Viewpoint Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Dark Money is Making a Difference in W.Va. Elections

Voters in 27 states will cast their ballots for state Supreme Court justices when they head to the polls in November. In West Virginia, voters made their choice for the high court in May, something new for the state this election cycle, but a study from the Brennan Center for Justice says there is something else that was noteworthy about what happened in that primary.

Anne Li reports, researchers are looking to West Virginia to prove that outside money really can sway a race.

Right, current Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, left, Delegate Doug Reynolds.

One race where outside spending is making an impact is the race for Attorney General. Republican-incumbent Patrick Morrisey is up for re-election this year after considering and ultimately passing on a bid for governor.

Morrisey is taking on Democratic Delegate Doug Reynolds, a Huntington attorney who also owns media and construction companies. Both have been on the attack in a race that some polls show is too close to call less than two weeks from Election Day.

In another statewide race, Mary Ann Claytor is a 20-year veteran of the West Virginia Auditor’s Office and says that experience makes her the right choice for the top job.

Claytor worked with local and county governments to audit their books while working for the state, making sure everything was in line for them to receive necessary federal funds. If elected, Claytor would become the first African American to hold statewide office in West Virginia, but the race for auditor is getting far less attention than others.

West Virginia Gubernational Forum: A Viewpoint Special

West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) has hosted a special Viewpoint forum with candidates in the West Virginia Governor’s race. Constitution Party candidate Phil Hudok, Libertarian Party candidate David Moran, and Mountain Party candidate Charlotte Pritt participated.

The discussion focuses on their remedies for state budget woes, growing the economy, strengthening our education system, and an array of other challenges facing the next governor of West Virginia. The forum is hosted by Ashton Marra, Assistant News Director for West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

On Radio – The special will air Monday, Oct 24 at 2:00 p.m., and again on Wednesday, Oct 26, at 8 p.m. on WVPB’s statewide radio network.

On TV – The forum special will air Sunday, Oct 23 from 7-8 p.m.. on WVPB’s statewide television network. It will be preceded at 6:30 p.m. by the AARP-sponsored gubernatorial election special with Democratic candidate Jim Justice and and Republican candidate Bill Cole. Both programs also air on the West Virginia Channel on Monday, Oct 24 starting at at 7:30 p.m.

Online – You can listen online at wvpublic.org during the radio airdates, or download the Viewpoint podcast to listen on demand. The TV version of the special will also be available on WVPB’s YouTube channel.

Hall Says Political Flip to Keep District Relevant

Wyoming County Senator Daniel Hall made the political switch from Democrat to Republican this week giving the GOP an 18 to 16 majority. On Viewpoint Friday, Hall said he made the switch to keep his district relevant.

Hall said members of the state Republican Party approached him to make the switch before the election, but he hadn’t considered it because of the strong majority the Democrats held in the chamber. But after Tuesday evening’s election wins that tied the body 17 to 17, Hall said he reconsidered the offer.

“My job is to represent the people of my district and this decision was solely based on putting my district in the best decision to move forward,” he said.

Hall said there have been discussions about what his position in the new leadership will be, but he hasn’t been promised a committee chairmanship.

As for his credibility with the voters when he runs for re-election in 2016, Hall says this:

“The people of my district don’t care about party politics. They care about their people, they care about their families, they care about their district moving forward and their communities improving. That’s what they care about. They don’t care who is in charge, whether its Democrats or Republicans, as long as their lives are getting better.”

Historic Wins and a Party Switch Mean New Faces Will Lead W.Va. in Washington and at Home

The 2014 mid-term elections were significant not just for the national Republican Party, but for the state GOP as well. The party was able to gain control of all 4 Congressional seats on the ballot and flip both the West Virginia House and Senate.

GOP Party Chairman Conrad Lucas says the major wins were a combination of having Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito at the top of the ticket for U.S. Senate and an overall trend of West Virginians swinging Republican that helped them win. Minority Leader Tim Armstead discusses if the Speakership is in his future.

Senator Daniel Hall of Wyoming County made the decision late Wednesday evening to leave the Democratic Party and give the Republicans the majority in the state Senate. Hall says the decision was one that will allow him to keep his district relevant when it comes to negotiations in the chamber. As to whether or not the GOP offered him anything for the switch, Hall says there were “discussions,” but no leadership position or committee chairmanship has been officially offered.

Congressman-elect Evan Jenkins discusses his upset and his transition into the House of Representatives.

McKinley Talks Policy Over Politics, Are the Races Over? Manchin Says Not All

Congressman David McKinley’s race for re-election has seen little noise from his Democratic challenger state Auditor Glen Gainer. In an earlier episode of Viewpoint, Gainer called his campaign a truly “grassroots effort,” but McKinley doesn’t seem threatened by the challenge.

In his interview, instead of politics, McKinley focuses on the policies he’s backed in Washington and the work he intends to take on during his next term. He wants to convince Washington to support rural jobs and access to healthcare.

Sen. Joe Manchin will soon become the senior member of West Virginia’s Senate delegation. He says it’s not too late for his fellow Democratic candidates Nick Casey and Alex Mooney, but it will be up to the voters to turn out in support of Secretary of State Natalie Tennant to reverse what the polls show is a 20 point deficit.

Dave Mistich previews West Virginia Public Radio’s Election Night coverage and its new digital platform that will include a live blog and district maps that will update with the latest poll results from the Associated Press.

Rahall Says Ugly Ads Will Hurt Turnout; What is Amendment One?

Congressman Nick Rahall’s race against state Sen. Evan Jenkins has been focused on the declining coal industry in southern West Virginia. Rahall’s solution: ramp up efforts to support tourism in southern West Virginia, but he also says the current environmental regulations in place are enough to protect the area’s environment from the coal industry’s practices.

Fayette County Commissioner Matt Wender and Gary Hartley with the Boys Scouts of America discuss Amendment One, a proposed amendment to West Virginia’s Constitution that would allow the Scouts to rent out the Summit Bechtel Reserve in Glen Jean for major events without losing their property tax exemption. Wender says an amendment is far too much protection and could hurt local businesses.

Jared Hunt of the Charleston Daily Mail and Mandi Cardosi of the State Journal discuss the question of an electioneering violation by Secretary of State Natalie Tennant while early voting Wednesday.