McDowell County voters will choose new assessor in November 2026

McDowell County homeowners, landowners and businesses will decide in November who oversees the office that helps shape property tax bills, land records and the day-to-day accuracy of the county’s tax rolls. The county commission has ordered the unexpired assessor term onto the November 3, 2026 general election ballot after the death of Assessor Sherry Burton.

The vacancy became effective March 27, 2026. The commission entered its order on May 27, 2026, and the notice was signed by Michael D. Brooks, Cecil D. Patterson, Robert D. Dotson and County Clerk Donald L. Hicks. For McDowell residents, the practical issue is not just who holds the title. The assessor’s office is one of the county posts that directly affects how property is listed, valued and recorded, which in turn shapes the bills sent to households and businesses.

West Virginia law normally says a vacancy in the office of assessor is filled by county-commission appointment within 30 days. In this case, the commission chose a different path and put the seat on the ballot instead. That means voters will select who finishes the remainder of Burton’s term, not just who inherits the office after an internal appointment.

The election calendar already set the timing around the race. The candidate filing period for the 2026 primary ran from January 12 through January 31, 2026, and the general election is set for November 3. McDowell County voters will see the assessor contest alongside other countywide races that often draw the turnout most likely to shape local government and public confidence in tax administration.

Burton’s death also marks the end of a long run in the office. She had worked in the McDowell County Assessor’s Office since 1999, and in 2025 became the county’s first female assessor. The county commission’s memorial page said she was 59, of Raysal, and died March 27. McDowell County’s directory now lists Glenda Day as assessor, showing the office has already been kept operating while voters prepare to choose the unexpired term.

The assessor’s office is based in the McDowell County Courthouse in Welch, and the county lists the office phone number as 304-436-8528. The winner in November will step into an office tied to revenue, fairness and public trust at a time when McDowell County residents are watching every local decision that affects services, records and tax bills.