One of my conclusions in evaluating conflicts of interest has always been that it is in the eye of the beholder.
When one deals with the hypocrisy that often highlights political discourse, it doesn’t take long to realize that what may be ethically wrong for one is not necessarily deemed wrong for another.
While I generally see every glass as half-full rather than half-empty, it has gotten pretty difficult to see the positive ethical side of the Governor Jim Justice Administration these past four-plus years.
I’ve also avoided, for many years, labeling those who don’t abide strictly by “Republican” party principles as RINOs (Republicans in Name Only). Readers know I declare my own Republican party credentials while being out of step with the majority on some issues.
But if Jim Justice is governing as a Republican, I’m solidly to the right of former Delegate S. Marshall Wilson. That’ll be the day.
So … it isn’t a question of Republican values when one evaluates Jim Justice. He doesn’t have many.
And it’s in the eye of the beholder whether it’s a conflict for a Justice employee to preside over the employment of a boys basketball coach at Greenbrier East High School while Justice is a candidate for the job.
Suffice it to say that probably 80% of the public thinks Greenbrier School Superintendent Jeff Bryant has a conflict since he’s also Director of Entertainment at the Justice family’s Greenbrier Resort.
Bryant has been vocal in pushing Justice for the boys head coaching job. He basically told some board of education members that it would be illegal not to hire the Governor on his recommendation. That apparently goes to the rule that says someone cannot be hired by a county school system unless the Superintendent recommends him or her.
But the law does NOT say one MUST be hired just because the Superintendent recommends him or her. There is, in fact, a little check and balance on the top administrator.
The biggest question about this Justice created debacle is why he wants to be boys head coach anyway. He’s already the head mentor of the girls and used to be in the dual role as head coach of both squads.
But when he became Governor, he gave up the boys, citing time constraints. That was 2017 before, for instance, the Covid pandemic. Now, apparently, he’s got the state on auto pilot so he’s free to roam elsewhere. Why worry about Covid when you can be watching for the opponent to double-dribble?
It’s safe to say there’s some understandable outrage in Greenbrier about how all of this has played out. Fans think back to February when girls Coach Justice allegedly called Beckley teenage female opponents “thugs.”
What position were game officials in to reprimand the Governor then? And what did Bryant do to curtail any noticeable backlash?
Still Jim Justice expects to be hired as the boys coach. Perhaps the coaching salary will rescue his family from potential bankruptcy. The governor’s office even announced his employment as a done deal. They forgot that the board of education members hadn’t voted on it.
That possible vote was moved to this week. Despite the uproar, including a complaint allegedly being filed with the state ethics commission, Justice has not withdrawn his candidacy.
From failure to put his companies in blind trusts, as he promised to do, to saying he’d abide by the law and live in the Governor’s Mansion when he had no intention of doing so, Justice is establishing quite a record for truth and honesty. I should add, as he would, “bless his little heart.”
The board members, also in a tight spot because Justice wants another ego-driven toy to play with, could decide on a hire during a special meeting, Monday.
So interest conflicts abound but the biggest issue is how this Governor, unique among all predecessors, has time on his hands to coach high school basketball.
Honesty is not in the eye of the beholder.
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The developing story of Kanawha County Delegate Moore Capito’s congressional aspirations from last week brought some interesting responses.
Some within the Capito camp insist their man will be running against incumbent Republican Representative Carol Miller of Huntington no matter how redistricting goes. If redistricting doesn’t place Capito in Miller’s district, he’ll simply move there, they say. But residence within a district is not a requirement to serve in Congress anyway.
Last week I floated the idea that when the legislature redistricts the state from three to two congressional districts for 2022, we might end up with Capito involved in a three-way Republican primary including two incumbent Republicans — David McKinley and Alex Mooney. I said Capito might be the favorite to win that three-way race and retire both GOP representatives.
I still think logic and geography favor Miller standing alone as an incumbent in a new district but she and Capito may end up together if Charleston and Huntington are in the same district.
The state capital, Charleston, is still offended that they may lack forever a hometown congressman. With such past representatives as Democrat John Slack and Republican Shelley Moore Capito having lived down the street and represented their home town, Charleston hasn’t gotten used to a congressman from the Eastern Panhandle allegedly representing them.
While I didn’t project Charleston ending up in the same district with Huntington, informed sources say it’s likely. If so, Capito and Miller would be in the same district. Either way, Capito’s September 8 “big announcement” is that he’s planning to take on Miller, according to those in the know.
That would set up two colossal GOP primaries — one between Capito and Miller; the other Mooney vs. McKinley.
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Being a self-professed “Moore Republican,” I had thought Delegate Capito might prefer to reclaim his famous grandfather Arch A. Moore, Jr.’s old Congressional territory in the Northern Panhandle. On the other hand, his mother — now U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito — represented the Kanawha Valley in her House of Representatives days.
Moore Capito friends say we will definitely know his intentions when he delivers “big news” at his Greenbrier fundraiser in a few days.
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Heated is hardly adequate to describe the dialogue between two potential State Senate candidates in Greenbrier County. It may be a sign of sparks to come.
Incumbent Democrat Stephen Baldwin was perturbed to say the least by comments made by his potential opponent in a lootpress.com article.
The story said Vince Deeds is planning to run as a Republican for Baldwin’s seat. It’s safe to say Baldwin wasn’t thrilled with Deeds’ characterization of him as a flaming liberal.
One of the highest recommendations I read for Deeds was that he interned for Congressman Harley O. “Buckey” Staggers, Jr. during his junior and senior years of college.
Longtime readers know Staggers joins former Democrat Congressmen Alan Mollohan and Nick Joe Rahall among my personal favorites. They don’t make them like that trio any more.
In the article, Deeds, a church pastor, said, “My values are the Republican party’s values.
That’s the huge difference between me and Steve,” Baldwin didn’t concede the next part.
“He’s a pastor, but he’s voted for abortion. He’s not pro law enforcement or pro veteran, and that is just because of his politics. It has nothing to do with who he is as a person, but he’s obligated because of his position. With me, I don’t have to be double-minded. I am crystal clear.”
Pastors have a way of summing things up pretty succinctly. Watch this race for more developments.
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Speaking of redistricting, which we were earlier, members of the legislative redistricting committee are continuing their statewide tour.
Some legislators, on and off the official committee, have held “town hall” type gatherings off the beaten paths as well.
Last week in Martinsburg, it was obvious that residents in the state’s growing Panhandle expect their voices to be heard more than ever in Charleston.
Senators Charles Trump, R-Morgan; Glenn Jeffries, D-Putnam; Eric Tarr, R-Putnam; and Delegates Gary Howell, R-Mineral; Paul Espinosa, R-Jefferson; Eric Householder, R-Berkeley; Ruth Rowan, R-Hampshire; and Joe Statler, R-Monongalia, were in attendance representing the committee to listen to public comments and ideas.
A total of 13 speakers shared their thoughts and concerns.
Former delegate and Berkeley County resident Larry Kump, who maintains an active presence on social media as he eyes another possible run for office, referred particularly to House districts when he said, “Districts should be compact and include communities of interest.”
Delays by the Census Bureau in providing data have hamstrung the process but final figures are expected by the end of September.
“We need to have communities of interest represented,” David Valente, former chairman of the State Libertarian Party and Berkeley County resident, said. “My hope is that this is the last time we have a Legislature-driven process.
The redistricting process should be driven by the citizens. It should be a citizen-led commission and citizen-served commission. It should be the citizens picking their legislators.”
I couldn’t agree more. As long as the process is legislature driven, there will be some … shall I say it? Conflicts of interest. There it is again.
Incumbent legislators are inherently going to keep a keen eye out for their own re-election and that of their friends.
Ending on September 16, the committee will have heard comments from 12 in-person public hearings and three virtual hearings. Links to view the previous hearings are available on the WV Legislature website at www.wvlegislature.gov/redistricting.
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The state Supreme Court decision to require answers as to why a Writ of Prohibition against the Mingo County Commission should not be granted sets up intriguing possibilities.
Meanwhile, the GOP may be showing how invigorated they are with formation of a Republican women’s group in Mingo.
Some of those in attendance at the Commission meeting that ignored the Writ motion on the advice of attorney Tom Ward kept chatting about their Republican credentials while the session continued.
The odd thing was that I could have sworn some of these same folks told me about their lifetime Democrat loyalties in years past.
I was assured by a couple of impartial observers that I was not a “real Republican” although I’m not sure what that evaluation was based on.
What would happen now if the Supremes decide to grant the Writ after Ward recommended the commission go full steam ahead with appointing a new commissioner?
Well, Marty Fortner’s appointment would seem to be in limbo but we’d know the Supreme Court agreed with Ernest Sammons and Commissioner Diann Hannah that Audrey Smith was not eligible to be appointed.
How to remedy the situation now that the “horse is out of the barn” with Fortner’s appointment is difficult to judge. The commission and Ward will surely argue that the matter is moot but it’s moot only because the appointment process continued even though Ward and the Commission knew the Writ motion was pending.
It appeared that Ward was much more a member of a cabal than a pure dispenser of legal advice during the meeting.
The fact that Prosecutor Duke Jewell, had earlier made it clear that Smith was not qualified for appointment did not quench Ward’s enthusiasm.
Ron Gregory is a regular political columnist and reporter for lootpress.com. Reach him at 304-533-5185; ronjgregory@gmail.com or PO Box 20297; Charleston, WV 25362.