MONROE COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Former West Virginia State Senator Kenny Mann has announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Monroe County Commission.
Kenny Mann is no stranger to the political arena, as he brings a wealth of knowledge to the table having connections in Charleston and around the state. He is very respected by his legislative colleagues.
Kenny is known for his humbleness and his encouraging ways, along with a pinch of humor on the side to lighten the mood on the toughest of days.
Almost everyone he knows and has served with has their very own “Kenny story” to reflect on.
Kenny had previously filed pre-candidacy paperwork earlier last year to run for West Virginia Secretary of State, but after some thought, Mann says timing is everything and he placed the possibility of his return to the Capitol City on hold for now.
Kenny and his wife Angie (Ellison) Mann have a large, blended family and they say there’s never a dull moment that either of them wants to miss out on with all that goes on in their day-to-day life here at home.
They reside on the Ellison Farm (Angie’s family farm) on Hans Creek, in Greenville, WV.
Mann, a family man says, “Our kids keep us hoping and we know they won’t stay young forever, our youngest child is in 7th grade, and they all have a lot of school activities, sports, appointments, etc., that happens daily back here at home, it’s just tough to be away and miss out on these important events”.
As of January 1st, Kenny semi-retired from the full-time setting in the funeral industry, following a 27-year career working as a funeral director.
He now works part-time behind the scenes in the death care industry and also enjoys substitute teaching for Monroe County Schools.
He is a businessman who has owned and operated several businesses in Monroe County; one of the most recent being in the Agri-tourism business with his “Haunting on Hans Creek” a haunted farm-tour and hayride attraction that brings in thousands of people to Monroe County to enjoy family fun in a spooky atmosphere each year.
This business employees roughly 75 people throughout the season to make a memorable time for all who attend.
Kenny graduated from James Monroe High School in 2000 and furthered his education at Concord University in Athens, WV earning a B.A. in Business and Mid-America College of Funeral Service in Jeffersonville, Indiana earning an A.S. in Mortuary Science.
He holds funeral director and embalmer’s licenses in West Virginia and Virginia.
He started his political career serving on the Monroe County Board of Education. Following his board service, Kenny was elected in 2016 to the West Virginia State Senate representing Greenbrier, Summers, Fayette, and Monroe Counties in the 10th Senatorial District.
He would serve on several committees while in the Senate.
A couple of those would include Vice Chairman of Senate Finance where he was responsible for the state’s nearly 5 ½ billion-dollar budget and as the Chairman of the Senate’s Education Committee where he was responsible for K through 12 and all colleges and university’s education systems in the Mountain State.
During his time in and after the Senate, Governor Justice appointed Kenny to several honorable positions.
Those appointments include LOCEA (Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability), Southern Regional Education Board Legislative Advisory Council, Blue Ribbon Higher Education Commission, West Virginia School Building Authority, and the Concord University Board of Governors.
It is worth noting that a little more than half of the state’s budget goes towards education in West Virginia. Mann says he sees it as an investment into our future.
From our K-12 schools to our vocational, trade schools, colleges and universities around the state, this investment will see that every student has not only an opportunity to achieve their academic goals to build a solid foundation for their lives, but they will hopefully have the opportunity to choose to live, work, raise a family, and retire right here in West Virginia and especially, Monroe County.
Kenny also served several years as President of the Ballard Volunteer Fire Department and currently serves on the Monroe County Civil Service Board.
Kenny feels with his background in the business and political fields, along with the many resources he has worked with throughout the years, now is the time to bring his experience to the table on the Monroe County Commission to work with fellow commissioners to assure the state of West Virginia that Monroe County is a strong vital part of its 55 county make-up and that our most valuable resource being our people deserve the very best.
He believes the only way to achieve these goals is to be honest and transparent with everything involved with the people’s government.
Kenny says he will be the first to admit, that he doesn’t have the answer to everything and not every problem can be solved in a timely fashion like we all wish it could be, but he is committed to the job and has the motivated desire to stay the course to help in every way possible to make Monroe County, WV the best place for everyone to call home.
