| A frequently absent Clay county commissioner won a nickname contest for his no shows at commission meetings.
 Matthew "HAC" (He Ain't Comin') Bragg, now 37, of Ovapa may have the all-time record for not performing his elected duties, although Bragg says part of his problem has been related to a bout with cancer.
Yesterday, Bragg's two fellow commissioners passed a motion that commission president Peter Triplett will "no longer sign Bragg's paychecks unless he comes to the courthouse."
Bragg is not the only Clay commissioner in recent years that has a poor record of attending meetings, but he may be the worst.
Bragg, who was elected six years ago, has been the subject of comedy and disgust at commission meetings. His fellow commissioners use to "pat his empty chair and ask: "What do you think about it Matt?" when a decision was needed.
After a bout with cancer in 2001, Bragg said he was unable to attend meetings. During 2002, records indicate Bragg attended about half the meetings, although he went to the West Virginia State Police Academy.
During part of his tenure as a county commissioner he worked as a traffic policeman for the City of Summersville about four years and as an officer in Gassaway.
More recently he has been a no-show since the primary election, when he lost his race for sheriff.
Bragg told the Herald he has been working 12-14 hours a day for West Virginia Paving Company and "They are not interested in letting me off from work."
"I have to make a living," he said. "With a wife and five children I have seven mouths to feed."
Bragg said state law requires commissioners to actually attend only two meetings a year.
Andy Waddell, the editor of the Clay Communicator, has frequently poked fun at Bragg for his absences. Waddell angered Bragg, who then accused Waddell of "stepping over the line" and threatened to sue him.
Waddell, who is running for commissioner on the Mountain Party ticket, said "There has never been an organized effort about Bragg's problem and damn few complaints."
"Seriously, the situation has short-changed Clay County taxpayers," Waddell said, "But Matt may be within the law."
Bragg's absenteeism problem will be resolved by January 1, 2005, when his six year term expires.
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