Gregory’s Web for May 20, 2017
by Ron Gregory
The announcement by Third District Republican Congressman Evan Jenkins that he will run for U.S. Senate next year touched off a wave of announcements and speculation. Assuming Jenkins actually files for the senate, that would mean an “open” seat in a historically Democrat district. Jenkins says he is running for the seat occupied by Democrat U.S. Senator Joe Manchin.
The congressional district includes Huntington, Beckley and Bluefield. A look at the population and voter registration figures in the district shows that Cabell County should dominate it politically. Jenkins is a Democrat-turned-Republican who ousted longtime Democrat Congressman Nick Joe Rahall in 2014. Jenkins clearly benefitted from his Cabell address then. Rahall is from Beckley, the second-largest city in the district. In Bluefield, former Senate President Bill Cole gave Jenkins a boost, which helped him in Mercer County.
Current House of Delegates member Rupie Phillips and former Delegate Joshua Nelson almost immediately announced their interest in running in the Third next year. Both will campaign as Republicans from the southern coalfield counties. Other names have surfaced as well. State Republican Chair Conrad Lucas is said to be close to announcing as is Democrat Talley Sergent. Some Logan Countians are urging former county commissioner and state Senator Art Kirkendoll to enter the field. Former legislator Rick Snuffer, who has run before, is also said to be weighing the race as a Republican.
Sergent, who until recently claimed Charleston in the Second District as her home, is best known as the former state director of the Hillary Clinton campaign in West Virginia. It is highly doubtful that the Clinton connection will benefit her much in districts where less than 30 percent of voters chose Clinton for president last year. Some who know Sergent said she began speculation by planning to run for Congress in the second district, then reconsidered when Jenkins announced his departure. By press time, Sergent had not returned messages left on her cell phone and private text. At least one top state Democrat official said she is still running in the second district. Perhaps she has not yet decided, since that was the question left in her messages.
Former Cabell Democrat Delegate Kevin Craig would not deny interest in the seat when contacted this week. Craig, a pro-business legislator, would be formidable if he decides to run. Medical marijuana champion State Senator Richard Ojeda says he is running as a Democrat as well as is Lincoln lawyer Ben White.
The “star” candidate, in my opinion, would be Huntington Mayor Steve Williams. Coming off his significant re-election win and having captured first place in the America’s Best Communities competition, Williams would clearly be the Democrat favorite. He’s a Marshall grad with tons of experience in state and local government. Unfortunately, Williams received a master’s degree from the University of Southern Pennsylvania at Morgantown School (US-PMS) but he was young and that shouldn’t be held against him.
He clearly has Huntington on the move and its vibrancy is unequaled by other cities in the state and area. In a comment that is indicative of Williams’ philosophy, he told me has “come to learn it’s not really important to BE something; it’s much more important to DO something.” He said he will consider whether he can be of more service to the citizens as a congressman or mayor.
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It was a bit of a political “jab” when the Jefferson Forum included a congratulations to Delegate Paul Espinosa “on now being a full time delegate of the 67th House District” in their newsletter. Rumors have circulated that Espinosa and his former employer, Frontier Communications, did not exactly have a friendly parting in December 2016.
Espinosa, a Republican, actually represents the 66th which is centered in Charles Town, home of the famous Charles Town Races.
Incidentally, his son, Paul Espinosa Jr., became the new announcer at the track in 2016. After covering both news and sports for television station WHAG, in Hagerstown, Maryland, Espinosa came “home” to call the races at the historic track. The younger Espinosa called the job a “dream come true.” He told the press he had been attending events at the track since he was 11 years old. Paul Sr., the delegate, was director of marketing and public relations at the track at one time.
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Your comments, completely made up gossip and consideration of running for congress in ANY district are always welcome.
Ron Gregory is a former Glenville mayor, Kanawha County administrator and assistant mayor of Charleston who has covered state politics for more than 40 years. Contact him at 304-533-5185 or email ronjgregory@gmail.com