Published: May 11, 2008 12:50 am         

Voters looking for honesty, integrity

Mineral wants fresh ideas and up-front candidates

As voters go to the polls in West Virginia on Tuesday, they go with many different ideas of whom they’d like to see advance to the general election in November.

When pressed to explain what they’re looking for in a good candidate, however, many of them come up with the same two words — honesty and integrity.

They also want someone who is going to be more interested in serving the people rather than their own personal agendas.

“I look to whoever I think is honest and truthful,” Limestone Road resident Connie Sutton said, adding that she also wants her candidate to be someone who looks to the future rather than what has happened in the past.

“I want a candidate who doesn’t spend their time complaining about the incumbents and the current situation,” she said.

“I’m not impressed with someone who keeps saying, ‘This is what’s wrong,’ I’m interested in a person who is more positive than negative.”

Quail Valley resident and Keyser businessman Greg Harr wants “someone who will speak the truth.”

“Honesty is the No. 1 thing, followed by integrity. We need an upfront person who will tell you the truth,” he said.

“I’m tired of hearing the same old rhetoric.”

Keyser resident Paul Rogers also wants candidates who are more forward-thinking and less self-absorbed.

He remembers the days when downtown Keyser was a vibrant hub of the community, but fears that those days are gone for good.

“I don’t really think it matters who gets elected; the ball has been going downhill and gathering momentum for quite some time,” he said.

“This town is a skeleton and it has an effect on how we see ourselves.”

A member of the Mineral County Development Authority, Sutton said she votes for whomever she thinks will do the best job for the county.

“I’ve voted a split ticket all my life,” she said. “When it comes to the county election, party affiliation doesn’t matter to me.”

She hopes whomever is elected will display some of the same attitude by putting differences aside for the betterment of the county.

“In the sheriff’s race in particular, I’m looking for someone who will play nicely with the county commission,” she said. “And we need someone who will pay as much attention to the duties of the treasurer and running the tax office as they do law enforcement.”

She doesn’t necessarily feel an incumbent would have an advantage over a newcomer, especially if the incumbent has not necessary been well-liked.

Harr doesn’t have much respect for any of the incumbents, saying many of them tell you one thing and then, when they get into office, their attitudes change.

“Once they get into office, they don’t care about the little man,” he said.

One of the issues he feels that especially needs addressed is the retention of business.

“Let’s face it, big industry is going to come through this town 70 mph and keep right on going,” he said.

“What (the elected officials) need to do is help the businesses that are already here stay afloat.”

He cites Keyser’s business and occupation tax as one of the biggest hindrances to keeping businesses within the city limits.

According to Rogers, a large part of the problem with the business climate is “the economically challenged people behind the politicians,” as well as the state of denial in which the elected officials reside.

The four candidates running for one open seat on the county commission are Democrat Donald Ashby and Republicans Annette Favara, Janice LaRue and Roger Leatherman.

Sheriff candidates include Democrats Pat Amoroso, Craig Fraley, Ringo Nelson and Frank Smith. Paul Sabin is the sole Republican on the ballot.

Contact Liz Beavers at lizbeavers@yahoo.com.