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Gazette-Mail: In Richwood, 10 Candidates for Mayor, and Just a Single Vote In It

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Photo by Christian Tyler Randolph/Gazette-Mail

Photo by Christian Tyler Randolph/Gazette-Mail

By David Gutman/Charleston Gazette-Mail

Next time the naysayers tell you your vote doesn’t mean anything, point to the Richwood mayoral election.

Bob Henry Baber, a former mayor of Richwood and several times a candidate for statewide office, appears to have won the mayor’s race — and his win couldn’t be any closer.

Baber garnered 104 votes. Second-place finisher Glenn Weiler got 103.

“So many people running, so close, it’s been a really exciting, energizing time for the town.”

Weiler has until 7 p.m. Wednesday to contest the results before they become official, City Clerk Abby McClung said.

Ten men ran for mayor, all promising, win or lose, to chip in to help the struggling 2,000-person Nicholas County city turn its fortunes around.

Weiler, who moved from California to Richwood about a year ago, led in the immediate aftermath of last week’s election. When votes were counted last Wednesday, Weiler led 102 to 100 over Baber.

But, after provisional ballots were counted, Baber prevailed, McClung said.

Incumbent Mayor Bob Johnson came in third with 82 votes; Drexel McMillion, a service station owner had 81; and John McClung, another former mayor, had 49.

“The town has never seen anything quite like this to be honest,” Baber said. “So many people running, so close, it’s been a really exciting, energizing time for the town.”

Read the full story at www.wvgazettemail.com

Follow the author on Twitter @davidlgutman

Appointment of Stephanie Tyree Marks Beginning of New Era at The Hub

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Stephanie Tyree at POWER meeting

Stephanie Tyree was instrumental in organizing the regional POWER information meeting at Hawk’s Nest in 2015.

It gives me tremendous pleasure to announce that Stephanie Tyree will replace me as Executive Director of the WV Community Development Hub.

A little less than two years ago, I announced to the Hub’s staff and Board of Directors that I planned to retire as Executive Director of The Hub in 2016. At that time, it seemed to be a long way off. Now, suddenly, we are there!

My decision to step down was driven by my firm belief that it was the right time for the Hub to have new leadership that can take the organization to new heights.

I believe Stephanie is a superb choice. She understands and embraces the collaborative culture we have created at The Hub.

We conducted a nationwide search and received dozens of applications from highly qualified and experienced individuals in West Virginia and 13 other states. We were impressed with the diversity of the applicants and appreciative of their interest in and knowledge of The Hub. A number of the out-of-state applicants were hoping that securing this position would give them an opportunity to return to their home state.

I believe Stephanie is a superb choice. She has extensive knowledge of West Virginia’s community development stakeholders and a deep understanding of how community development works.

She understands and embraces the collaborative culture we have created at The Hub, a culture we work to spread to the broader community development network. She has developed strong relationships with The Hub’s funders and partners. She is a strategic, creative thinker with a vision for The Hub’s future.

The Hub has always embraced change, and continued evolution is necessary for our work to succeed.

The transition of The Hub’s leadership to Stephanie will officially begin at Hubapalooza, our annual community development network event, on April 28. We encourage each of you to join us there in welcoming her to this new role. Stephanie will move into the role of Executive Director on June 1.

The Hub has always embraced change, and continued evolution is necessary for our work to succeed. I have no doubt that Stephanie will guide the Hub’s continued growth with energy, passion, wisdom, integrity and courage.

She’s a remarkable young woman and the Hub is extremely fortunate to have her take the helm.

This is an exciting time!

Hello Kent.

Don’t Hate The Player, Hate The Game: Time To Think Big About Changing WV Legislative System

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Across the state, many organizations, stakeholders and communities are taking the time to look back over the past two months and evaluate the 2016 Legislative Session. We’re sure your inbox is full of “legislative wrap-up” emails. Our inboxes certainly are.

But we’re not going to give you a legislative wrap-up this week. We’re not terribly interested in summarizing what did and didn’t happen. We know you’ve seen that already. And if you’re curious to check on something specific, give us a holler and we’ll look it up for you.

Instead of focusing on that, we’ve been thinking this week about how the process of legislating works in West Virginia – and what we could do to make that process work better.

Sure, we’re pretty nerdy over here and we have been accused before of being too process-focused, in our work in communities and with policy.

We’re not terribly interested in summarizing what did and didn’t happen. We’ve been thinking this week about how the process of legislating works in West Virginia – and what we could do to make that process work better.

But there’s a reason why we think it’s worth thinking through the process in this moment of reflection and evaluation of our annual lawmaking.

Considering what parts of the process work, and what need fixing, takes our contemplation of West Virginia’s lawmaking apparatus a step further than just saying whether this session was good or bad.

Because, while there are strong opinions on both sides, we’re not quite ready to say that this session was a no-good, very-bad, horrible session-to-end-all-sessions.

Photo by WV Legislative Photography

Photo by WV Legislative Photography

Yeah, it wasn’t great. Yeah, we didn’t agree with some of the bills that got passed. Yeah, we’re annoyed that many of the bills that we felt like had real potential and momentum this year got shot down (RIP broadband).

And yes, emphatically yes, we were insulted and horrified that so much emphasis was put on trying to pass a bill to permit discrimination.

But we were impressed that a diverse coalition of groups and individuals organized to fight that. We were moved by the unlikely advocates that spoke up against it. We saw some hope in that.

We’re not convinced that the answer is only in electing new people. The failure of our state to thrive isn’t just about who is in power. It’s about what systems we maintain.

The truth is that our Legislature is made up of a group of people who differ in their beliefs (from each other as well as from us), and who often have priorities that make us scratch our heads in confusion. But we’re not convinced that the answer is only in electing new people.

The failure of our state to thrive isn’t just about who is in power politically. It’s about what systems we maintain that enable our state to grow and thrive. And what systems we continue to maintain that cause our state to wither and sputter.

And one of those systems – a fundamental system that affects each of us individually – is lawmaking.

We think that the process of lawmaking in West Virginia is –  if not broken – then at least hobbled.

We know that there are ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our legislative process. Building that better process is going to move our state forward and will improve our state legislating, no matter which party is in power after November’s elections. So that’s the motivation that we’re taking out of the 2016 legislative session.

What areas do we think could be improved in terms of the lawmaking process? Access for public engagement is obviously a big one for us. But what else?

What areas do we think could be improved in terms of the lawmaking process? Access for public engagement is a big one for us.

And what are other states doing that we could take as models and start to implement here? Let’s start by looking at states that are the same size as West Virginia and have similar budgets and go from there. Let’s dig our hands into some research and find some solutions.

It’s time to do this. Because we know that just because a system has worked a certain way for a century or more doesn’t mean that it is the best way. Especially if that system keeps producing lackluster results.

We’re excited to move forward in exploration this year. And we’re interested to hear what ideas you’d like to see implemented to help West Virginia build a state-of-the-art lawmaking system.

Let’s dream big. And let’s get going.

Stephanie-Tyree

Takeiya Smith: We Are Ready to Train the Young Leaders of West Virginia

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student_organizingSocial change has always been something I wanted to get involved in, but I wasn’t sure how to go about it.

I knew it took strong leaders to create change. But I used to believe the skill of leading was unattainable to people like me.

I didn’t think of myself as the image of leadership. I thought I was too young to be taken seriously, and had convinced myself that people would be uncomfortable with a woman in a position of strength.

I imagined that our leaders were always people with a certain amount of wealth, and I have never had that either.

I thought my race would stand in the way, and I was afraid I would be discounted or ignored.

But, more than anything, I thought my race would stand in the way, and I was afraid I would be discounted or ignored.

There were many reasons I gave myself as to why I could never be an effective leader, and they were all untrue. There is no one mold of what a leader should be.

As time has gone on I have learned that people like me can totally become great leaders and I try to work on that every day.

The Our Children, Our Future Summer Institute is being organized by young people from all over the state.

We are customizing it by molding the training to the exact needs and wants of young people in our journey to become the next generation of great leaders.

Let go of all the reasons you think that leadership isn’t for you, and join us.

There will be youth-lead caucuses, improvement activities, media training and much more during this two-day event. This summer institute will build upon the skills you already have to make you a stronger and more strategic leader.

Let go of all the reasons you think that leadership isn’t for you, and join us. I’m so excited to connect with my peers who are creating their own path to leadership.

We want to hear from you! Follow this link to learn more and get involved!

Takeiya-Smith

Is Consolidation The New Growth Opportunity for West Virginia?

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_oblique_/FlickrCC

Our State Legislature is constitutionally required to balance the state budget.

And this year, like the last few years, there is a likelihood that at least some of the money to cover the hole in the budget will come from the set-aside the state has created through the Rainy Day Fund. With a $350 million hole in the state budget, our legislators are hearing loud and clear that it’s not just raining – it’s pouring, and we need help.

Counties and cities are facing similar budget deficits as severance tax revenue dwindles and the population continues to fall in much of the coalfields, taking with it businesses, income taxes, and other sources of local revenue.

There’s a very real question about how our localities can respond to declining local revenues. How can we right-size our communities to be the most efficient and vibrant that they can be?

Unfortunately for these local finance offices, most counties and cities do not have rainy day funds they can dip into to weather this challenging economic climate (now categorized as a state recession).

There’s a very real question about how our localities can respond to declining local revenues, especially in light of the fact that continued declines are predicted for the foreseeable future.

How can we right-size our communities to be the most efficient and vibrant that they can be?

The theory of right-sizing is nothing new, particularly for communities that had an explosion of abandoned properties after the mortgage crisis.

But there has been very little study and application of right-sizing for shrinking rural communities in order to improve their efficiency and address looming (or in our case ever-present) budgetary crises.

We know we are going to have to figure out how to make our communities work better as a system. How can we best serve our communities realistically? More than half of West Virginia’s counties have less than 25,000 people in them. One-fifth of the state’s counties have less than 10,000 people!

Right-sizing entire counties that are this small will take creative thinking that has to be generated by people who know this state best – our communities.

We know we are going to have to figure out how to make our communities work better as a system. How can we best serve our communities realistically?

The vast majority of our counties are too small to support significant administrative oversight and infrastructure. And many of the ones that used to have ample economic support are declining and can no longer support the infrastructure or people they once could maintain.

In the State Journal last Thursday Patrick D. Kelly suggested the state incentivize consolidation of local government entities as the first step towards right-sizing our declining communities.

A similar idea was suggested by former state Board of Education member Wade Linger in his resignation letter published in WV MetroNews in early February.

One of Linger’s many comments was that too much money was being spent by the school system to keep up administrative offices in each county, and too little for teachers. He suggested that the 55 county school systems be consolidated into approximately 30, organized around geographic locations of students.

What do you think the answer is to tighten our belts while improving our communities? Would right-sizing work in West Virginia – and should it start with government consolidation?

Stephanie-Tyree

 

Senator Carmichael On RFRA Amendment: “Recognize the human dignity and goodness of people that are different from us.”

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Photo by WV Legislative Photography

Photo by WV Legislative Photography

Update: After The Senate passed an amendment to SB 4012 to include a clause banning the bill from being used for discrimination (passing with a vote of 23 to 11), the bill was voted down on the floor on Wednesday with 27 Senators voting against it – including many that had originally supported it but switched their vote after it was amended to be non-discriminatory.

“We can vote for this bill and allow it not to be used for discriminatory purposes.
To value the religious freedom and protection that we hold so dear.
And to recognize the human dignity and goodness of people that are different from us.”

On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch Carmichael gave a passionate, emotional speech in favor of an amendment introduced by Senators Corey Palumbo and Ron Stollings to the Religious Freedom and Restoration Act. The amendment would restrict the law from being used to invalidate anti-discrimination ordinances, ensuring that the law stays focused on protecting religious freedoms without encroaching on any other person’s rights.

This was a special speech. And it was another clarifying moment for the 2016 Legislature.

The votes for and against twist and turn across party lines.

Beyond the pros and cons of the legislation, Carmichael’s speech and the vote on the amendment clarified that the ideological divisions that have created so much strife within the Legislature this year are not purely political party divisions.

Senators voting for the amendment were in favor of not allowing RFRA to be used to promote discrimination, or to tear down anti-discrimination ordinances. Senators voting against the amendment wanted to preserve that power within the bill – and not protect people from discrimination.

[Click here to see how your Senator voted – photo by Joshua Austin/Facebook.]

The votes for and against twist and turn across party lines – some legislators voting for the amendment were Republicans, voting in favor of the Democrat amendment. Some members who voted against the amendment were Democrats.

We often get pulled into rhetoric about how what we care about falls along the priorities of one political party or another.

That’s just not true. It’s always more complicated than that.

Some senators showed us that they were willing to fight hard to protect our right to be protected from discrimination.

Tuesday demonstrated that very clearly on the floor of the West Virginia Senate.

And some senators showed us that they were willing to fight hard to protect our right to be protected from discrimination. While we wish it wasn’t a fight, we will keep uplifting the effort, and the much appreciated leadership on the issue we’re seeing from both sides of the aisle.

A video of Carmichael’s complete speech is posted now at Fairness WV’s facebook page.

Stephanie-Tyree

The 47th Day: The Legislative Deadline That’s Not On Your Radar… And Why It Matters.

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Photo by WV Legislative Photography

Photo by WV Legislative Photography

[Okay, this gets wonky in parts. But if you want to spend just 5 minutes to better understand how the State Legislature works in real life, this post will be 5 minutes well spent.]

A major deadline in the annual legislative calendar is looming. 

Sunday, Feb. 28 is the last day of the 2016 legislative session that any bill can be passed out of committee in the chamber that the bill was introduced in.

This means that all House bills have to be passed by the House committees, and all Senate bills need to be out of all their committee references to continue moving forward this year.

The forty-seventh day – Feb. 28 – is the day that hundreds of important bills die on committee floors.

There is often lots of discussion about Crossover Day (March 2 this year), the day that all bills have to be passed by the “house of origin” in order to stay alive. But, for many issues, the forty-seventh day – Feb. 28 – is the day that hundreds of important bills die on committee floors.

The vast majority of these bills never get taken up, primarily because of time constraints. This is especially true in minor committees. (A list of the minor and major committees in each chamber is included at the end of this article).

Minor committees meet less frequently than major committees – often just once a week. Major committees meet daily, and often multiple times a day for many hours as we get later into the session.

Many committees will only have one more meeting between now and the end of next week – and many bills will never move beyond introduction stage.

Minor committees are much more restricted, frequently only meeting for an hour or sometimes just half an hour, and rarely meeting more than once a week. A number of minor committees will stop meeting after next week as both chambers focus on moving bills through the major committees.

What this means for us is that many committees will only have one more meeting between now and the end of next week – and many bills will never move beyond introduction stage as they stay stuck in their first committee reference. (Bills often have a first reference to a minor committee and a second reference to a major committee).

The efficiency of committee meetings varies dramatically depending on the bills that are on the agenda for that day – and on the urgency that the chairman has to move the committee through discussing and voting on bills. Sometimes, an hour-long committee meeting can end up talking about only a single bill, and sometimes not even getting to a vote on that bill. Other times, committees can zoom through a number of bills.

committees1

Photo by WV Legislative Photography

Regardless of how efficient any committee is, it is almost certain that no House minor committee will be able to address every bill pending on its current docket. These committees have, on average, about 28 bills still pending before them – though some, like Roads & Transportation, have 75 bills waiting for consideration.

The Senate minor committees seem to be in better shape, with most of them having less than seven bills pending on their dockets.

The Senate minor committees seem to be in better shape, with most of them having less than seven bills pending on their dockets – and many of those bills are duplicates of bills already moving elsewhere.

Regardless, we are quickly moving into the moment where the opportunity to even discuss a bill is sunsetting.

If you’ve been tracking any particular issues, and want to see a bill move, this is the week that it’s worthwhile to call committee chairs and ask them to prioritize the bills you care about and put them on the agenda for next week.

If you’d like help in figuring out who you should contact, please shoot us an email – we’re happy to help.

This is especially important for minor committees, but is also important for major committees. There will be significantly more meetings of those committees over the next ten days, but the number of bills pending before them dwarfs the average number in minor committees – and will only get larger as Crossover Day gets closer. For instance, on both sides there are more than 200 bills pending before the Judiciary Committees (nearly 400 on the House side).  

Here are some bills that we’ve been tracking that are still pending before minor committees:
(Highlighted bills are ones we’ve discussed in detail in previous Legislative Hubbubs.)

Bills Pending Before Senate Minor Committees

Bills Pending Before
House Minor Committees
  • SB 325 – Matching grant program to foster creative communities. Pending in the Senate Economic Development Committee.
  • SB 120 – Earned Sick Time. Pending in Senate Labor Committee.
  • SB 327 – Construction of highway between Pikeville and Beckley. Pending in Senate Transportation & Infrastructure.
  • SB 337 – 5 year tax credit for businesses on post-mine sites. Pending in Senate Energy, Industry & Mining Committee.
  • SB 370 – LEEP Bill. Pending in Senate Energy, Industry & Mining Committee.
  • SB 399 – Farm to Foodbank Tax Credits. Pending in Senate Agriculture Committee.
  • SB 453 – Self-Employment Assistance Act. Pending in Senate Labor Committee.

 

Senate and House Major & Minor Committees

Senate & House Major Committees:

  • Education
  • Finance
  • Government Organization
  • Health and Human Resources
  • Judiciary

Senate Minor Committees:

  • Agriculture and Rural Development
  • Banking and Insurance
  • Confirmations
  • Economic Development
  • Energy, Industry & Mining
  • Interstate Cooperation
  • Labor
  • Military
  • Natural Resources
  • Pensions
  • Transportation and Infrastructure

House Minor Committees:

  • Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Banking and Insurance
  • Energy
  • Industry and Labor
  • Interstate Cooperation
  • Pensions and Retirement
  • Political Subdivisions
  • Roads and Transportation
  • Select Committee on Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse
  • Senior Citizen Issues
  • Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development
  • Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security

Stephanie-Tyree