The special primary election to fill Senator Robert Byrd’s unexpired term is just weeks away. On the Republican side, the ticket is crowded.

Ten candidates are vying for the republican nomination. Three of those candidates are Kenneth Culp, an accountant; Harry Bruner, an attorney; and Albert Howard, from California.

Largely, the candidates are running on an anti-government, anti-Obama platform. Their concerns include the size of government and the direction in which it is headed. Both of which are reasons Kenneth Culp cites for his candidacy.

“I’m not a politician. I really didn’t want this job,” Culp said. “But I just really felt like I had to stand up because someone has to do it.”

Culp is an accountant from Summersville who wants to take his conservative values to Washington.

“I think defeating Obama’s radical agenda, we’ve got to have the people in congress to stand up to him, and Pelosi and Reed to get this stopped,” Culp said.

Harry Bruner, an attorney, has similar concerns. Bruner said he wants to balance the budget, and stop the spending.

“West Virginians really don’t need jobless benefits as much as they need jobs with benefits,” Bruner said.

Albert Howard is a standout in the field of 10, because he is from California. He also ran in the New Hampshire Presidential primary. But, he said, he has studied up on West Virginia and wants to represent the state.

“I believe the safest and most innovative form of mining would be surface mining,” he said. “The integrity of the mountain is preserved and what the state of West Virginia is doing is preserved.”

Howard’s said his stance changed, however, after watching a movie on the subject.

“After witnessing a viewing of the movie ‘Coal Country’, I have had a change of heart. I am fully persuaded and my new position is: End Mountain top Removal.”

The special primary is set for August 28.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com as we continue to highlight the candidates on each side of the ballot as Election Day inches closer.