State Treasurer John Perdue speaks at a debate among Democratic gubernatorial candidates at the University of Charleston on Tuesday. UC President Ed Welch moderated the debate among (from second left) Perdue, Secretary of State Natalie Tennant and acting Senate President Jeff Kessler.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- With less than two weeks until Election Day, three Democrats who hope to be West Virginia's next governor squared off Tuesday evening on issues including the economy and education.
Acting Senate President Jeff Kessler, Secretary of State Natalie Tennant and state Treasurer John Perdue attended a debate for Democratic candidates at the University of Charleston.
House Speaker Rick Thompson and Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin, who is acting as governor, also are running in the May 14 Democratic primary, but did not participate in the event.
The debate, moderated by UC President Ed Welch, was not heated. Instead, Kessler, Perdue and Tennant took the opportunity to knock Tomblin and Thompson for their absence, and questioned their leadership during this year's legislative session.
Welch first asked candidates what they consider the top two or three issues facing the state.
Kessler replied that he would have two priorities: Marcellus Shale development and paying off the state's debt for retiree health benefits, known as other post-employment benefits, or OPEB.
He said he wants to create a "West Virginia Future Fund," which would put 25 percent of severance taxes from Marcellus drilling into a trust fund.
Kessler faulted Tomblin and Thompson for the Legislature's failure to pass bills addressing Marcellus regulations and OPEB during the legislative session.
"They did not lead during the session," he said.
Tennant agreed that those two topics are among the most important, but added that she also wants to fight the state's drug problem.
"We have a prescription drug abuse problem that is affecting all of West Virginia, no matter what walk of life," Tennant said.
Perdue said the state needs a long-term plan for education, infrastructure, the Marcellus Shale and other issues.
"Big Daddy's no longer here," Perdue said, referring to the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd and the federal dollars he secured for West Virginia.
On education, Perdue said West Virginia needs year-round schooling to compete in a global economy. He wants the state to invest more in vocational and technical training, and said the state should not have capped the Promise scholarship.
Tennant said that the state needs fundamental educational reforms on issues including teacher evaluations and student truancy.
Kessler, Tennant and Perdue all said they supported collective bargaining rights for public employees, as long as the workers are not allowed to strike.
State employees and teachers in West Virginia do not have collective bargaining rights. Before the debate, members of the West Virginia Public Workers Union UE Local 170 passed out fliers calling for collective bargaining.
Welch also asked candidates whether they would pledge not to raise taxes.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- With less than two weeks until Election Day, three Democrats who hope to be West Virginia's next governor squared off Tuesday evening on issues including the economy and education.
Acting Senate President Jeff Kessler, Secretary of State Natalie Tennant and state Treasurer John Perdue attended a debate for Democratic candidates at the University of Charleston.
House Speaker Rick Thompson and Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin, who is acting as governor, also are running in the May 14 Democratic primary, but did not participate in the event.
The debate, moderated by UC President Ed Welch, was not heated. Instead, Kessler, Perdue and Tennant took the opportunity to knock Tomblin and Thompson for their absence, and questioned their leadership during this year's legislative session.
Welch first asked candidates what they consider the top two or three issues facing the state.
Kessler replied that he would have two priorities: Marcellus Shale development and paying off the state's debt for retiree health benefits, known as other post-employment benefits, or OPEB.
He said he wants to create a "West Virginia Future Fund," which would put 25 percent of severance taxes from Marcellus drilling into a trust fund.
Kessler faulted Tomblin and Thompson for the Legislature's failure to pass bills addressing Marcellus regulations and OPEB during the legislative session.
"They did not lead during the session," he said.
Tennant agreed that those two topics are among the most important, but added that she also wants to fight the state's drug problem.
"We have a prescription drug abuse problem that is affecting all of West Virginia, no matter what walk of life," Tennant said.
Perdue said the state needs a long-term plan for education, infrastructure, the Marcellus Shale and other issues.
"Big Daddy's no longer here," Perdue said, referring to the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd and the federal dollars he secured for West Virginia.
On education, Perdue said West Virginia needs year-round schooling to compete in a global economy. He wants the state to invest more in vocational and technical training, and said the state should not have capped the Promise scholarship.
Tennant said that the state needs fundamental educational reforms on issues including teacher evaluations and student truancy.
Kessler, Tennant and Perdue all said they supported collective bargaining rights for public employees, as long as the workers are not allowed to strike.
State employees and teachers in West Virginia do not have collective bargaining rights. Before the debate, members of the West Virginia Public Workers Union UE Local 170 passed out fliers calling for collective bargaining.
Welch also asked candidates whether they would pledge not to raise taxes.
Tennant said she would not raise taxes at this time because West Virginians are hurting economically, but added that taxes need to be looked at on a case-by-case basis.
Perdue said a governor should not make such a pledge, because he or she does not know what type of crisis the state might face.
Kessler said he wouldn't make a promise he couldn't keep, and then added that any tax increase should come with better public services.
Tomblin did not go to the debate because he had already committed to attending a Salvation Army dinner in Wood County as part of his duties as acting governor, said campaign spokesman Chris Stadelman.
Thompson was initially scheduled to attend the debate, but backed out on Monday. His campaign manager, Mike Plante, said Thompson didn't go because "Earl Ray Tomblin's not showing up."
Plante said Tomblin recently dodged questions about his family's former business, Southern Amusement, when he was a guest on radio host Hoppy Kercheval's show.
Southern Amusement was one of West Virginia's largest distributors of "gray" video poker machines before limited video lottery was legalized statewide.
In the 1990s, the Tomblins sold Southern Amusement to former state lawmaker Joe C. Ferrell, who pleaded guilty last year to federal racketeering and tax charges.
"They're legitimate questions, and he's skirting forums like this where he could be asked these things," said Plante, pointing to Tomblin's absence at a Democratic candidate forum held last week at West Liberty University.
Stadelman said Tomblin has attended several candidate forums and called Plante's comments "a desperate ploy this late in the election."
UC didn't invite Democratic candidate Arne Moltis, a South Charleston landlord, because polling data indicated he is not a viable candidate, Welch said.
Eight Republicans are facing off in the GOP primary, and former Richwood mayor Bob Henry Baber was selected as a candidate at the Mountain Party's convention last weekend. The general election is scheduled for Oct. 4.
Reach Alison Knezevich at alis...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1240.
