CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A former chief of staff for Secretary of State Betty Ireland will help direct GOP presidential candidate John McCain’s West Virginia campaign.
Ben Beakes was named executive director of the campaign during last weekend’s state GOP summer convention in Flatwoods.
West Virginia McCain Chairman Larry Swann says Beakes’ job will be to open an office and assemble a state campaign staff.
Swann says a state campaign office will be opened in Charleston within the month.
Beakes served as the state party’s political director before joining Ireland in 2005. He left the secretary of state’s office last year.