The following complaints were filed in with the WVEC on November 5th, 2026.
- West Virginia Ethics Commission
- 210 Brooks Street, Suite 300, Charleston WV 25301
- (304)558-0664 or (866)558-0664
ETHICS COMPLAINT
Whitney Butler, Complainant
V.
Eric Lupardus, Respondent.
I hereby allege that the Respondent violated the West Virginia Ethics Act as follows:
Commissioner Lupardus knowingly took part in allowing items not discussed in open meetings to be approved.
- The Calhoun County Commission under the Direction of President Eric Lupardus secretly approved an additional $5000 pay increase for County Administrator Jennifer Randolph.
- When confronted with this information Lupardus stated “The Commissioners knew what the budget was so they just didn’t discuss it.”
- This statement is recorded on my personal device. (August 13th, 2026)
Commission President Lupardus also violated the WV Ethic Act by allowing Administrator Randolph access to bids that were in excess of $20,000 to be seen prior to the meeting. Randolph openly acknowledged knowing the bidded amounts on live feed of Ridgeview News. (September 10th, 2026)
Commissioner Rush and Lupardus have repeatedly held closed door meetings in the Commission offices that are in an annex building of the Calhoun County Courthouse. (Numerous instances to date)
Since being confronted with the hidden pay rase, President Lupardus has continuously used personal connections with Secretary of State Kris Warner to harass exiting County Clerk. Throwing baseless accusations, attacking poll workers, as well as County Clerk staff (October 21-November 4)
Commission President Lupardus also harassed early voting poll workers over an “I voted” sticker. Then proceeded to place an order with the elections supply company on behalf of the County Clerk’s office without consent. (Oct 22nd)
Commission President Lupardus was actively meddling in an election by using social media to make slanderous and derogatory posts about multiple candidates as well as community members. The instances include calling all Calhoun Democrats pedophile supporters, telling community members that current circuit clerk attended to former Commissioner McCumbers personally when McCumbers was arrested for heinous crimes against minors. (September 19-November 2).
The Calhoun County Commission under the instruction of Administrator Randolph have continuously approved p-card purchases to be paid without proper documentation. Numerous purchases have been flagged as questionable. (January 2026-current)
Lupardus can also be found using Calhoun County Commission Resources to operate his personal Prime Energy Business, including but not limited to office space, printer paper, wireless internet and possibly computer. (January 2026- current)
Lupardus has slandered, attacked and harassed any elected official, community member and even directors of agencies in our county who dare to question his authority. The undiscussed pay raise happened previously in 2025. In 2025 the Calhoun County Commission slid a $10,000 pay raise into the budget for Randolph without discussion in open meetings. When confronted, the former County Clerk who had been in office for 13 years did not back down to him. And within a few months she chose to retire. As she exited Lupardus and Randolph began slandering her about stealing money, paying bills out of incorrect budget lines etc. This was never proven, just accused and dismissed when they achieved their goal. While these issues may not fall under WV Ethics, they do however go to show a pattern of behavior.
While Commission President Lupardus continues to slander and attack the County Clerk and staff our staff has remained professional and continues doing the job set forth in front of them.
The tact that the elected official in charge of overseeing election integrity is openly supporting an individual meddling in a local election is absurd. A separate complaint will be filed against Kris Warner.
You may contact the WV State Auditor’s office about a previous $10,000 hidden pay raise given in 2025 to Randolph to establish a pattern.
Name(s) and contact information of any witness(es) to the alleged misconduct: withheld to protect witnesses.
ETHICS COMPLAINT
Whitney Butler, Complainant
vs.
Secretary of State Kris Warner, Respondent.
I hereby allege that the Respondent violated the West Virginia Ethics Act as follows:
Secretary of State Kris Warner has been allowing a personal connection and friendship with Calhoun County Commissioner Eric Lupardus to circumvent proper chain of command to harass the Calhoun County Clerk throughout the last month of the General 2026 Election.
Warner would take personal phone calls and messages from Lupardus, then proceed to send staff to verify the baseless allegations.
Lupardus made multiple complaints to the WV SOS, but not once did the clerk’s office report Lupardus’s meddling in the election.
Warner, who is friends with Lupadus, was quite possibly aware of derogatory and slanderous posts circulating directly from Lupardus about appointed elected officials who were on the General ballot, which in is by very definition meddling in an election.
The slanderous materials posted could have quite possibly played a large part in the results as well as damaged multiple candidates’ reputations.
Date or dates of alleged violations:
October 21st – November 4, 2026
Name(s) and contact information of any witness(es) to the alleged misconduct: withheld to protect witnesses.
For further Ridgeview Commentary on this matter see :
