LOGAN, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Logan County commissioners have commented recently about economic development opportunities they say are on the horizon for their county.
Sometimes, predictions of economic expansion in hard-hit jurisdictions are simply political rhetoric, with little solid basis in fact. But a recent personnel move appears to be the Logan commission’s way of “putting their money where their mouth is.”
Longtime County Administrator Rocky Adkins was reassigned as Director of the Logan Economic Development Authority. That move opened the county administrator job and the three commissioners unanimously employed Alvis Porter Jr. In that position, effective June 1.
New County Commissioner Diana Barnette, a Republican who assumed office January 1, first publicly suggested the personnel moves in April, according to The Logan Banner newspaper.
Longtime Democrat Commissioner and current President Danny Godby said, “the more I thought about it, the more it became a no brainer. We really do have some economic development opportunities that are just about ready to take off. We need a guy like Rocky to concentrate on that. After some rough years, Logan County is ready to grow and prosper. We need someone with Rocky’s experience to devote full-time to growing our economy.”
Fellow Democrat Danny Ellis agrees with Barnette and Godby. “The county manager job is full-time with the whole array of administrative decisions. Rocky was often so tied up, he had trouble returning all his phone calls. If we’re going to take advantage of all the opportunities staring us in the face, we’ve got to have someone who makes them top priority. Because of his workload, Rocky couldn’t do that before. Now he can.”
The downturn in the coal industry has been devastating economically to counties like Logan. “When that big of a chunk of revenue dries up, it makes things tough,” said Godby. “But good fiscal management over the years kept us in much better shape than some counties. We’re in a position to take full advantage of the opportunities that are out there now.”
None of the commissioners wanted to specifically name those opportunities, citing ongoing negotiations. “Rocky can be right on top of these issues now,” said Barnette. “Alvis is taking on the other administrative role.”
Godby said Porter has worked closely with Adkins since the first of the month. “It’s an ideal situation,” said the president. “Alvis has the advantage of Rocky’s knowledge and years of experience. They are working well together.”
Porter comes to county government after 18 years and three months working for former State Treasurer John Perdue and current Treasurer Riley Moore. He called it a “tough decision” to leave the treasurer’s office after nearly two decades.
Porter himself worked briefly in the coal industry before joining the Treasurer’s office as a Local Government Specialist.
“I got an early (career) start,” Porter said. “That job was really my life’s work up until now, except for my pastoring,” he said. “But when the county job came open and I had the chance to work full-time in Logan, I jumped at it. I enjoyed my old job, working for John Perdue and Mr. Moore but I couldn’t pass this up.”
Porter said the first month has been “quite a learning experience for me. Having Rocky still on board has been a big advantage. He’s really great to work with.”
Ellis said he’s impressed with Porter’s “energy and enthusiasm.” He added, “I was convinced he was the man for the job to begin with. Now I’m even more convinced after seeing him put all his energy into it these past few weeks.”
In his new job, Porter oversees all the commission’s administrative functions. “The commission sets policy and he implements it,” said Godby. “I feel confident he’ll do a great job for many years.”
Barnette agreed. “As soon as I was told that he was interested, I knew he was the man for the job,” she said. “He’s got a great personality, he knows how to work with people and as a pastor, he’s a role model,” she said.
The Logan County native grew up in the Holden area, the son of former County Clerk Alvis Porter Sr. and Nikki Payne Porter. He graduated from Logan High School in 1995 and attended Southern Community College. He has one brother, Eric.
Porter and his wife, Elecha, have three sons and a two-month-old granddaughter, Lydia Faith. Their sons are Christian, 23; Cameron, 21; and Chandler, 16.
Alvis Porter Jr. is pastor of the New Life Freewill Baptist Church on Route 44.
The commissioners said Porter’s annual salary will be in the $52,000 range. According to state public records, Porter earned a salary of $58,396.95 working for the State Treasurer’s Office in 2020.