BRIDGEPORT — Former state Commerce Secretary Woody Thrasher announced plans Tuesday to seek the Republican nomination for governor next year, taking on his former boss Gov. Jim Justice.
“I’m not a politician,” Thrasher said during an interview on MetroNews “Talkline.” “My primary focus has been on creating jobs.”
The Thrasher Engineering Group has 700 employees. Thrasher said his business has grown from three to 700 by hard work.
“I come to work every day,” Thrasher said. “No one is going to outwork me.”
Thrasher had two events scheduled Tuesday to make his announcement. Supporters were scheduled to join him in Bridgeport and later at the Secretary State’s Office at the state capitol.
Thrasher was commerce secretary under Justice until a falling out last year over the RISE West Virginia long-term flood recovery program.
Thrasher just recently became a Republican but he said Tuesday he’s supported Republican ideas for the better part of two decades.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
