W. Va. Code § 8-5-10: Vacancies in elective offices; how filled.

Unless otherwise provided by charter provision or ordinance, when a vacancy shall occur from any cause in any municipal elective office, the vacancy, until the next succeeding regular municipal election and until the qualification of an elected successor, shall be filled by appointment by the governing body from among the residents of the municipality eligible under this article, with a legally qualified person of the same political party with which the person holding the office immediately preceding the vacancy was affiliated at the time of the previous election: Provided, That any such person appointed must have been affiliated with that political party for at least one year prior to the occurrence of the vacancy.