Governor Earl Tomblin

Earl Ray Tomblin was sworn in as governor of West Virginia on November 13, 2011, and was sworn in for his second term on January 14, 2013. Tomblin was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1974 at the age of 22 and served in the house until he was elected to the West Virginia Senate in 1980. Tomblin was the longest serving Senate President, and he was named the states first lieutenant governor in 2000. As lieutenant governor, he was called upon to fulfill the states highest office in 2010. Tomblin won the October 4, 2011, special gubernatorial election to fulfill the remainder of the unexpired term.
Throughout his years in public service, Tomblin has remained dedicated to creating a better West Virginia. Since becoming governor, Tomblin has put more West Virginians back to work and reduced the tax burden on our families and business. Through new legislation, he has made it crime to text while driving, signed landmark mine safety legislation that will save coal miners' lives, helped crack down on West Virginia's growing plague of drug abuse and taken bold action to prevent bullying and suicide by adopting new policies within the school system.