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Russ Weeks: 'It's enough to make you scream'
WVEA refuses to endorse Manchin
Weeks invites
teachers to
support his
candidacy
GOP gubernatorial candidate Russ Weeks on Tuesday commended the West Virginia Education Association for withholding its endorsement from Gov. Joe Manchin, and invited teachers across West Virginia to support his candidacy.“I have traveled to every corner of West Virginia talking to teachers about the issues important to them,” said Weeks today. “I know how difficult it is for a teachers’ union to support a Republican for governor. But I think the lack of an endorsement for Governor Manchin indicates the level of dissatisfaction with the governor’s treatment of teachers, and I believe they understand that if I’m elected, they’ll have a friend in Charleston.”Weeks noted that his wife, Helen, is a former teacher, and that he has always had a good relationship with teachers. Weeks’ son-in-law is a current teacher in Raleigh County.“I believe it’s wrong for teachers to come begging every year with their hat in their hand for better pay and benefits,” said Weeks. “As governor, I’ll fight harder for them and make sure we treat them with the respect with which teachers are treated in our neighboring states.”
State's largest teacher union listens to grassroots voices who are upset that Manchin has treated them with much less attention and concern than promised in 2004 race
In a stunning move, the West Virginia Education Assocation announced Tuesday it was not endorsing Joe Manchin for re-election because "there are many members out there who are not completely satisfied with the direction education has gone in the last four years," according to WVEA President Dale Lee, as reported by MetroNews.The snub of Manchin is a shocking development, since the WVEA was a major booster of his as a candidate in the 2004 elections.In fact, it was almost painful reading Lee's explanation of his union's decision, since he seemed personally in disagreement with the verdict of his rank and file. For example, Lee said, ""We endorsed the governor four years ago when it really made a difference. At this point it looks like he will be reelected and we will continue to have a relationship with him."In other words, please don't be mad at me, governor.MetroNews also reported that "Governor Manchin lashed out at both the WVEA and West Virginia Federation of Teachers on the last night of the legislative session last March. Manchin told MetroNews he was getting 'no cooperation' from the groups." No official reaction yet from the Manchin campaign, although chandeliers were heard rattling on Kanawha Boulevard. The WVEA's decision is exactly what West Virginians for Life should have done, if its leadership was bold enough to do so.JOE MANCHIN
WEEKS
Ketchum claims his
favorite justices are
Thomas & Benjamin
Seldom has a candidate so blatantly pandered to an audience as Menis Ketchum is doing in his campaign for the West Virginia Supreme Court.That trait was on display last weekend when Ketchum was questioned by Bray Cary on "Decision Makers," and the candidate was asked to name his favorite justices on the U.S. and West Virginia high courts. Ketchum named Clarence Thomas on the federal bench, and Brent Benjamin on the state court.Ketchum has been aggressively trying to distance himself from his liberal trial lawyer history, but to go so far as to pander to the right by calling out Thomas and Benjamin as his favorite justices is laugh-out-loud funny, although Benjamin no doubt appreciates the support from Ketchum, who several months ago had a running phone conversation with Justice Larry Starcher around the time the infamous Spike Maynard-Don Blankenship photos were leaked to the press. No word on how Starcher feels about being ditched for Ketchum's new best friend.(Press Release) In a speech to the Logan Rotary Club, J. Michael Teets explained why 40 years of the same Commissioner of Agriculture is enough and voters should put him in the office when they cast their ballot Nov. 4. "We're not doing enough to protect our consumers or expand economic opportunities for agricultural businesses," Teets said. "We must have new leadership that will move us into the future. Simply put, it's time for a new Commissioner of Agriculture." Although the race for Agriculture Commissioner is just now starting to attract the attention it deserves, Teets noted that the Department of Agriculture has more impact over the daily lives of West Virginians than any other state agency. The commissioner must ensure that the food we eat every day is safe, accessible and affordable. "We've been fortunate so far because West Virginia has avoided being a major part of national and international food contamination scares," Teets said. "But it's only a matter of time before we are affected, and I'm here to tell you we're not prepared to deal with a crisis of that magnitude. We must be." The current commissioner has been in office all but four years since 1964, when he took time out to run for governor. "We need someone who understands the issues consumers and farmers face today, not someone who has spent four decades behind a desk," Teets said. "I bring real farm experience, real business experience and real public office experience. That's what we need in the Department of Agriculture." Teets a native of Lost River, Hardy County, has a degree in business administration. He served 14 years on the Hardy County Commission and was instrumental in organizing the county's Farmland Preservation Board. Teets also has spent 16 years with the Hardy County Rural Development Authority.Teets: Consumers not protected
Ireland honors judge for ensuring new citizens can vote
(Press Release) Secretary of State Betty Ireland issued a commendation Tuesday to the Honorable Joseph R. Goodwin, Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, for his efforts to ensure new U.S. citizens would have the opportunity to register and vote in the 2008 General Election.On Tuesday, Judge Goodwin presided over a naturalization ceremony held at the federal courthouse in Charleston where approximately 65 new Americans from 33 nations took the oath of American citizenship. Originally the naturalization ceremony was scheduled for October 20, 2008. However, in order to allow the new citizens the opportunity to vote in the upcoming election, Judge Goodwin rescheduled the ceremony for today so the new citizens could register before the October 14th deadline. Representatives from the Kanawha County Clerk's Office were on hand to register voters following the ceremony.