Charleston Gazette-Mail. April 18, 2024.
Editorial: Does WV need another ‘businessman’ governor?
In the latest round of nonstop TV ads between Republican West Virginia gubernatorial candidates Patrick Morrisey, Moore Capito and Chris Miller (candidate and Secretary of State Mac Warner seems to be sitting the whole thing out), the last of those three is trying to break out as a “businessman” candidate.
Miller, who runs the family business empire of auto dealerships, says this makes him like Donald Trump, and then goes on to assert that he, like Trump, is a political outsider.
That last claim is hilariously false. Miller is the son of Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va., who served in the state Legislature for several years before heading to D.C. Her father, Ralph Devine, served as a Republican congressman representing Ohio for more than 20 years. It doesn’t get much more “inside” than that. In a way, Miller’s entire run for governor seems like another attempt to inherit the family business.
Now, he’s hardly alone. Capito is the son of Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and the grandson of late West Virginia governor Arch Moore, who ended up going to prison after pleading guilty to felony corruption charges. Morrisey has been attorney general since 2012, and is wrapping up his third term — even though he vowed to serve only two. Warner comes from a political family, as well. These are all insiders.
So, brushing that aside, would West Virginia be well-served by someone who promises to run government like a business?
Well, Gov. Jim Justice, who touted his sense for business, has held the state’s highest office for eight years, and his businesses and finances appear to be collapsing. Justice’s net worth was once pegged at around $1.3 billion. At present, he’s buried beneath a mountain of debts, unpaid taxes, legal settlements, fines, fees and just about any other form of financial penalty one could name, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars at least.
His business sense has led to tax cuts for the wealthy that appear to be blowing holes in state revenue, and his absentee-governing style has compounded emergencies in education, health care and the foster care system, to name a few.
No wonder Miller skipped Justice and presented himself as a businessman “like Trump.” Although Trump’s multiple bankruptcies, business failures, cons and current slate of criminal charges don’t inspire confidence, either.
All of that aside, the problem with a “businessman” candidate is that government operations are not a business. Cutting costs in government usually means cutting services for people who need them or slashing departments so they can no longer adequately do their jobs, which typically end up being fairly vital.
Sure, there might be bloat, waste or inefficiencies. So far, few self-identified businessmen in positions of political power have been able to do much about it, instead running years of flat budgets that overwhelm and burn out employees and departments that are not paid well and short on resources.
It would be great if a “businessman” could improve government operation and raise revenue that could be invested back into the system so that vital departments could flourish. Too often, though, a promise to run government like a business is just words without meaning or understanding.
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The Herald-Dispatch. April 23, 2024.
Editorial: If you’re not registered but you want to vote, register today
If you want to have your voice heard in matters of taxes and public policy but you aren’t registered to vote, today is the deadline to register in West Virginia.
Do you think the proposed Cabell County Schools excess levy provides too little support for libraries and parks in the county, or do you favor increasing funding for programs the district has in place? Do you prefer one person over the others in the Huntington mayoral election?
If you don’t care, don’t vote. Don’t mess up the system for people who are trying to make their community and their state a better place to live, work, go to school or do other things that elected officials affect for better or worse.
If you’re not registered, your voice doesn’t count. Registering to vote in West Virginia is not that difficult. The easiest way for many is to register at the secretary of state’s office online at GoVoteWV.com. Or you can download an application and mail it to your county clerk. In Cabell County, that would be Cabell County Clerk Scott Caserta, 750 5th Ave., Suite 108, Huntington, WV 25701.
Registered voters who have moved or changed their name since the last election should update their voter registration.
If you’re impatient to cast your ballot, early voting runs from May 1-11. Cabell County will have three locations available for early voters: the Cabell County Courthouse, the Marshall University Drinko Library (designated parking available) and Milton City Hall. All will be open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Absentee ballot applications will be accepted until May 8 and also can be found at GoVoteWV.com.
There are many reasons to vote — so many that they are obvious. There are reasons to not vote. Some people abstain from voting for religious reasons. Some people don’t vote because they don’t care or because they think the entire process is rigged, so voting is futile.
The fact remains that if you want to have a voice in your government, you must use the voice you have, and for most of us that means voting. If you want to make a difference, you must be registered to vote.
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The Intelligencer. April 19, 2024.
Editorial: Foster Parents Needed in West Virginia
Ever considered becoming a foster parent, only to back off on the idea because the process seems too daunting? A new partnership among the West Virginia Department of Human Services, Aetna Better Health of West Virginia and 10 foster care agencies statewide is aiming to change that.
In an effort to address the shortage of foster parents in the state, the group is putting together a campaign that targets both single and married adults who have considered being foster parents but never qualified to do so.
“This initiative aims to demystify the journey of becoming a foster family in West Virginia,” said Cynthia Persily, secretary of the West Virginia Department of Human Services, according to a report by WBOY. “By shedding light on the process, we empower families to better understand and navigate it. Expanding our state’s pool of available foster parents will positively impact the children in need of stable, secure homes, and in turn, impact the future of our entire state.”
The youngest of our Mountaineers have suffered the most over the past several years, and for those looking for a way to help, giving these vulnerable children shelter from that storm is huge.
“‘If you’ve ever considered fostering, West Virginia needs you now.’ That’s the message we want to communicate to people,” Rachel Kinder, Mission West Virginia executive director, told WBOY. “We know people can be intimidated by the thought of fostering, frequently worrying that they don’t have enough resources or the right personality to open their home to a child or teen.”
If your personality includes being the kind of person who wants to make a difference for these kids, it’s a good start. Go to www.wefosterwv.org to find out more. The information and support available there will help you get the ball rolling. You — and the children you help — will be glad you did.
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