An Interview With Senator
Mitch Carmichael
I
n the halls of the state capitol it is
often said (with a grin) that you can
hear Mitch Carmichael before you can
see him. There is never a lack of enthusiasm on
Carmichael’s part, particularly when it comes to
his role as a legislator.
Senator Mitch Carmichael hails from Ripley,
where he was an accomplished high school
athlete. Attending Marshall University, he
majored in economics and finance. After college,
Carmichael spent 23 years working for NCR
before taking his current position as a sales
director with Frontier Communications.
Carmichael was raised in a family that stressed
public service. His father served in the legislature
10 West Virginia Farm Bureau News
Joan Harman
for eight years, and was a member of Ripley’s
city council. The senior Carmichael was also
appointed as Commissioner of Labor under
Governor Arch Moore. Following his father’s
example, Mitch’s first foray into politics was in
2000. He won a seat in the House of Delegates,
where he stayed for ten years, serving as caucus
chair and minority whip. In 2011, he tried an
unsuccessful run for governor. Then in 2012,
when Karen Facemyer decided to step down from
the senate, Carmichael filed to run for her seat.
The transition from House of Delegates
member to Senator has not been without surprises.
“There’s a vast difference between the House
and Senate,” says Carmichael. “The Senate is
more bi-partisan. People are more willing to find