Shelley Moore Capito

laurae@herald-mail.com BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.VA. - Countering recent criticism of President Bush's Iraq war strategy, U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito on Saturday said the United States needs to stay the course to ensure peace. Echoing Bush, whose West Virginia re-election campaign she's chairing, the Second District congresswoman said stability in the region is vital to U.S. security. Capito spent four days with the troops about six weeks ago. "One thing that really struck me is the absolute power and strength of our military," she said in a speech to the Morgan County Republican Club.

charlestown@herald-mail.com CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Issues took a back seat to personal attacks during a debate between Democratic congressional candidates James Humphreys and Margaret Workman at Wright Denny Intermediate School Monday night. Humphreys and Workman are seeking the Democratic nomination for the 2nd Congressional District in the May 14 primary. The winner will face off against Republican incumbent Shelley Moore Capito. During Monday's debate, sponsored by the Jefferson County League of Women Voters, Workman asked Humphreys whether he refused to testify in a state government corruption case in the early 1990s until he was granted immunity.

Candidates line up for 2002 elections By DAVE McMILLION / Staff Writer, Charles Town Since the close of the candidate filing period Saturday, 61 people have filed to run for a variety of offices from county magistrate to U.S. Senate. Filings sent by mail had to be postmarked by midnight Saturday. There is a chance there could have been other filings sent by mail that had not arrived in election offices by Monday, election officials said. Candidates running in the same party will square off against each other in the primary election May 14. The general election will be Nov. 5. Because Board of Education races are nonpartisan, those races will be determined in the primary election.

Rep. Capito gives advice to Shepherd grads By DAVE McMILLION / Staff Writer SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito tried to prepare Shepherd College graduates Saturday for the life challenges that lie ahead of them. Capito told students they may start out pursuing a dream only to find it is not for them. But the moment does not mean a total loss, she said. Recognizing diversions from one's path can be as helpful as recognizing the path.