West Virginia § 6-6-1 - 6-6-1. Definitions.

§ 6-6-1. 6-6-1. Definitions.

(a) The term “official misconduct”, as used in this article, means conviction of a felony during the officer’s present term of office or any willful unlawful behavior by a public officer in the course of his or her performance of the duties of the public office.

(b) The term “neglect of duty”, as used in this article, means the knowing refusal or willful failure of a public officer to perform an essential act or duty of the office required by law.

(c) The term “incompetence”, as used in this article, may include the following acts or adjudications committed or arising during the challenged officer’s term of office: The waste or misappropriation of public funds by any officer when the officer knew, or should have known, that such use of funds was inappropriate or inconsistent with the lawful duties of the office; conviction of a misdemeanor involving dishonesty or gross immorality, having been the subject of a determination of incapacity, as defined and governed by section seven, article thirty, chapter sixteen of this code; or other conduct affecting the officer’s ability to perform the essential official duties of his or her office including but not limited to habitual drunkenness or addiction to the use of narcotic drugs.

(d) The term “qualified petitioner”, as used in this article, means a person who was registered to vote in the election in which the officer was chosen which next preceded the filing of the petition.