although it is a nonpartisan election, we are allowed to let you know the party we are affiliated with. We may also discuss our past accomplishments or involvement in party politics.
I am the only Republican running in District 12, Division 1 for the nonpartisan position of Circuit Judge. I have always championed individual responsibility and accountability. That is the main reason I became a Republican in the first place. I only say this because in this day and age of one party's weaponization of the legal system against the other party, I believe that it is extremely important to let you know that I will not base my decisions on the party politics of the people who come before the court. I will always endeavor to uphold the independence, fairness, and integrity of the judicial system. As a victim of the weaponization of the legal system based on party politics, I know firsthand of the damage and destruction that such biased judicial decision making can have on an individual and I would never allow such bias, unfairness, and/or injustice to occur in the courtroom under my watch. In fact, this is one of the main reasons I am running for Circuit Judge. Biased political judges make a mockery of justice and lead to the destruction of our legal system and our country as a whole. We need elected judges who will make decisions without regard to the politics of the people who come before him or her. I promise to abide by this charge.
If one party were to weaponize the legal system against the other party, then the other party would be naturally inclined to weaponize the legal system against the other party when and if they gain control. This is a no-win situation for both parties and will ultimately destroy the legal system and country as a whole.
We must refrain from creating such a situation in our legal system. This of course is handled by our Constitution. The Constitution of the United States requires that judges be non-biased. In fact, based on case law, the court has no jurisdiction over the individuals coming before it, if the judicial officer is biased. Although modern day headlines may seem otherwise, the concept of the courts requiring non-biased judicial officers is fully embedded in the Constitution.
My grandfather used to quote an old saying that was popular in southern West Virginia in his days, "everything is politics, except politics, and that's personal." I would like to change that saying to "its not personal, its just politics." Politics should not be personal.
If you want a nonbiased, independent Circuit Judge that will do his utmost best to uphold his oaths to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of West Virginia, then please vote for me, H. C. "Buck" Lewis, IV.
For more information, feel free to browse my website www.bucklewisforjudge.com
Early in-person voting begins on May 1, 2024 and ends on May 11, 2024.
The Primary Election will be held on May 14, 2024.
I look forward to earning your vote.
Buck
Thanks for the question. I believe that a position as important as Circuit Judge should not be decided based on 3 second sound bites or impressions on TV, Direct Mail, Yard Signs and Billboards, etc. Since the voters of McDowell and Wyoming counties will be my employer and I will be their employee so to speak, I believe the candidates should provide their resumes to the voters so they, like the employers they are, may make an informed decision. I have posted my resume on both my personal Facebook site and my Lewis for Judge Facebook Page. I will also copy and paste it below. I hope that you find that I am more than qualified for the position of Circuit Judge.
H. C. “Bucky” or “Buck” Lewis, IV
PO Box 64, Welch, WV 24801
PHONE: (304) 880-8194 EMAIL: rangerbuck375@gmail.com
Commercial Driver’s License, February 17, 2023. West Virginia Southern Community and Technical College. Successfully completed CDL Training Course and Skills Testing on February 16, 2023.
Surface Mining Apprentice (Red Hat Card), State of West Virginia Office of Miner’s Health, Safety and Training, Class 04, Certificate No. 2-9089. Trained by Andy McCoy, Iaeger, WV.
Forklift Operator, J.J. Keller & Associates Forklift Training Certification, January 26, 2023.
J.D. in Law, May 2001, West Virginia University College of Law, Morgantown, WV. Passed July 2001 WV State Bar Exam. Admitted to practice in West Virginia State Courts, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, the United States District Court for the Southern and Northern Districts, including Bankruptcy Courts, and the United States Federal Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. West Virginia State Bar ID# 8821.
M.S. in Athletic Coaching Education, May 2010, West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, Department of Coaching and Teaching, Morgantown, WV.
B.S. in Business Administration, Accounting, December 2001, West Virginia University College of Business and Economics, AASCB Accredited, Morgantown, WV.
B.S. in Business Administration, Finance, August 1994 with Honors (Cum Laude),
West Virginia University School of Business and Economics, AASCB Accredited, Morgantown, WV.
Attorney, Private Practice (October 2001 – January 1, 2020), LewisLaw, General Practice of Law Focusing in the Areas of Bankruptcy (Chapter 7 and 11), Corporate Law, Employment Law, Criminal Law (Federal and State), Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, Family Law, Abuse and Neglect, State Employee Grievance Board, Contracts, and Other General Legal Matters. Member of CJA Panel for Northern District (2005-2008). Appeared in Circuit, Magistrate, and/or Family Law courts in over 20 counties in West Virginia primarily in and around Morgantown and Charleston. Litigated cases in both U.S. District Courts in West Virginia (Southern and Northern Districts) and The United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Captain, Judge Advocate General Corps, West Virginia Army National Guard (September 2002 to 2010). Deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom from March 2003 to January 2004. Served as Trial Counsel for 111th Engineer Group, now Brigade. Served as Magistrate at Camp Cropper, Baghdad, Iraq and Command Judge Advocate for 111th Engineer Brigade. Graduated from The Judge Advocate General’s Government Contract Attorneys Course, Income Tax Course, Judge Advocate General Officer Basic and Advanced Course. Also, Served in Hurricane Katrina/Rita Clean-up Operations (2005), New Orleans, LA. Served on several flood duty operations throughout the state of West Virginia.
Senate Counsel, 2002 Legislative Session, State of West Virginia, Served as General Counsel for Republican Members of the West Virginia Senate. Conducted General Research for Legislators and Drafted Legislation, Amendments, and General Correspondence for the Senate Minority Leader.
Airborne/Ranger (Nov 1994-Dec 1997), United States Special Operations Command, 3d Battalion,
75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, GA. Served as a Radiotelephone Operator, Rifleman, Saw gunner and Operations NCO. Completed Jungle Warfare School (Panama) and Artic Warfare Training with the Canadian Special Forces.
James A. Champion Honor Award: Ranger Indoctrination Program Honor Graduate Class 8-95. Awarded to the soldier that displayed the greatest physical and mental toughness during the three (3) week Ranger Battalion selection process.
Army Commendations: Meritorious Service Medal (Katrina and Rita Clean-Up Operations), Army Commendation Medal (x5), Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal (x2), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device, Army Service Ribbon, Expert Infantryman Badge, Canadian/U.S. Airborne Wings.
Data Entry Clerk, Morgantown Job Service. Summer 1993. Summer intern.
Bookkeeping Clerk, MCNB Banks, Welch, WV. Summer 1989. Intern for bookkeeping department.
Guest Speaker/Teacher: West Virginia University, Sports Safety Class.
Camp Lincoln, Parliamentarian, Board Member, Guest Speaker, and Counselor for Conservative Leadership Camp.
Coach, USA Hockey Certified Coach, Coached House Hockey in Morgantown, WV. Coached little league football and baseball in Morgantown Youth Sports Organizations.
Video Coordinator, Served as an assistant/intern for West Virginia University Football Video Coordinator, 2007.
Licensed Ham Radio Operator, (General Class), Callsign: “WV8BUC”
Copyright © 2024 Lewis for Judge - All Rights Reserved. Paid for by Lewis for Judge, Carol Lewis, Treasurer
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