By Phil Kabler State Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, said Wednesday he has selected Sen. Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, as the new Senate Finance Committee. Blair succeeds Sen. Mike Hall, R-Putnam, who resigned to serve as Gov. Jim Justice's chief of staff. Hall replaces Nick Casey, a former state Democratic chairman whom Justice fired after the governor switched his political affiliation from Democratic to Republican earlier this month. Carmichael said he had three prime candidates for the powerful chairmanship, but chose Blair over Sens.