CHARLESTON — David Kelly, a current leader in the House of Delegates and pastor from Tyler County, will take over as commissioner of the state’s troubled jails and correctional system.

He spent 20 years in law enforcement before serving in the Legislature, where the Republican chaired a committee on jails and prisons. Kelly championed raises for correctional officers during a staffing crisis that prompted a state of emergency from 2022 through last year. kAm“|J A2DD:@? :D E@ 86E :? E96C6 2?5 D66 H92E H6 42? 5@ E@ 3F:=5 @? H92E H6’G6 8@E E@ >2<6 :E 36EE6C[” D2:5 z6==J[ eg]k^Am kAm(6DE ':C8:?:2’D AC:D@? DJDE6> :D @?6 @7 E96 5625=:6DE :? E96 4@F?ECJ H:E9 2? @?8@:?8 :DDF6 @7 @G6C4C@H5:?8] %96 @G6CA@AF=2E65 ;2:=D 42? =625 E@ D276EJ 2?5 D64FC:EJ :DDF6D[ D@>6E:>6D =625:?8 E@ A6@A=6 H9@

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