Walter D. Helmick (born April 25, 1944) is an American businessman and Democratic Party politician who served as the Commissioner of Agriculture of the state of West Virginia . He was elected to the position in 2012, defeating Republican nominee Kent Leonhardt. In 2016, Leonhardt defeated him in a rematch. Previously, he was a member of the West Virginia Senate , representing the 15th district from 1990 to 2012. Earlier he was a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1988 through 1989, served on the Pocahontas County Commission and on the Pocahontas County School Board.
Walt Helmick
In office Governor Earl Ray Tomblin Preceded by Gus Douglass Succeeded by Kent Leonhardt In office Preceded by Mike Withers Succeeded by Donald Cookman In office Preceded by Larry Tucker Succeeded by Rebecca I. White
Born (1944-04-25 ) April 25, 1944 (age 80) Webster Springs, West Virginia , U.S.Political party Democratic Spouse Rita Fay Children Tim Helmick, Sam Helmick, Brian Helmick, Shelly Helmick Alma mater West Virginia University,
West Virginia House of Delegates 27th District Democratic Primary Election, 1988
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Joe Martin
3,667
23.63
Democratic
Walt Helmick
3,065
19.75
Democratic
Bill Proudfoot
2,508
16.16
Democratic
"Stratt" Ogden Sr.
2,044
13.17
Democratic
Judith Seaman
1,669
10.75
Democratic
James "Ross" Ware
1,160
7.47
Democratic
Frank Rowe
888
5.72
Democratic
Katherine Wright Fagan
519
3.34
West Virginia House of Delegates 27th District Election, 1988
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Walt Helmick
7,908
32.56
Democratic
Joe Martin
7,034
28.96
Republican
Jimmie Ryder Sr.
5,113
21.05
Republican
Phillip Cupp
4,232
17.42
West Virginia Senate 12th District Democratic Primary Election, 1990
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Walt Helmick
8,646
50.79
Democratic
D. P. Given
4,916
28.88
Democratic
George "Geo." Kallai
3,461
20.33
West Virginia Senate 12th District Election, 1990
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Walt Helmick
17,339
65.86
Republican
Ashley Morrissette
8,989
34.14
West Virginia Senate 15th District Election, 1994
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Walt Helmick (inc.)
16,420
60.40
Republican
Aubry Wilson
10,766
39.60
West Virginia Senate 15th District Democratic Primary Election, 1998
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Walt Helmick (inc.)
7,316
61.09
Democratic
Leslee McCarty
2,934
24.50
Democratic
Tom Jones
1,725
14.41
West Virginia Senate 15th District Election, 1998
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Walt Helmick (inc.)
14,879
60.69
Republican
Les Shoemaker Jr.
9,638
39.31
West Virginia Senate 15th District Election, 2002
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Walt Helmick (inc.)
14,630
55.70
Republican
Chris Davis
10,461
39.83
Mountain
Kit Patten
1,173
4.47
West Virginia Senate 15th District Election, 2006
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Walt Helmick (inc.)
21,509
99.57
Write-in
Jeremy Donald Bauserman
92
0.43
West Virginia Senate 15th District Democratic Primary Election, 2010
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Walt Dolph Helmick (inc.)
6,864
67.47
Democratic
Thomas Paul Ditty
3,310
32.53
West Virginia Senate 15th District Election, 2010
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Walt Dolph Helmick (inc.)
19,192
57.01
Republican
Jeremy Donald Bauserman
14,470
42.99
West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Democratic Primary Election, 2012
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Walt Helmick
59,376
32.89
Democratic
Sally Shepherd
44,454
24.62
Democratic
Steve Miller
39,130
21.67
Democratic
Joe Messineo
24,613
13.63
Democratic
Bob Tabb
12,976
7.19
West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Election, 2012
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Walt Helmick
316,591
51.59
Republican
Kent Leonhardt
297,088
48.41
West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Election, 2016
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Kent Leonhardt
321,560
48.41
Democratic
Walt Helmick
274,191
41.28
Libertarian
Buddy A. Guthrie
68,502
10.31
