Jeff Arnett
Political party: Democrat
Age: 47
Residence: Cheat Lake
Family: Married 18 years to Angela; three kids, Aiden, 16, Julia, 13, Ava, 8.
Education: Second Ward Elementary, South Junior High; Morgantown High School; BSJ, WVU, 1995; JD, WVU College of Law, 1999.
Professional experience: Attorney since 1999. Law Office of Jeffrey L. Arnett PLLC, since Jan. 1, 2007.
Political and civic experience: No political experience. Civic experience: President of the Board of the Senior Monongalians; church committees; volunteer basketball, baseball and soccer coach (not currently active in any coaching).
Why did you decide to seek office?
It became apparent to me that someone needed to look after and protect our citizens’ property rights. After the attempted annexation and now the subdivision regulation, I think it is important to have someone on the county commission who has experience, knowledge and understanding of property rights and laws making those decisions. I’ve been a property lawyer for over 20 years. I can bring that knowledge to the commission.
What is the most important issue you believe your office will face in the next year, and how will you address it?
I think the subdivision regulation that is forthcoming is a huge issue. Also, the homeless problem, continued fallout from COVID and many other issues. I will tackle the subdivision regulation by ensuring that the regulations do not hamper or limit development in Mon County. We have to be able to keep moving forward with development, both residential and commercial.
Ed Hawkins
Political party: Republican
Age: 72
Residence: I reside on Hawkins Dairy at Easton on the family farm my Grandpa Hawkins established in 1918.
Family: My family consists of one son, Nickolas, who resides in Charleston, S.C. I am the son of Forrest and Ethel Mae Hawkins and I have one brother, TJ Hawkins and one sister, Linda Ann Dimmick. Henry Rufus Hawkins, and Paddington Livingston Hawkins, both rescue pups, reside in my household.
Education: Easton Grade School; Cheat Lake Junior High School;1966 graduate of University High; WVU, 1966-70, B.A. in English; 1970-74, WVU School of Dentistry, DDS.
Professional experience: I began my employment working for my father’s construction company from 1963 till my graduation from dental school. I joined Dr. Fred Wilson at Morgantown Dental Group and spent 40 years in private practice of dentistry. Being a small business owner is an education unto itself and helped prepare me for my current position as Monongalia County commissioner upon retirement from my dental practice.
Political and civic experience: Thirty years of service on the Camp Muffly Park Board, over a decade on the Planning Commission, chaired the revival of the Monongalia County Fair, 30 years service as a volunteer 4-H Leader and camp councilor. Currently on the Metropolitan Theater Commission and the Extension Services Committee. I serve as county commission liaison to the volunteer firemen. I am a graduate of Leadership Monongalia Read Aloud and volunteer at Cheat Lake Elementary.
Why did you decide to seek office?
I am seeking re-election to the position I began to prepare myself for decades ago. My Grandpa Hawkins and my father both provided volunteer public service, so I simply followed in their footsteps. I prepared by volunteering for all the boards I previously named beginning 30 years ago. In that way, I gained the experience, the knowledge and the leadership skills necessary to be a Monongalia County commissioner, which demands full-time dedication.
What is the most important issue you believe your office will face in the next year, and how will you address it?
COVID-19 has shown the necessity of broadband expansion. Our children must have an equal quality education, and internet access is, in truth, no longer a luxury. The recent $25 million donation to WVU to create a home/work/play destination and improve economic opportunities will demand expansion to stop the brain drain and recruit professionals to our county. Meetings to work with Greene County are already scheduled to discuss joint efforts.
