Growing up on a dairy farm in Summers County, Vince Deeds says he became interested in politics due to the many governmental entities his father dealt with while maintaining the land. After completing an internship with Congressman Buckey Staggers between his junior and senior years of college, Deeds said he knew he was being called to serve in some manner.
As a young man, he became a West Virginia State Trooper, a career he maintained for 25 years. 16 of those years, he spent in Greenbrier County where he currently resides with his wife and one of his two sons. During his time in law enforcement, he dealt with murder investigations and sexual assault cases and became one of only two individuals to hold every rank in the West Virginia State Police.
Prior to joining the state police, Deeds says he felt first and foremost he had been called to serve as a Baptist pastor. In high school and college, he traveled to different churches, filling in for different pastors. He currently pastors at Sink Grove Baptist Church in Monroe County, where he has been since 2018.
“I have always been in public service, and I always knew that I wanted to serve,” Deeds explained. “As long as I keep God, family, and service in that order, then everything seems to work out just fine. I have preached that, and I’ve tried to live that my whole life.”
After Deeds retired from the force in 2018, he knew he wasn’t done serving his community. He took a position in the Prosecuting Attorney’s office where his workload is similar to what he did with the state police. In addition to handling murder and sexual assault cases, Deeds is also involved in the juvenile justice system and works to get struggling Greenbrier County students re-engaged in the school system.
Still, Deeds felt like he needed to do more.
“I have watched politics my whole life and I have been interested in it since I was a young man,” Deeds said, believing his position as a conservative Republican and Christian would make him a great candidate for the State Senate seat for the 10th District, currently held by Senate Minority Leader Stephen Baldwin (D). District 10 covers all of Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe, and Summers Counties in southern West Virginia.
Deeds revealed that he chose to run for the Senate because he feels his values represent the people of the 10th District more than Baldwin’s.
“Because of his politics, he is married to the Democratic agenda,” Deeds said of Baldwin. “He has no other option. He is the minority leader, so he has to follow what the Democratic party wants. That makes him a double-minded person.”
Deeds says his values align with the majority, while Baldwin is “effectively ineffective” because he is the minority leader in a Republican-led Senate.
“With me, it’s easy. My values are the Republican Party’s values. That’s the huge difference between me and Steve,” he said. “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.”
When asked to comment on Baldwin’s possible decision to not seek reelection, Deeds said he believes Baldwin knows its his time to go.
“I think that he realizes that because of his party politics, he cannot get anything done. Steve wants to serve, I truly do believe that, but I think he realizes that really for the people of this district and West Virginia, he’s effectively ineffective. He’s served. He’s done what he can, but he can’t do it anymore.”
As a Republican, Deeds believes it will be easier for him to influence those of his same party.
“My values are definitely more conservative than what Senator Baldwin’s are, and I think I am a natural fit. I want to be a resource for those that need help and need assistance within our communities. I just want to be a voice.”
If elected, Deeds believes his background in the church and with the state police will greatly help him serve the people of the 10th district.
“I know it seems like I fell out of the sky with politics,” he said. “But, as a pastor, I have dealt with the individual needs of people and the needs of a body of believers. I get to help in the most difficult times. The state police is the same way. I’m here to help, no matter the situation.”
Deeds says his campaign will be positive, focusing on better education, as well as improving the judiciary system and the state’s criminal code, specifically in regard to predictability in sentencing.
Ultimately, Deeds’ goal is to get American back to where it used to be.
He recalled his childhood, stating that they worked hard and had little but every morning his family would eat breakfast together with the Bible on the table.
“If you honor God, He will bless you. I think it is important to remind people that we are the greatest country in the world. The reason we are is because we, in times past, kept our priorities right and we have to go back to those. We have to honor those that have went before us and celebrate those people. We can’t forget our history even though it’s not perfect.
“My top priority, my whole life’s service, has been to give everything back to the community and the area in which I love. That is what I love to do. That is what I enjoy doing and what God has allowed me to do. I want to continue to do that in the Senate.”