Voters in Hancock, Brooke and Ohio counties on Tuesday selected Republican incumbents Mark Zatezalo and Jimmy Willis to represent them in the state House of Delegates for the next two years.

Zatezalo emerged as the winner of a seat representing the 2nd Delegate District, which includes parts of Hancock and Brooke counties.

He received a total of 4,000 votes in the two counties, while Democratic challenger Olivia Dowler received 1,840 votes.

Both are Weirton residents.

Zatezalo received 70.51 percent of the votes cast in Brooke County and 66.23 percent of those cast in Hancock County.

All totals are unofficial until ballots are canvassed.

“That’s gratifying to say the least,” said Zatezalo, who added he appreciated the vote of confidence from voters.

Asked his goals for his fifth two-year term in the state Legislature, he said, “Jobs are No. 1. We have enough good things going for us, infrastructure-wise and energy-wise, that we should be able to further develop the economy.”

A Bethany resident, Willis was the winner of a seat representing the 3rd Delegate District, which includes parts of Brooke and Ohio counties.

He received a total of 4,811 votes in the two counties, while Democratic challenger David Cantrell of Wheeling received 2,066 votes.

Willis received 72.22 percent of the votes cast in Brooke County and 59.59 percent of the votes cast in Ohio County.

Asked to comment on his victory, Willis said, “I’m feeling good. To win by this total really shows the people have seen the hard work we’ve done.”

Willis said in his second term in the House of Delegates, ” I will continue to focus on education, which is near and dear to my heart.”

He said he plans to introduce legislation to improve education for West Virginia’s students, particularly in the area of vocational education.

Republican Pat McGeehan, who has represented the 1st Delegate District since 2014 and prior to that, from 2008 to 2010, was unopposed.

The district includes parts of Hancock and Brooke counties.

wscott@heraldstaronline.com