Tell us a little bit about yourself and your experience/accomplishments
I am a lifelong resident of Raleigh County where I have been an educator for over 45 years. I taught at Stratton Junior High, Woodrow Wilson High School, Beckley College, and Mountain State University. Both my parents were long time educators as well. They instilled in me a sense of community, equality, faith, and hard work. I am on the Local Governing Board for the Raleigh County HTSA and the Raleigh County Educators Federal Credit Union. I’m currently helping Boy Scout Troop 3 at Faith Community Church where we also attend and volunteer regularly. I have coached for my entire teaching career winning numerous championships and I’m currently coaching the WWHS Tennis team where we are in the middle of our Regional and State Tournaments. I have been married for 28 years and have 2 adult daughters.
What motivated you to run for Magistrate?
I want to continue to serve the people of Raleigh County by using my experience in engaging with people to make our community a safer and more attractive place to raise a family. Over the years I’ve seen firsthand how drugs have destroyed families, towns and even counties. I will work hard to make the people of this county feel safe. Raleigh County means too much to me to stand idly by while criminal elements are doing everything they can to destroy this beautiful county. With my unique skill set, my experience in education will allow me to discern the truth, consider extenuating circumstances, and treat everyone who enters my court with dignity and compassion. Victims of these crimes should know that they will be treated with the upmost respect they deserve, and that everyone will be able to expect a fair and equitable hearing.
What are some issues facing Raleigh County right now that you would like to see addressed? How would you attempt resolving those issues?
The drug epidemic is intolerable in Raleigh County now and has literally touched every family in this county. Both the drug epidemic and the homelessness prevalent uptown needs innovative solutions to combat this dangerous and constantly evolving problem. I plan on consulting the law enforcement agencies, homeless shelters, the VA, and drug rehabilitation centers to determine the best path for every individual that comes into my court. The overriding concern is for me to do everything within my power to keep the citizens of Raleigh County safe.
What makes you stand out from the rest of the candidates, what do you bring to the table that they don’t?
I bring over 4 decades in educational experience that has required me to apply conflict resolution techniques along with communication skills to quickly get to the heart of the problem. Solving complex problems is a daily occurrence in today’s public schools. The average teacher makes over 1500 decisions a day. There have been countless instances where I have had to decide in a few minutes who was innocent, who was guilty, what were the extenuating circumstances, if there is any way a win-win result could be reached, and eventually was there anyone who needed to be punished and for how long. Having a Master’s Degree in Communication Studies and a wealth of experience in handling a variety of problems, allows me to move smoothly from the classroom to the courtroom. The fact that in over 1,000 athletic contests, I can count on one hand the violations I received while advocating for my players. Of course, the split-second decisions that are made during an athletic event are immediately seen and judged by all. Any successful coach knows that they cannot shy away from hard decisions. Additionally, I have never behaved towards a student in a manner that required being reprimanded. I have the ability to communicate on all levels to the people I will come in contact with. The writers of the State Constitution felt that their citizens should be judged by a jury of their peers and by magistrates that were competent, intelligent and impartial. I have the added bonus that everyone who has dealt with me in a scholastic setting already knows that I will be fair. I will represent the office and the people of Raleigh County at a level the framers of the Constitution would be proud of.
Is there anything else voters should know about you and your campaign?
As an educator for the last 40 plus years, I have spent my entire career educating students, athletes, adults, and parents on the mechanics of making wise decisions and discerning right from wrong. My experience in communicating with the appropriate authorities in getting everything from scholarships, jobs, furniture, food, healthcare and getting students and their families into safe places to live will enable me to hit the ground running in making Raleigh County a safer place for us all. With the help of the people of Raleigh County, I will be able to bring that experience from the classroom to the courtroom. Please consider me for Magistrate in Division 1.