Byway or Bye Economic Opportunity

At the March 26th afternoon meeting of Keyser Rotary Club, the speaker was Karen Allen of West Virginia Department of Highways. She runs the office that takes care of the Scenic Byways in the state. She told the group the benefits of Scenic Byways, the opportunities and the pitfalls. It was a very good presentation with good questions and answers from the public. Mineral County Commissioners Wayne Spiggle (A member of Rotary) and Janice LaRue attended to hear the discussion. The County Commissions from Grant and Hampshire County were invited to attend this Rotary meeting to hear Karen Allen, but did not attend.

At the last US 50 Association meeting held on March 18th, 2009 a surprise addition was added to the meeting agenda at the meeting. The original 3/18/2009 meeting Agenda sent out had no mention of discussing converting US 50 into a Scenic Byway, so the public was unaware it was to be discussed. It was never asked to be put on the agenda for this meeting prior to the start of the meeting. Wayne Spiggle the facilitator was adamant that it was to be discussed at that US 50 meeting, although it is my belief it should have been delayed, so that proper public notice could have been given. Government works best when the public is involved and the public was excluded from this discussion.

In the past the US 50 Association has repeated shown good wisdom when the public was well represented. At the July 21st, 2004, Deb Clatterbuck reported the findings of the Scenic Byway Task Force. It was a sub-committee set to explore the benefits and problems with designating the highway as a Byway. The official minutes show, "There are strict sign regulations such as been brought to light by the George’s Creek Coal Heritage Trail. The Task Force recommends tabling this issue until dual lane and alternate routes can be reviewed which may leave portions of the original roadbeds to be designated as Scenic By-ways." - July 21st, 2004 US 50 Minutes. The problem is businesses are restricted from advertising, which can hurt the local economy. The US 50 Association at that time believed that it was more important to improve the road and improve economic opportunity along the road. Putting the people first it always the best choice.

At the September 20th, 2006 meeting of the US 50 Association Mike Workman from North Central Byways spoke and told the group, "The North Central Byways group has control over signs on both public and private land." - Sept. 20th, 2006 US 50 Minutes. You read that right; a non-elected group can tell you what to do on your private land. Like giving up your 5th Amendment Rights without due process? Dave Price of Preston County, indicted the sign limit was upsetting business owners and asked how the group got the authority. According to the minutes, Karen Allen told the US 50 Association, that the Commissioner of Transportation gave the unelected North Central Byways the power. With the stroke of a pen your rights were gone and chances are you didn't even know.

The problem with the Byway designation is that it can be used as an anti-business tool. Now I have long argued that the Mineral County Commission has been anything, but pro-business. In fact many initiatives put forth by the Mineral County Commission and its agencies over the last 8 to 10 years have been anti-business. Consider this public statement about not letting business in made by then Economic Development Director Casey Lambert 2006, "We have had numerous prospects, but we're not going to let every Tom, Dick and Harry put something in there [Fort Ashby Industrial Park]" - Cumberland Times-News Oct. 5th, 2006

Another thing to look at is the fake water shortage scare created 2 years ago in the county that had people begging to ask for a moratorium on growth. - Potomac Highlands Blog Dec. 3rd, 2007 Had we not broke the story all housing construction in the north end of the county may have been stopped. Fortunately cooler head prevailed when the true got out. Zoning is one of the biggest restrictions to economic growth is coming, "Spiggle said when the county’s comprehensive plan is completed next year, officials could have the power to begin drafting possible zoning ordinances." - Cumberland Times-News Dec. 10th, 2008 After Zoning was enacted in Allegany County, MD in the 1960’s, they lost more than 10,000 people in population. Zoning was one of many factors that devastated the Allegany County economy.

Turning down businesses trying to provide jobs in our area, trying to restrict advertising along US 50 which will adversely effect business growth, creating fake water shortages and implementing zoning are all things designed to stop or reduce business growth in the county. With the population of Mineral County dropping, we cannot afford to restrict business growth in our county. Projections do not show Mineral County exceeding the 2000 population, until at least 2035. - Cumberland Area Long Range Transportation Plan, Sept 28, 2005

Either we have a county commission that is clueless on how an economy works or we have a county commission actively seeking to stop growth and business from coming into the county.

News Tribune host meet the candidates at Wind Lea

Assessor candidate Betty Reall (D) in the background, Assessor Rose Ann Maine (R) speaking.

Sheriff Candidate Paul Sabine (R) speaking, Craig Fraley (D), Ringo Nelson write-in candidate, and News Tribune Publisher Dave Boden.
Donnie Ashby (D) County Commission candidate, publisher Dave Boden and current Commissioner Janice LaRue (R)

Also in attendance Bob Williams (D) from Bridgeport running against Gary Howell (R) for the 14th Senate Seat. Donna Kuhn (D) running for the 48th Delegate seat, Dave Harman (R) and Sue Roby (D) running for magistrate.



Ringo Nelson gives an emotional speech.

Bits and Pieces

Recount in Mineral County Commission Race. After canvassing the votes on Friday only 2 vote separate LaRue and Leatherman. Leatherman has asked for a recount after picking up 3 votes in the canvass.

********************************************************

John McCain visited Charleston on Friday to meet with Republican Party leaders from around the state. He took a few questions. Here are his comments on protecting Gun manufactures from unnecessary law suits, something Clinton and Obama are encouraging and a solution to the home mortgage issue that doesn't raise taxes.



********************************************************

Mineral County selected its 14 delegates to the state convention in Flatwoods on June 21st. Those delegates will vote to select the 5 Republican Electors that will represent West Virginia in the Electoral College should West Virginia select a Republican candidate in November.

What We Learned Here and Across the State

The West Virginia state primary last Tuesday had dramatic and unanticipated moments both at home and statewide.

First of all, the governor obtained less than 75% of the votes of the Democratic Party. This number presents the perfect opportunity for spin. Gary Abernathy's Republican Gazette declared that one in four Democrats failed to support Manchin. Manchin's camp can claim a sizable victory. If one does the numbers, however, adding 25% of the Democratic Party's registered voters to 100% of the Republican Party's registered voters produces a very slim margin for Manchin in the general election. Russ Weeks must run up the same hill as every other GOP gubernatorial contender, convince every voter in his party while counting on disenchantment with the Democrat. As the West Virginia University scandal flowers into fruition, Manchin will find himself in a very competitive race.

The commissioner of agriculture race saw J. Michael Teets annihilate his adversary on the Republican side. Lawrence Berkerle garnered 36% of the vote statewide. Former Hardy County Commissioner Teets ran particularly well in Mineral, getting 2,440 of the 2,572 votes cast. That was a better percentage than in Hardy County itself. Grant, Pendleton, and Hampshire also gave Teets solid support. Interestingly, incumbent commissioner Democrat Gus Douglas lost in Mineral County to challenger Wayne Casto. He won in the rest of the Potomac Highlands counties by much narrower margins than his statewide tally. Casto got very strong victories in Jefferson, Berkeley, and Morgan as well. Certainly Gus Douglas has not endeared himself to Eastern Panhandle voters of his own party. Teets certainly has a strong foundation from which to mount a victorious campaign in November.

The 14th Senatorial District race produced a surprise on the Democratic side. Mineral County's David Webb picked up around 90% of the votes in his county and also fared very well in Grant. This allowed him to close upon, but not defeat Bob Williams. Williams led 68% to 32% (by at one point nearly 4,000 votes) with 75% of the precincts reporting Tuesday night, but the surge of late returns from the courthouse in Keyser closed the gap to 55-45 with Williams winning by around 1,700. Gary Howell consistently garnered less "undervote" (when voters fail to select an unopposed candidate) than the statewide candidates. Williams was the more conservative of the two Democrats. Certainly Mineral demonstrated a strong desire to elect one of its own while the entire district leaned conservative. This ought to give Howell an edge since a Democratic state legislature will never achieve the goals conservatives desire.

Mineral County's Republican nomination for county commissioner continues to produce drama. At this writing the race remains too close to call. Janice LaRue defeated Roger Leatherman 1102 to 1097 as of last night while Annette Favara placed third. Likely, voters did not reject LaRue personally as much as they showed disenchantment with the county commission as a whole. The Democrat dominated body generally opposes development and job creation so Republican voters focused their discontent upon the incumbent running in this election. Hopefully the loud and clear message sent Tuesday will resonate with the other commissioners.

The Mineral school board levy suffered defeat again. While supporters may be angered and believe that voters showed greed and short-sightedness, that is not the case. Mineral County residents do support their schools, but they also share concerns about how the money gets spent. I heard a few people complaining last night about the former Keyser High School. They wondered why it was considered unsafe for children, but not a wide variety of businesses. Legitimate answers to this and similar questions may exist, but if voters keep asking the questions, they have not heard or have been convinced by the answers. School officials need to continue working to try and understand the voters' perspective and increase their efforts to communicate. Of course the levy would not be necessary if economic development produced a larger property tax base.

One last interesting note. Before 2004, the state Republican Party rallying cry issued by then party chair Kris Warner was to fill every slot. The Republican Party did not fill every slot this time, but many Republican incumbents such as Keyser's Bob Schadler, Karen Facemyer (4th Senate), and Donna Boley (3rd Senate) saw no Democrats lining up to oppose them. This shows that the state GOP slowly has created strong points in the state. Now it is time to build upon these and move closer to a two party system.

*********************************************************************

I'd like to congratulate our friend Assessor Terri Funk of Preston County on her well-earned primary victory on Tuesday. She has served her county well as its assessor and has remained one of the Republican Party's strongest friends in north central West Virginia. Funk works as hard as anyone else in the state holding that office. Congratulations Terri!

Expenditures Public and Private

At a recent meet the candidates meeting, a question was raised about the use of a county vehicle. The questioner asked why a county employee was permitted to drive it at taxpayer's expense to and from his home in Hardy County. County Commissioner Cindy Pyles responded that it was a "smart" question. Hopefully she meant well-informed since some interpreted it negatively. Commissioner and candidate for re-election Janice LaRue promised to address the issue and get it resolved.

We are entering an age when every household is looking to find ways to cut expenses. Rising costs at the gas pump and the grocery store have hit many people hard. Of course our tax bill is not getting any easier either. The county must do as the rest of us have done and look for any way to maximize the revenue they bring in. Little bills add up to big costs and if we can slice away some of the waste, we should definitely start passing those savings on to the taxpayers. Commissioner LaRue is in a difficult position as the only Republican member of a three person county commission. She holds Republican beliefs no doubt, but must also at times compromise with the majority. County Republicans need to work after this election to groom a strong candidate to give Mineral County what it deserves, a Republican county commission dedicated to providing jobs and saving the people's money.

****************************************************************

While the Democrats are arguing over Hillary's new found identity as the driver of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, John McCain is trying to come up with solutions to help Americans even before he is elected. McCain proposed a gas tax holiday starting on Memorial Day and ending on Labor Day. He proposes this with an eye towards the states that will suffer from the drop in tourism dollars this summer.

McCain will not handle this hot potato yet but public pressure is mounting towards responsible drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. George W. Bush proposed this years ago and warned of shortages if we failed to start drilling. The shortages have arrived. John Raese campaigned on this issue when running for the US Senate in 2006. It's amazing how we fail to listen to the warnings until the crisis is upon us.