McHugh named acting West Virginia Department of Administration Secretary

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — John McHugh will serve as acting secretary for the West Virginia Department of Administration after Mark Scott resigned, according to Gov. Jim Justice’s Office.

McHugh has been a state employee since 2006, according to the governor’s office, and has most recently served as the Deputy Secretary of Administration and the Director of the General Services Division.

Who he is replacing, Mark Scott, was appointed to the role on Nov. 1, 2021, the West Virginia Department of Administration website said. He has now resigned, effective July 31, according to the governor’s office.

The website said Scott was an Elkins City Councilmember from April 2001 until 2016, when he was elected to the Randolph County Commission in 2016. He was Commission President from Jan. 8, 2017, to Oct. 31, 2021.

New information is coming to light after Scott resigned. Some questions have been raised about outside work he may have done on government time. Gov. Jim Justice (R-WV) says his office has looked into the matter and it has been resolved.

Gov. Justice says his chief of staff received some complaints about work that Scott may have been doing on state time, which involved a PAC Scott was a part of including donations and endorsements of candidates in the May primary. Before the governor could take action, Scott stepped down.

The governor laughed off suggestions Scott was being punished for being one of the five people on an ad-hoc committee that voted to put a likeness of Babydog in a Capitol mural. He says, “It was a nice thing to do.”

13 News has reached out to the West Virginia Ethics Commission to see if it is investigating this matter, and we are waiting for a response.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOWK 13 News.