Roughly one month remains until the Nov. 5 general election. By casting their votes, Jefferson County residents will help decide one of this year’s contested races for the West Virginia Senate.
Incumbent Patricia Rucker, a Republican, has represented Senate District 16 since 2017. Her district encompasses all of Jefferson County, as well as an eastern portion of Berkeley County that includes the county seat of Martinsburg.
But former state lawmaker John Doyle, a Democrat, has announced his bid for the same seat. Doyle served a total of 16 years in the West Virginia House of Delegates, also representing Jefferson County.
As Election Day nears, both candidates met on the debate stage Tuesday evening for a conversation hosted by the Stubblefield Institute for Civil Political Communications. It was held at the Shepherd University Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education in Shepherdstown.
For more than an hour, Rucker and Doyle fielded audience questions that primarily focused on education, environmental protection and health freedoms.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting has compiled a summary of the candidates’ responses to key issues — and provided some of Rucker and Doyle’s stances in their own words.
Families and education
Questions surrounding higher education, the public school system and educational resources in Jefferson County dominated Tuesday’s debate. Members of the audience pressed Rucker and Doyle on their specific plans for education policy.
One area discussion was the local library system. Libraries can receive some funding through school levies, which are property tax increases voted upon by a school district’s residents to fund the local school system. Libraries can also receive funding from county and city governments, plus some private donations.
But Rucker said these sources of funding are “never steady,” and that she has spent the past few years working with fellow lawmakers to boost budget allocations to state libraries. Doyle said he agreed libraries need more money, and that his experience on the House Finance Committee could help him secure this funding.
An audience member asked both candidates whether they would support an increase to higher education funding.
Rucker said the West Virginia Legislature has not made direct cuts to higher education, and that institutions like Shepherd University have received renewed financial support from the state government in recent years.
But Doyle said the state has not provided colleges and universities sufficient funding “to match inflation,” which makes it harder to sustain educational resources.
In their own words: school choice
Doyle: “Historically, I’ve been very suspicious of taxpayer money going to people to send their children to private schools, or to homeschool their children.”
Rucker: “Those who are being left out, those who did not have a choice before we passed [the Promise Scholarship], could not afford it, would not have that opportunity. And how is that fair?”
As the conversation turned to school choice, Rucker said she was in favor of a parent’s right to determine where their child attends school — a stance she has maintained throughout her time in office.
Rucker pointed to the state’s Promise Scholarship program as an example of good school choice policy. The scholarship is a “merit-based financial aid program for West Virginia high school graduates planning to attend one of the state’s public or independent two or four-year institutions,” according to the program website.
“Those who are being left out, those who did not have a choice before we passed this legislation, could not afford it, would not have that opportunity,” she said. “How is that fair?”
Doyle said parents should have the right to school choice, but that funding shouldn’t be funneled away from public schools. He also said the state needs to tighten up protections and check-ins for students who are homeschooled or attending private schools.
“Historically, I’ve been very suspicious of taxpayer money going to people to send their children to private schools, or to homeschool their children,” he said.
Doyle also said he supports the discussion of race and gender in the public school system, whereas Rucker said she does not. Rucker said students should instead focus on “reading, writing, arithmetic and being able to speak well,” given current educational needs in West Virginia classrooms.
The candidates agreed West Virginia teachers need a pay bump. Doyle said teachers in the Eastern Panhandle are especially hurting, due to a higher local cost of living.
The environment
On the environmental front, Doyle said state regulations for coal and natural gas “need to be tighter.” Rucker said she supported the state’s right to protect the environment and natural resources, as well as freedom of energy choice for West Virginia residents.
Doyle said he supports a gradual transition away from coal, while focusing on helping miners retain employment in the energy sector.
“I think coal’s days are pretty close to being over. I think we need to hasten that process as much as we can, but at the same time [make] sure we find alternative jobs for any miners that might be laid off,” he said.
Doyle also said that environmental agencies in West Virginia, namely the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, need more funding to address ongoing staffing issues.
He said new funding could help the department better address ecological issues, like closing the numerous abandoned oil and gas wells across the state.
Rucker said she supports investing in all energy options, but that West Virginians should be able to choose their own energy source. “They all need to compete and be able to compete,” she said.
Natural gas and renewables have become cheaper than coal, but coal still dominates the state’s electricity supply.
In their own words: coal vs. renewable energy
Rucker: “I do believe in an equal playing field. I do not want to see us picking winners and losers as a government. They all need to compete and be able to compete.”
Doyle: “I think coal’s days are pretty close to being over. I think we need to hasten that process as much as we can, but at the same time making sure we find alternative jobs for any miners that might be laid off.”
Health and personal choice
In discussions around health care, Rucker reiterated that parents should get to choose whether to vaccinate their children.
While Rucker said she chose to vaccinate her own children, she argued that some individuals have adverse reactions to certain vaccines, and that others have religious concerns with vaccination that should warrant exemption.
“This is one of the many ways in which I think the government should not [be] one size fits all,” she said. “Every single family has unique situations and concerns, and I want to trust the parents to make the decision that’s best for their particular family.”
Doyle said he believes vaccine policies are about where they should be, and that vaccinating children by and large keeps them safe.
“One of the fundamental purposes of government is to protect the health and safety of the public, and that is why I think we need to continue to require vaccination,” he said.
When asked about abortion rights, Rucker said she is a staunch opponent of abortion, but that she has supported investing in resources for parents and expectant mothers.
“I am definitely grateful that in this state, we are protecting life and we’re doing everything we can possible to help women who might be pregnant, might need support,” she said.
Doyle said women should have the right to abortion, and that he would work to repeal the state’s near-total abortion ban and restore reproductive freedom.
“My personal view is that it should be the woman who makes that decision,” he said.
In their own words: reproductive rights
Doyle: “I think Roe v. Wade had it right. West Virginia now has a complete ban on abortion, with a couple of exceptions that I think are pretty narrow.”
Rucker: “Most people know I am very pro-life. I believe all life, all human life, is precious. … We’re doing everything we can possible to help women who might be pregnant, might need support.”
Voter reactions
At various points of the debate, both Rucker and Doyle received audibly affirmative reactions from members of the audience.
Rucker received rounds of applause for her support of parental rights — over where a child goes to school, and what vaccines they receive.
Other times, audience members clapped for Doyle’s opinions, like his vocal support for the right to abortion.
Hedgesville resident and Shepherd University undergraduate Hallie Meyer said she aligned more with Doyle’s opinions on reproductive freedom, and found Rucker’s stances conflicting.
“She believes in personal choice for vaccines and for issues such as school choice,” she said. “I would have liked to see how she thought that tied into the overturning of Roe v Wade.”
Still, Meyer said she appreciated that both candidates came out for a “cordial and civil” discussion on local politics, especially at a college campus.
“I think my generation is getting increasingly more involved in politics,” she said. “We want to move into the political world, because it’s our tomorrow and it’s our future.”
Harpers Ferry resident Carol Richmond praised the candidates for participating in a “respectful” dialogue. She said both candidates demonstrated their ability to problem solve and talk through issues in a bipartisan manner.
Likewise, other attendees said they were simply glad their candidates participated in a thoughtful and neighborly debate. Mary Sell, a farmer from Kearneysville, described the event as “the height of civility.”
Shepherdstown resident Karen Glennon agreed.
“The most important part of this exchange this evening was quality discourse about issues with politeness, with friendliness, with statements of, ‘We disagree,’ and explanations of how and why,” she said. “With no element of personal attack, which is lacking in our political discourse. I think it’s hugely important to see people discuss issues, and not personalities.”
Before the election, the candidates will reconvene for a second debate in the town of Inwood. A date has not yet been announced.
West Virginia residents have until Oct. 15 to register to vote in this fall’s election. For eligible residents, in-person early voting runs from Oct. 23 to Nov. 2, and absentee voting runs from Oct. 29 to Nov. 5.
Election Day this year is Nov. 5, when all registered voters will have the chance to cast their ballots in person.
For more information on this year’s election, visit the secretary of state’s GoVoteWV webpage. To find your assigned polling place, visit the secretary of state’s registration search tool.
Before the election, the candidates will reconvene for a second debate in the town of Inwood. A date has not yet been announced.
Photo Credit: Jack Walker/West Virginia Public Broadcasting