WHEELING, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The 2022 WV House of Delegates Primary Election is fast approaching, with many up-and-comers looking to shake things up in the Legislature.
One such candidate is Brooke McArdle, a multi-faceted Wheeling native who intends to take on Minority Whip Leader of the Democratic Caucus Shawn Fluharty, who has served on the WV House of Delegates continuously since 2015.
Both McArdle and Fluharty ran unopposed in the May Primary, and now McArdle seeks to bring some young blood to the House.
Having just graduated from Elmira college this year as a double major in Accounting and Legal Studies and double minor in Business Administration and Criminal Justice, the 23 year old political hopeful believes that her age will only serve to benefit her in the upcoming contest.
“Although I may be a younger candidate, it does not define my capability to perform just as well as a veteran in the Legislature,” she asserts.
Far from perceiving a youthful perspective as a hindrance, McArdle feels that she is uniquely qualified to uphold tried and true traditions while also working to move her home state forward.
“Growing up [with] today’s ‘new norms’ but raised in a family of traditional values gives me a unique ability to view perspectives from both old and new,” she explains. “Keeping an open mind to new ideas, being flexible to change while being true to your values is critical in the legislative process.”
Following graduation in June, McArdle wasted no time setting into motion the next step of her educational pursuits, making the decision to pursue her master’s in Forensic and Fraud Examination with an emphasis in Data Analytics at West Virginia University. This, however, was only a minor contributor to her decision to come back to Wheeling.
“Being away for the last 4 years, it makes you think about where your roots truly are,” she says. “That’s why I returned to Ohio County.”
But of all her experience, academic and otherwise, McArdle credits her commitment to team sports such as hockey as one of the most significant in developing both collaborative and leadership skills.
“I believe that playing a team sport throughout my life has developed critical skills in leadership,” she states. “90% of Fortune 500 female CEOs played sports. These women leaders are described as risk takers with nerves of steel, [with] bold anticipation, and a drive to win.”
She goes on to explain specifics of how her experience will inform her work in the Legislature. “Starting my competitive hockey career at age 4, [and with it] culminating at the NCAA Final Four Division III National Hockey Championships, I am up for the challenge to represent the 5th District. Most importantly, I value the importance of teamwork and where individual ideas and talents come together to work alongside one another towards one goal.”
McArdle explains how taking on multiple challenges simultaneously throughout her life has endowed her with time management and prioritization abilities which have allowed her to excel as a highly effective individual.
“Though extremely challenging at some points, nothing in life is easy. I like to stay busy; it is where I am most productive – which is why I took on such a large workload throughout school,” she explains.
“Balance in life is critical. Time-management is imperative to striking that balance. Lots of issues will come before the legislature but like life, those issues need to be prioritized and, focus is essential to address and complete the task at hand. Same procedure, different task, I have a lifetime of training to use and I am up for the challenge!”
McArdle’s own history has informed the platform on which she intends to run, in which the protection of women’s sports and parental choice/educational freedom will be among the top priorities.
“As a female athlete, I know the value of hard work and fair competition,” she explains. “Science and truth both recognize biological differences between males and females, and I have seen these differences first hand. I will support legislation to uphold the rights of women to fairly compete in athletics.”
She continues, “school choice is essential in WV. Our students deserve endless opportunities, and options in education will provide just that. Parental involvement and choice are paramount and will be a top priority when I am elected to the House.”
True to her traditional values, McArdle’s platform will support Pro-Life values and the Second Ammendment, as she explains.
“As your Delegate in the House, I will stand for the Pro-Life values that we as West Virginians share! I oppose abortion, particularly abortion-on-demand and late-term abortion. I also support pro-family and pro-woman policies that create a more family-friendly work and social environment. I am proudly endorsed by West Virginians for Life.”
“Our Second Amendment rights to self-defense are sacred, especially today,” she says of the Second Amendment focus of her platform. “Responsible gun ownership is the key to our children’s safety in schools. In the legislature, I will support legislation that strengthens the individual right to ‘Keep and Bear Arms.’”
Finally, she feels that energy independence is a key issue in the Mountain State.
“Today more than ever we see the need for energy independence and the stability that fossil fuels bring to our energy grid and national security,” she says. “In the House, I will fight for energy independence for our state.
Learn more about Brooke McArdle and her campaign here.