Michael Boggs
Rudy R Sites
Janice D. M. LaRue
Don Gordon
Sandra Schadler
Matthew Scott Eggar
Charles Wimer
John Barnett
Gary Howell
Gloria Howell
Willard W. Goff
Crystal Wimer
1 space is Empty due to a tie between Cherri Gannon and Stephen Smoot
(Official Results)
Lauren Ellifritz has been appointed to fill the empty slot.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Mineral County Candidates filed
County Commissioner:
Janice LaRue (R)
Roger D. Leatherman (R)
Donald C. Ashby (D)
Annette C Favara (R)
Assessor:
Rose Ann Maine (R)
Betty Reall (D)
Sheriff:
Paul Sabin (R)
Craig A. Fraley (D)
Frank Willis Smith (D)
Ringo Nelson (D)
Pat Amoroso (D)
Magistrate (2 seats)
David C. Harman (R)
Carolyn Sue Robey (D)
Tanya Bartlett (D)
Prosecuting Attorney:
James W. Courrier Jr. (R)
State Senate 14th:
Gary Howell (R) Mineral
Bob Williams (D) Taylor
David Webb (D) Mineral
House of Delgates 48th:
Donna Brake Kuhn (D) Grant
Allen Evans (R) Grant
House of Delgates 49th:
Robert Schadler (R)
House of Delgates 50th:
Alan (Mitch) Davis (D) Hampshire
Royce B. Saville (D) Hampshire
Ruth Rowan (R) Hampshire
Board of Education:
Todd W. Ellifritz (District 2)
Mary C. Aronhalt (District 1)
Wm Butch Wahl (District 1)
Craig A. Rotruck (District 2)
Conservation District:
Roger L. Kitzmiller
* (Incumbent italics)
Janice LaRue (R)
Roger D. Leatherman (R)
Donald C. Ashby (D)
Annette C Favara (R)
Assessor:
Rose Ann Maine (R)
Betty Reall (D)
Sheriff:
Paul Sabin (R)
Craig A. Fraley (D)
Frank Willis Smith (D)
Ringo Nelson (D)
Pat Amoroso (D)
Magistrate (2 seats)
David C. Harman (R)
Carolyn Sue Robey (D)
Tanya Bartlett (D)
Prosecuting Attorney:
James W. Courrier Jr. (R)
State Senate 14th:
Gary Howell (R) Mineral
Bob Williams (D) Taylor
David Webb (D) Mineral
House of Delgates 48th:
Donna Brake Kuhn (D) Grant
Allen Evans (R) Grant
House of Delgates 49th:
Robert Schadler (R)
House of Delgates 50th:
Alan (Mitch) Davis (D) Hampshire
Royce B. Saville (D) Hampshire
Ruth Rowan (R) Hampshire
Board of Education:
Todd W. Ellifritz (District 2)
Mary C. Aronhalt (District 1)
Wm Butch Wahl (District 1)
Craig A. Rotruck (District 2)
Conservation District:
Roger L. Kitzmiller
* (Incumbent italics)
Friday, January 25, 2008
Checking the facts avoiding the drama
One thing that holds true in both life and politics, is that people go off half-cocked. That creates mistakes and adds much unneeded drama to life. 99% of the drama can be avoided by simply checking the facts first before going off. When I go off, I like to be fully-cocked.
Recently I wrote a blog about water resources in Mineral County based on a Comprehensive Plan meeting held in Fort Ashby. At that meeting I knew that most of the information being portrayed was flat wrong, but I didn't have the figures with me. I could have went off half-cocked, but I wanted to make sure that I was correct before I did.
After the meeting I went home and did my research on the subject. I checked all the water sources for the county. I checked the storage capacity of Jennings Randolph Lake. I did this all with official sources to make sure that my numbers were dead on correct. Then I presented my information to make my point. I went off fully-cocked.
As I watch the presidential election unfolding, I see a lot of candidates and their minions going of half-cocked. The information they are presenting is not based on fact. Much is based on innuendo. To me if a candidate cannot take the time to get the information right in their accusations, then they are not going to be high on my selection list. If their information is correct, the they are not accusations they are points of fact.
I would like to see excitement in presidential election, but I can do without the drama. Give me facts. Base arguments and disagreements on facts, and avoid the drama.
Recently I wrote a blog about water resources in Mineral County based on a Comprehensive Plan meeting held in Fort Ashby. At that meeting I knew that most of the information being portrayed was flat wrong, but I didn't have the figures with me. I could have went off half-cocked, but I wanted to make sure that I was correct before I did.
After the meeting I went home and did my research on the subject. I checked all the water sources for the county. I checked the storage capacity of Jennings Randolph Lake. I did this all with official sources to make sure that my numbers were dead on correct. Then I presented my information to make my point. I went off fully-cocked.
As I watch the presidential election unfolding, I see a lot of candidates and their minions going of half-cocked. The information they are presenting is not based on fact. Much is based on innuendo. To me if a candidate cannot take the time to get the information right in their accusations, then they are not going to be high on my selection list. If their information is correct, the they are not accusations they are points of fact.
I would like to see excitement in presidential election, but I can do without the drama. Give me facts. Base arguments and disagreements on facts, and avoid the drama.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
The 2008 Governor's race....
just became interesting...
Russ Weeks is a personal hero of mine. I will be reporting more on that soon.
Russ Weeks is a personal hero of mine. I will be reporting more on that soon.
Preston County Republicans Well Organized
Tuesday night I was invited to attend the Preston County executive committee meeting. It was one of the largest Republican meetings I have attended, save for a West Virginia State Republican meeting.
The first thing I noticed was these were unified Republicans. They were discussing their trip to Charleston on the 5th. While many people were representing different Presidential Candidates, the discussion was at the task at hand. The knew what needed to be done and the politics of politics were not on the agenda.
The second thing I noticed was the full slate of candidates they had organized for the ballot. There were 4 candidates for sheriff alone. It has been my experience than when several people are running for the same position, there is usually a certain amount uneasiness among those running. I could feel not tension in the air, doesn't mean it wasn't there, but it was not noticeable.
After discussion on the upcoming convention the topic of discussion turned to getting Republican candidates known and available to the public. A very good flow of ideas was given on how to do this. Everything from meet and greets to debates.
The Preston Republican's were still not done. They then turned there attention to voter registration. I'm not going to delve into the details, because some of them the other side may not have thought of, but they have a plan.
It is easy to see why Preston County has a growing Republican population. The executive committee is well organized, it is active, it takes the politics of politics out of the equation, and most importantly is listens to its voters for their ideas and needs. Good job.
The first thing I noticed was these were unified Republicans. They were discussing their trip to Charleston on the 5th. While many people were representing different Presidential Candidates, the discussion was at the task at hand. The knew what needed to be done and the politics of politics were not on the agenda.
The second thing I noticed was the full slate of candidates they had organized for the ballot. There were 4 candidates for sheriff alone. It has been my experience than when several people are running for the same position, there is usually a certain amount uneasiness among those running. I could feel not tension in the air, doesn't mean it wasn't there, but it was not noticeable.
After discussion on the upcoming convention the topic of discussion turned to getting Republican candidates known and available to the public. A very good flow of ideas was given on how to do this. Everything from meet and greets to debates.
The Preston Republican's were still not done. They then turned there attention to voter registration. I'm not going to delve into the details, because some of them the other side may not have thought of, but they have a plan.
It is easy to see why Preston County has a growing Republican population. The executive committee is well organized, it is active, it takes the politics of politics out of the equation, and most importantly is listens to its voters for their ideas and needs. Good job.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Mineral County Republican Presidential Replacement Convention
A Mineral County Republican Presidential Replacement Convention to be held Saturday January 26th at the Mineral County Courthouse from 12 to 3. This will be a new election that will replace the election held January 12th, 2008 where problems occurred.
All registered Republicans are requested to vote for delegates to send to the West Virginia Republican Presidential Convention.
All registered Republicans are requested to vote for delegates to send to the West Virginia Republican Presidential Convention.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
According to Fox News . . .
Republican Presidential Candidate former Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN) has pulled out of participating in the Republican Debate in Boca Raton, Florida scheduled for later this week on MSNBC.
Is this a harbinger of things to come? If so, I believe that the end has come too soon for Fred.
As a Romney supporter I have always felt common cause with Thompson's campaign, as both Fred and Mitt have been sounding similar themes (if differing a little bit on the margins), and believe the media template of his candidacy has been unfair and has ill-served the greater cause of informed democracy. I think, in the end, Fred has been campaigning "over the heads" of the drive-by media and our fast food, sound bite populace. Fred has run a thoughtful and meaningful campaign based on ideas, and his supporters have carried themselves with dignity and have been a credit to the Party and to their candidate. I think Fred's presence in the race has helped drive the debate and forced other candidates, including Governor Romney, to stay true to conservative principles and not stray off into McCain/Huckabee style heterodoxies.
If this is indeed the end of the Thompson candidacy, that leaves his West Virginia supporters with an important decision to make in the lead-up to the state convention: to whom to throw their support.
I'd like to ask all those Thompson delegates reading this to consider supporting Governor Romney at the state convention. "Full spectrum" conservatives --social, economic, and foreign policy-- can rally around Governor Romney. In the next two weeks, we'll be working hard to earn your support.
Is this a harbinger of things to come? If so, I believe that the end has come too soon for Fred.
As a Romney supporter I have always felt common cause with Thompson's campaign, as both Fred and Mitt have been sounding similar themes (if differing a little bit on the margins), and believe the media template of his candidacy has been unfair and has ill-served the greater cause of informed democracy. I think, in the end, Fred has been campaigning "over the heads" of the drive-by media and our fast food, sound bite populace. Fred has run a thoughtful and meaningful campaign based on ideas, and his supporters have carried themselves with dignity and have been a credit to the Party and to their candidate. I think Fred's presence in the race has helped drive the debate and forced other candidates, including Governor Romney, to stay true to conservative principles and not stray off into McCain/Huckabee style heterodoxies.
If this is indeed the end of the Thompson candidacy, that leaves his West Virginia supporters with an important decision to make in the lead-up to the state convention: to whom to throw their support.
I'd like to ask all those Thompson delegates reading this to consider supporting Governor Romney at the state convention. "Full spectrum" conservatives --social, economic, and foreign policy-- can rally around Governor Romney. In the next two weeks, we'll be working hard to earn your support.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Where have all our friends and family gone?
In 1950 West Virginia made up 1.3% of the US Population, now 0.6%. If we had kept pace with the US growth there would be about 2.1 million more West Virginians than their are now. We are half the state we were just 58 years ago. In a generation we have been cut completely in half.
The poor economic conditions of the state are to blame. Of my graduating class of over 200, there might be 50 left in the area. Many of those drive to Winchester for work everyday. I have family that now lives in Northern Virginia instead of West Virginia. I have class mates that are scattered around the US. If you do a search on Myspace for people that went to Keyser High School, you find a large portion live outside the Keyser area.
I do not know of any family that has not been touched by having loved ones move from the area. In in most cases it is not because they wanted to move, but because they were unable to find suitable work.
John Barnett pointed out in his recent editorial that Change is what is needed. If we continue down the same path, then we will continue to get the same results. We must change the economic policies that keep businesses (and their jobs) out of our state. Our friends and family should not have to loose loved ones for economic reasons.
The poor economic conditions of the state are to blame. Of my graduating class of over 200, there might be 50 left in the area. Many of those drive to Winchester for work everyday. I have family that now lives in Northern Virginia instead of West Virginia. I have class mates that are scattered around the US. If you do a search on Myspace for people that went to Keyser High School, you find a large portion live outside the Keyser area.
I do not know of any family that has not been touched by having loved ones move from the area. In in most cases it is not because they wanted to move, but because they were unable to find suitable work.
John Barnett pointed out in his recent editorial that Change is what is needed. If we continue down the same path, then we will continue to get the same results. We must change the economic policies that keep businesses (and their jobs) out of our state. Our friends and family should not have to loose loved ones for economic reasons.
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