Kawecki’s experience
works for Morgantown
In the Morgantown City Council election, Bill Kawecki is seeking a fourth term to represent 2nd Ward. He wants to continue to serve because he cares about Morgantown.
He came here 48 years ago and found Morgantown to be a wonderful community full of friendly people where he could raise his family. He views his service on council as pay back to the community for his good fortune; he hopes future residents will find in Morgantown what he has found.
During his tenure council has undertaken efforts to improve the safety and quality of life in our city and he wants to continue to work on these and future projects. He wants to solve problems through open communication and discussion, not litigation.
He is a strong believer in vital neighborhoods. He backs this up by regularly attending neighborhood association meetings to report on city projects and actions, listening seriously to his constituents’ concerns and belonging to the Neighborhood Coordinating Council.
Kawecki has served as Morgantown’s mayor for almost two years and frequently represents the city. He is often the welcoming face of Morgantown at community events, conferences and meetings; there is no doubt he enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for Morgantown with visitors.
In addition, he serves as City Council’s representative on several boards and commissions, including Sunnyside Up, Housing Advisory Commission, Greater Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau Board, among others. He is vice president of Arts Mon Board and participates on the Arts Collaborative and the River Town Program.
There is always talk of electing a clean slate for council. However, right now we have a highly competent council member and we should let his wide range of experience work for us. Given his understanding of city government and strong desire to continue to serve Morgantown, we need to re-elect Bill Kawecki to City Council. Please vote for him to represent 2nd. Ward.
Walt and Kathie Labys
Morgantown
State needs to invest
in pre-K and Head Start
Roughly one out of every four kids living in West Virginia grows up living in poverty. This is why the pre-K and Head Start programs in this state should be expanded providing universal opportunity for every child who is affected by poverty.
As someone who grew up in this state and wants to see more opportunity as well as to see prosperity flourish, investing in its youth is where it must start in order to provide future generations the best chance to succeed.
It was shown in a Head Start Impact Study that early intervention had positive cognitive as well as social effects for children who took part in the program. Long-term benefits have been another correlated success of Head Start and have been estimated to increase wages as shown by a study done by an economist David Deming.
Analyses of numerous state pre-K programs showed on average broad gains in language, literacy, as well as mathematic skills for children in the programs. Another study performed by researchers from the University of Virginia suggested that improvement of cognitive ability results in a 14 percent increase in lifetime labor wages, which correlates Deming’s findings.
As the above evidence shows, early intervention has positive impacts on children who are poverty stricken and I strongly urge those who care about our youth and the future of this great state to contact our state representatives and senators to express the need to invest in our children, especially those who are disadvantaged.
Jeremy Eckels
Morgantown
