I am family physician who has practiced for nearly 45 years in Raleigh and Fayette Counties in West Virginia. Though mostly retired, I volunteer 2 days per month at Beckley Health Right. Over these years patients would tell me of concerns they had that we in addition to their medical conditions. Some did not have any health insurance. Even those that had insurance, including Medicare, could not always afford all their medicines, but especially Insulin. Our school systems were often struggling to fully staff their classrooms. Some grandparents were raising their grandchildren. As coal mining diminished as the natural gas industry increasingly provided the fuel for electricity generation, miners and others working in coal related jobs, were being laid off. I have always, had a concern about conditions in communities and society at large that created difficulties for people , but especially for working people who did not have college or some higher education. In my “retirement” I felt I had the time and energy to help address these problems through direct action. I felt my perspective could add positive contributions into legislative actions.
Public service and active participation in democracy have always been a cornerstone of my life’s philosophy. My life experiences and nearly 45 years of medical practice, have led me to the belief that we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. It is this belief that led me to becoming a candidate for the West Virginia House of Delegates.
We can provide both industry investments and investments that directly assist everyone. We must invest in our people:
• To help families cope with inflation, our state’s minimum wage should increase to $12.00/hr.
• State programs that assist grandparents and others raising children should be better funded.
• To recruit and retain essential workers, we should create a student loan reduction program of up to $5000 annually for a 5-year commitment to work in-state.
• Action must lower out of pocket costs for essential medications, including joining with neighboring states to negotiate lower prices.
With your support, these will be among my top priorities as Delegate for District 45.