Marta Beck
Marta Beck is running for District 98 on the Democratic ticket to represent Jefferson County. She is a small-business owner and a self-proclaimed advocate for education, healthcare, and economic development in the region. She will face Joe Funkhouser, the Republican incumbent, in the November election. She also is a small farm owner in Charlestown and focuses on giving a voice to the community. Her slogan reads, “Your Choice, Your Voice.” Her campaign focuses on accountability for public officials and problem-solving in the community. Her campaign also says she is funded through friends and not billionaires.
· Candidate campaign website & Ballotpedia (secondary source)
Campaign site
“Hello. I'm Marta Beck, a wife, a mother, a friend, small farm owner and an active member of my community. To my friends and family, I am the person to call when you need someone to talk to or you need a problem solved. To my business partner I am a trusted source of collaboration and support, both personally and professionally. To my community I am a person who helps those in need, speaks out against injustice and does her best to hold the powerful accountable.”
(Marta Beck Campaign Website) “Because people often look to me to actively listen and help solve their problems, it compels me to do more and I'm running for office as a West Virginia State Delegate in order to have the ability to make a greater positive impact for everyone in our community. I want to hear *your* concerns, so we can work together for the future of Jefferson County.”
(Marta Beck Campaign Website)Joe Funkhouser
Joe Funkhouser is the Republican incumbent for District 98 in Jefferson County. He is an attorney and was appointed by former Gov. Jim Justice in 2024. He won election later that year and has been a member of the House of Delegates since. Funkhouser has sponsored legislation to double the Homestead Tax exemption and another bill related to taxation. He also sponsored eminent-domain compensation and proposed a bill for enabling market pay for teachers. Funkhouser focused on taxations and regulations pertaining to ground water but says he was struck down by lobbyists. He attended law school at West Virginia University (WVU) and has been a life-long resident of Jefferson County.
Campaign site
“I am a lifelong resident of Jefferson County who grew up on a farm, graduated Jefferson High School when we were a one high school county, graduated Shepherd University with a degree in Political Science and History, served on the Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board through my term limits for 8 years, and graduated West Virginia University College of Law. I have professional experience as a civil litigation and business attorney as well as assistant prosecuting attorney.”
(Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey) “I seek to make West Virginia a more wonderful place to live, work, raise a family, and retire. I am a champion of Jefferson County, grounded in my faith and family. I am committed to transparency, accountability, and integrity in every facet of government.”
(Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey) “Public policy in which I am passionate about are all areas that makes West Virginia a more wonderful place to live, work, raise a family, and retire. I have introduced numerous bills during my first term to improve our policies and address many issues challenging West Virginia, including lowering taxes, increasing the homestead exemption, providing locality pay, protecting our water and way of life, increasing Jefferson County job opportunities, providing for safer schools, and enhancing public safety, among others.”
(Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey)