Gary Howell
Speaker pro tempore of the West Virginia House of Delegates
In office
December 1, 2020  January 11, 2023
Preceded byDaryl Cowles
Succeeded byPaul Espinosa
Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates
Assumed office
December 1, 2010
Preceded byRobert Schadler
Constituency56th district (2010–2022)
87th district (2022–present)
Personal details
Born (1966-11-01) November 1, 1966
Cumberland, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseKristen Kay Howell
Parent(s)Glenn and Gloria Howell
EducationKeyser High School Potomac State College
Frostburg State University (BS)

Gary Howell (born November 1, 1966) is an American politician and businessman from West Virginia. He is currently a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates for the 56th district[1] and chairman of the Mineral County Republican Executive Committee.[2]

Biography

Howell has lived his entire life in Keyser, West Virginia.

He has worked extensively in the motorsports industry. He has raced both stock cars and drag cars, built winning race cars, built award winning show cars, and designed racing parts. His media skills include hosting and writing a syndicated radio show, freelance writing automotive magazine articles, and guest appearances as technical expert on automotive TV shows.

In addition to working in the automotive field, he is an advocate for small business and consumers fighting against credit card fraud[3] and for the reform of credit card laws in the US.

Before his election to the House of Delegates 49th District in 2010, Howell had unsuccessfully run for the Mineral County Commission in 2006, losing to incumbent Cynthia L. Pyles, and for a seat in the West Virginia Senate in 2008, losing to Robert Williams.[4]

After re-election in 2012 to the House of Delegates 56th District, Howell was named Minority Chairman of the major committee Government Organization.[5]

In November 2013, Howell was named the national chairman of the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus. The caucus is a bipartisan group of state lawmakers made up of close to 600 legislators from all 50 states.[6]

Education

Howell graduated from Keyser High School, attended Potomac State College and Frostburg State University in Frostburg, Maryland, graduating in 1990.[7]

Introduced legislation

Intrastate Coal and Use Act

In protest of the Environmental Protection Agency allegedly overstepping its authority by interfering with intrastate commerce, the West Virginia Intrastate Coal and Use Act (H.B. 2554)[8] was introduced into the West Virginia House of Delegates by Howell. The bill states that coal sold and used within the borders of West Virginia is not subject to EPA authority because no interstate commerce exist and the state retains the rights to control its own intrastate commerce under the 10th Amendment.[9]

Awards

2005 Car and Driver Supercar Challenge-winning Dodge SRT-4 built by Howell

References

  1. Beavers, Liz (November 2, 2010). "Lechliter ousts Spiggle; Howell heads to the House". Mineral Daily News-Tribune. Archived from the original on November 10, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
    -"Gary Howell takes oath of office in Charleston". Mineral Daily News-Tribune. December 3, 2010. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
  2. "Keyser resident committee's first new chairman in nearly 50 years". Cumberland Times-News. July 24, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
  3. "Credit Fraud Fees Gall Merchants". CBS News. June 20, 2005.
    - Katz, John (November 2004). "Preventing Credit Card Fraud". Performance Racing Industry. 19 (11): 168–172.
    - Paul Beckett and Jathon Sapsford, "A Tussle Over Who Pays For Credit-Card Theft", Wall Street Journal, May 1, 2003, Vol. 243, Iss. 89, pg. 1
  4. "2008 General Election – State Senate Returns" (PDF). West Virginia. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 18, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  5. "Howell to serve as Government Organization committee minority chair". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
  6. , West Virginia Gazette
  7. "West Virginia House of Delegates". www.legis.state.wv.us. Archived from the original on 2011-11-04.
  8. "HB 2554 Text". www.legis.state.wv.us.
  9. "Can a State Bypass the EPA". Townhall. Archived from the original on 2012-10-14. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
    - Emily Newman (December 29, 2010). "Delegate proposes coal permit act". Cumberland Times-News.
    - "1/18/11: House discusses coal permitting and school funding". The Legislature Today. Charleston, West Virginia. January 18, 2011. West Virginia PBS. Archived from the original on 2013-07-20. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
  10. Pam Kasey, "Generation Next: 40 Under 40, Gary Howell", The State Journal, April 14, 2006, pg. G11
  11. AllBusiness.com http://www.allbusiness.com/retail/retailers-nonstore-retailers-mail-order-internet/11439670-1.html. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. Tony Swan, "Superfour Challenge", Car and Driver, November 2005, Vol. 51, Iss. 5, pg. 110–121
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