CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Chief Justice Elliott "Spike" Maynard
has conceded the state Supreme Court race.

Former Justice Margaret Workman and Huntington lawyer Menis Ketchum are the two Democratic nominees for the two open court seats and will face sole Republican challenger Beth Walker in the fall.

Maynard released a statement thanking the people of West Virginia for allowing him the privilege and honor of serving them as a judge and justice for nearly 28 years.

“I first want to thank my family, my friends and my supporters who worked so hard everyday during my campaign. The results are mostly now in, the voters have spoken and it appears we’ve lost the race," Maynard said in a prepared statement. "I want to thank the people of West Virginia for allowing me the great privilege and honor of serving them as a judge and justice for nearly 28 years.”

Maynard was considered heavily favored in the race until the release of photographs earlier this year that showed him vacationing in 2006 with Massey Energy's chief executive in Monaco. The coal producer had cases before the court at the time of the vacation.

The photos grabbed national headlines and became campaign fodder after they surfaced in January.

The only other contender for the Supreme Court seat was West Virginia University law professor Bob Bastress.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)