Gubernatorial forum gives voice to all candidates

Apr. 10—A gubernatorial candidate forum in Raleigh County gave a voice to some lesser-known candidates running for West Virginia's highest office. Most people may know the names of only four of the six Republican candidates in attendance — former state delegate Moore Capito, W.Va. Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, W.Va. Secretary of State Mac Warner and car dealer Chris Miller.

At a Meet the Candidate forum Wednesday at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center as part of Future Forward, a new event created by the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce, voters were also able to hear from the remaining two Republican candidates for governor — Mitch Roberts of Kanawha County and Kevin "KC" Christian of Calhoun County.

Christian, pitching himself as an everyman candidate, was dressed in blue bib overalls and said he was a centrist Republican. He added that he was looking to appeal to voters who find themselves more in the middle on issues rather than leaning too far one way or the other.

Roberts, too, was dressed casually in contrast to the suits and ties worn by the five other candidates on stage. He said the one thing voters should know about him is that he's a man of his word. He went on to say that he could not be bought or influenced by outside interests and, if elected, would only be guided by the needs of West Virginians.

Also on stage with the Republican candidates was Huntington Mayor Steve Williams, the sole Democratic candidate for West Virginia governor.

Chase Linko-Looper, who is running for governor in the Mountain Party, was not present at Wednesday's forum.

The gubernatorial candidate forum served as the finale for the two-day Future Forward event, which delved into the topics of economic development, tourism, education and health care through several sessions led by experts in the field.

Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce CEO Michelle Rotellini said the event not only served as a networking opportunity for businesses and organizations working in the professional sector but also as a way to incorporate and inform the community on the big issues impacting their lives.

Business and growing the economy came up multiple times during the gubernatorial candidate forum, during which candidates were asked two different questions by a panel of media representatives.

Capito said a focus on infrastructure, including water and sewer as well as broadband connectivity, is the route West Virginia needs to take to attract large businesses and support small business owners.

He said he would also focus on building a skilled workforce, which would also aid in attracting businesses.

Miller's stance on improving the state's economy was to run it just as he would his businesses.

"We've moved to a time where we need less politicians, less attorneys and less bureaucratic and more business people involved in making sure and running a state government," he said. "State government is a business."

Warner was not asked a question pertaining to economic development, but during the time he spoke, he leaned heavily into highlighting his Christian faith, his experience in state government and his career in the Army.

He went on to say that his faith would guide his decisions as governor.

Morrisey played up his background as attorney general, hitting on his involvement with the opioid settlement.

When asked a question about the state's high child poverty and child abuse rates and their lack of funding, Morrisey said the answer lay in economic growth.

"When you drive economic growth, then you have additional recourse to be able to address the other issues facing the city, the child care, the infrastructure issue, the broadband problems," he said.

In a state run at nearly all levels of government by Republicans, Williams was asked how he intended to work with his Republican counterparts if elected.

Williams said he was no stranger to working with Republicans and has done so successfully as Huntington's mayor for the last 12 years.

"I've worked with Republican presidents, Republican governors and I've worked with Republican senators and Democratic senators as well," he said. "It doesn't matter what letter is after their name."

Email: jmoore@register-herald.com