Following interviews with Del. Terri Sypolt, J.R. Wolfe, Del. D.R. “Buck” Jennings and Cory Chase, The Dominion Post endorses J.R. Wolfe for the 52nd District of the House of Delegates and Cory Chase for the 53rd District.
While the need for better roads is a no-brainer, both Wolfe and Chase keyed in on an important factor when it comes to road maintenance: A weakened and understaffed DOH. Shifting responsibilities from the DOH to private contractors has opened opportunities for cronyism, according to Wolfe — where the contractor with the best connections, not the best work, gets the project — and a system where political appointees rather than engineers head projects, Chase added. Chase referenced tales he’s heard of contractors who have to do the same projects over and over again because “they just aren’t doing it right,” while Wolfe referred to multiple studies that have shown road work can be done cheaper with an in-house crew. Both agree that higher wages will be key to filling the 1,100 open DOH positions and keeping them filled with good workers.
All four candidates agreed that broadband expansion is a must and that the state’s agreement with Frontier Communications was a bust. Sypolt pointed to current initiatives and Jennings referred to actions the Legislature has already taken. Wolfe, however, spoke from personal experience. He and his neighbors just recently got cable and internet access, made possible by a small company that received a grant to do the work. Small companies will go where the big players fear to tread. West Virginia’s broadband future lies in increasing such grants, which will support small businesses while getting broadband access to those who have been without.
Chase seconded Wolfe’s comments about shifting the work from monopolies like Frontier to smaller companies. But he also made a very specific point: Remote work is becoming more common, so people don’t have to live where they make a living. West Virginia’s natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities can easily draw in new residents, but we have to have expanded and reliable broadband to attract remote workers. Chase’s ideas address our needs now — virtual school and work amidst a pandemic — and plan for the future.
When we asked them for their thoughts about the Black Lives Matter march in Kingwood on Sept. 12, we were impressed with the nuance of Wolfe’s and Chase’s response. Wolfe said he was embarrassed by overwhelming numbers of counter protesters, but in a way he was also glad to see it: People kept telling him racism wasn’t a problem in Preston County, but the response to the march shows that racism is a problem. Wolfe does not condone the violence that has sometimes accompanied Black Lives Matter events, but he does support the movement for equality and justice.
Chase said he stands with racial justice advocates and condemns white supremacists, but he will represent everyone in his district if elected. He is endorsed by the West Virginia State Troopers Association, with goals to send social workers with police when appropriate and to emphasize de-escalation training. He wishes others could see that “people who are standing up for racial justice … are doing that because they believe in justice … and America stands up for its values.”
