WEST VIRGINIA CAN BE BETTER FOR ALL OF US

The Department of Transportation should be restructured to prioritize the interests of the taxpayers of West Virginia. There have been several concerning incidents that suggest corruption within the DOT. Examples include state contracts being awarded to the company where the department heads son is employed, cases of sexual harassment being covered up, and a situation where the Secretary was pulled over for erratic driving but not charged, with someone else later driving the state vehicle away from the scene. Favoritism appears to be widespread within the agency, as evidenced by employees being allocated cars to take home, indicating preferential treatment. It is important to address and rectify these issues in order to restore trust in the department. The next governor should be committed to reorganizing the DOT thoroughly, from the leadership to the staff, to ensure that it operates in the best interests of the taxpayers.

West Virginia state government is an absolute mess. There are divisions that can't perform the primary function of there existence. There is also an "I don't care" attitude in some divisions.

How many times have you heard "I called the state but I never heard back".

There is a division that has 75 employees and over 30% of them are supervisors. State paid cell phones are plentiful even though the employee has a land line phone sitting on their desk. Cars are assigned to employees to drive 120+ miles to work everyday.  The DOH holds a yearly conference at various  Resorts across the state with over 125 state cars and employees in attendance.  This conference is costing the tax payers upwards of $500,000 yearly in total cost. The waste in the DOH  is Tremendous.

The Department of personnel hiring agency takes 8 months to hire a state employee. 

The DHHR foster care system is broken. We currently have over 7,000 children waiting on foster care. The red tape has to be cut out.

The public service commission grants rate increases anytime a utility ask for one. The PSC positions should be elected officials. They need to be held accountable to the rate payers. 

The tax payers deserve and should demand better. 

West Virginia can be better!

PSC fire hydrates committee update:

I attended the first Fire hydrant committee meeting Friday April 26th.  I spoke to Daniel Linville the district 22 WV House of Delegates representative. 

It appears that some of the water utilities will see a rate increase and others will not once the rules are finalized. I was told the most of the larger utilities are already receiving money from rate payers for hydrant maintenance. WV Water is one utility that is already receiving money for maintenance. 

The problem seems to be with smaller water utilities that only have one or two employees. They have neither the funds nor personnel to perform the necessary test. 

The rules are going to follow industry standards that are already in existence and used by most water utilities. 

 The next meeting will be near the end of May and the rules committee will have a draft for the PSC by the end of June. Once that happens there are plans for a public comment period and a hearing.

I’ll try to keep everyone posted on the progress.

 West Virginia can be better!

• Our current judicial system is facing significant challenges. There are instances where judges may not be fully knowledgeable about or compliant with constitutional principles. These concerns manifest in actions such as conducting warrantless searches, engaging in shoplifting, and interfering with investigations. Furthermore, there is a perceived issue where judges assert judicial immunity when faced with lawsuits, potentially circumventing the legal repercussions that ordinary citizens would face in similar situations. It is essential that our judges are held accountable and adhere to a higher standard of ethical conduct. Granting judges immunity without consequences for their illegal actions jeopardizes the principle that no one should be above the law. Consequently, a reassessment of the concept of judicial immunity may be necessary in cases where judges violate the law.
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 West Virginia can be better!

West Virginia has some of the worst roads in the nation. Some of our secondary roads have not been paved in over 30 years. Meanwhile some of our interstates are paved over the same areas every five years. Why?  Nothing has been done to see why the pavement doesn't hold up. We just continue the sins of the past. 

If West Virginia is going to move forward and bring business into the state we need to have good roads..

I worked over 19 years for the WV department of transportation. The corruption and waste is widespread. I know where the problems are and I know how to fix them.

West Virginia can be better!

In order for West Virginia to enhance its competitiveness among other states, it is imperative to ensure widespread access to affordable broadband services. 

If we aspire to attract new businesses to West Virginia, it is crucial to have readily available development sites that are prepared for immediate construction. The state should collaborate with prominent industries such as coal, logging, gas drilling, or any other companies that possess locations suitable for development and equipped with essential utilities. 

An area in eastern Kanawha County holds potential for business development, which is currently being omitted. (Quincy) Let us channel our efforts to rectify this oversight. 

Furthermore, it is essential to prioritize the completion of corridor H and the coal field expressway, as these road projects will foster economic growth in both business and tourism sectors.

West Virginia can be better!

The foster care system in West Virginia is experiencing significant challenges that need to be addressed. With over 7000 children currently waiting for foster care or adoption, it is crucial to take prompt action. Unfortunately, the state often fails to adhere to court hearings and deadlines outlined in state code.

The adoption process in West Virginia is unnecessarily prolonged, causing children to wait for years rather than months. It is unacceptable to allow our children to grow up in a state facility when they deserve to have loving homes. Additionally, the high cost associated with adoption in West Virginia deters many potential parents, leading them to seek alternatives, such as international adoption, due to the inefficient and bureaucracy-laden process. As a priority, I am fully committed to reducing adoption costs in West Virginia to zero dollars.

During past legislative sessions,  bills were passed concerning the DHHR (Department of Health and Human Resources). This emphasized the importance of prioritizing human lives over political considerations, acknowledging that improvements are necessary. Despite the existence of willing family members, the DHHR and judges continue to place children in foster care, disregarding the opportunity for kinship care. I have personally witnessed this situation involving four children. It is crucial to hold the DHHR and judges accountable for their actions and ensure strict adherence to the laws in place to protect these vulnerable children. We must advocate for zero tolerance and consider appropriate prosecution for DHHR leaders and judges who fail to comply with our legal framework.

We deserve better than this. 

The children deserve better than this!

 West Virginia can be better!

West Virginia must do everything possible to keep our people in West Virginia. 

A big part of that is good jobs with good wages. West Virginia is located within a two day drive of two thirds of the U.S population. Our major highways, and rivers are within a one day drive of major cities. 

We have a prime location, but we need to show the world we are here and ready.

 I feel that we have a very capable work force, our workers are second to none. 

But lets not forget that while big business is great. West Virginia has survived because of small business owners. We need to support those businesses any way we can.  

We need to look for all types of business from healthcare, construction, broadband and manufacturing.

 West Virginia can be better!

West Virginia possesses unparalleled natural beauty that surpasses that of other states. Having personally visited 32 states, I can confidently say that the hills of West Virginia stand out as the most breathtaking. 

In order to maximize our tourism potential, it is imperative that we undertake various improvements. First and foremost, it is crucial to address the cleanliness of our state. Each county in West Virginia should provide multiple opportunities throughout the year for our citizens to dispose of waste and recyclables free of charge. It is vital to ensure that our hillsides are not marred by the unsightly presence of trash. The penalties for littering need to be increased as well.

Moreover, we must enhance our advertising efforts in other states to bolster our tourism industry. By increasing the visibility of West Virginia's many attractions, we can attract more visitors and boost our local economy.

West Virginia can be better!

In order to attract reputable companies and promote job growth in West Virginia, it is imperative that we address and control utility rates. It is essential for legislation to prioritize the protection of rate payers rather than utility companies. To ensure transparency and justification for rate increases, it is recommended that an independent audit thoroughly reviews the utility's financial records. The current practices of the Public Service Commission (PSC) are not aligned with the best interests of rate payers, as they consistently favor the utilities and allow for indefinite rate increases. This approach negatively impacts all individuals. It is crucial to establish finite end dates for all rate increases. Additionally, when a utility requests a large increase in funding, it is important that our rates decrease once that money is collected. The recent unrestricted rate increase granted to Mon Power for the solar power program exemplifies the need for legislative measures to prevent such exploitation of rate payers. Instead, new revenue programs should be financed by the shareholders, not the burdened rate payers.

 West Virginia can be better!