NEW MARTINSVILLE — H. John Rogers, the Libertarian candidate for a West Virginia 2nd District Senate seat on the Nov. 8 ballot, will participate in a public debate Monday with Republican nominee Dr. Mike Maroney and Democratic nominee Lisa Zukoff.

The debate is sponsored by The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register, the Wetzel Chronicle and Tyler Star News in cooperation with West Virginia Northern Community College. It will take place from 7-8 p.m. in Room 110 of WVNCC’s campus located at 141 Main St. in New Martinsville.

The debate represents 2nd District residents’ chance to hear the candidates on the record about issues facing the district and state before early voting begins two days later, on Oct. 26, at county courthouses throughout West Virginia.

Maroney, Rogers and Zukoff are vying to replace state Sen. Jeff Kessler, D-Marshall, who ran unsuccessfully for governor in the May primary rather than seek another term in the Senate. He’s been in office since 1997.

The 2nd District includes much of Marshall County, all of Wetzel, Tyler, Doddridge, Ritchie and Calhoun counties and parts of Monongalia, Marion and Gilmer counties. Sen. Kent Leonhardt, R-Monongalia, holds the district’s other seat.

Rogers’ third-party candidacy was approved by Secretary of State Natalie Tennant in July 2016. He graduated from Reader High School, is a graduate of Harvard Law School and holds two graduate degrees in theology.

Rogers is married to the former Debbie Bartolovich of Cameron. They have two children and reside in New Martinsville.

He has said his main goals are to see that all West Virginians reap the benefits of the Marcellus and Utica shale drilling industry, and to combat drug addiction in the state.