The Nation - News from Sept. 10, 1989

West Virginia voters handed Gov. Gaston Caperton an overwhelming defeat on three constitutional amendments he had said were necessary to complete his reorganization of state government. With 99% of the vote counted, only one of the proposals garnered as much as 19% support. One of the amendments would have eliminated three statewide elected offices--secretary of state, treasurer and agriculture commissioner--and placed their duties under the governor’s control. The second amendment would have given the governor greater authority over the state primary and secondary education system. The third would have given cities and counties the ability to merge or choose new forms of government. Caperton, a Democrat who took office in January, said his Administration failed to fully explain the proposals.