Philip A. Reale

On May 8, 2003, Philip A. Reale was elected the first General Chairman of the West Virginia Democratic Legislative Council, the campaign committee for Democrats in the West Virginia legislature. As General Chairman of the WVDLC, Mr. Reale has initiated an aggressive agenda to improve communications with members and the public and to prepare the organization for the future.

Mr. Reale is an attorney who specializes in federal and state legislative affairs for state, national and international clients. He also has a limited general practice of law with concentrations in oil and gas law and civil litigation.

Mr. Reale was born and raised in Glenville, West Virginia. He graduated from Glenville State College in 1974 with an AB degree in History. He graduated from West Virginia University College of Law in 1977.

After graduation, Mr. Reale began practicing law and concentrated in the fields of real estate and civil litigation. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Calhoun county in 1979 and served in that position until 1981. Mr. Reale then became General Counsel for Waco Oil & Gas Company.

In 1988, Mr. Reale began an exciting and challenging chapter in his professional life when he became Chief of Staff for West Virginia Governor Gaston Caperton. Faced with a state on the verge of bankruptcy, crumbling schools and bureaucracy-laden state government, Mr. Reale helped Governor Caperton lead the state legislature to make sweeping changes that led Financial World magazine to call the state the most improved in the nation.

In 1990, Mr. Reale rejoined Waco Oil & Gas as Executive Vice President. From 1991-1996 he chaired the Government Relations Department at Robinson & McElwee Law Firm. During this busy period he also managed Governor Caperton's successful re-election campaign in 1992.

Mr. Reale has been an active volunteer for many causes in West Virginia. He is a member of the Board of Advisors for Fairmont State College, Glenville State College and is a member of the West Virginia Prepaid College Tuition Trust Fund Board. He is the current Chairman of the Gilmer County Economic Development Authority and a member of the state Judicial Investigation Commission. He is also a member of the West Virginia Special Olympics Board of Directors and is active in youth sports programs.

He served on the Board of the State College System of West Virginia for 10 years and is its former chairman. He is a former member of the state Educational Broadcasting Authority. He is the former Vice Chairman of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, past President of the state Independent Oil and Gas Association and a former board member and Chairman of the state Chamber of Commerces Governmental Affairs Committee.

Mr. Reale has been recognized for his contributions to the state, having twice received the Distinguished West Virginian Award. He has also received Glenville State Colleges Distinguished Pioneer Award and Alumni Association Alumni Service Award.

Mr. Reale has been active in the Democratic Party nearly all of his life. He was elected as the Associate Chairman of the Gilmer County Democratic Executive Committee in 1970 at the age of 18. He also represented the counties of Calhoun, Pleasants, Wirt and Wood on the West Virginia State Democratic Executive Committee.

He and his wife Terry have two children, Philip and Anthony. They reside in Charleston.