Published: April 17, 2008 10:18 am         

Leatherman candidate for county commission

Editor's note: Roger Leatherman submitted this announcement for his candidacy.

ANTIOCH, W.Va. - Antioch resident Roger Leatherman has announced his candidacy for Mineral County Commissioner, vowing to use his long experience and skills as a consensus builder to fix county government, boost the local economy by putting an end to turning away businesses, and ensure that every county resident pays no more than their fair share of taxes.

Mr. Leatherman is a 1969 graduate of Keyser High School. He attended the Mineral County Vocational Center, Potomac State College, Bridgewater College of Harrisonburg, Va., and became an ordained minister through studies of the Bethany Seminary, which is recognized by the Church of the Brethren.

Roger, a lifelong resident of Mineral County, understands what it is like to survive in a county that has a poor economy. Roger lost his job at Penn Ventilator when it closed in 1995 after 25 years, but he stayed in the community and raised his family. His family consists of his wife, Irene, two sons, one daughter and six granddaughters. Overcoming obstacles, he now is a pastor at Knobley Church of the Brethren and drives a county school bus.

Roger believes in providing tax relief for Mineral County residents. He stated, "As the county property values rise, so do tax assessments. Other counties roll back the levy rate so as not to put additional burden on the taxpayer; Mineral County has not. I will work to roll back levy rates, putting money back in the pockets of Mineral County residents, because they know how to spend their money better than the government."

The Fort Ashby Industrial Park has sat vacant for more than 16 years, a shell building sits empty rusting from the inside, each election year we hear of prospects that evaporate after the election, and each year the only job in the park is cutting the grass. Roger understands that with 42 percent of the county's work force traveling outside the county every day, many to Winchester, the Mineral County Development Authority cannot be picky about the companies that wish to locate in our industrial parks.

In the Oct. 5, 2006, edition of the Cumberland Times-News, MCDA head Dwight Lambert is quoted as saying, "We could have gotten rid of that park last spring (sic) however, I interceded (sic). We have had numerous prospects, but we're not going to let every Tom, Dick and Harry put something in there." If elected, Roger pledges to remove those MCDA members that are using their positions to stop economic growth in the county and replace them with pro-business, pro-commerce, pro-growth members.

Cooperation and honesty within government will be an important goal for which Roger will strive. He states, "County government cannot continue to hide things from the people of this county. They have a right to a full accounting of expenditures of the taxpayers' money and have public meetings that do not violate the Sunshine laws."

By concentrating on property tax relief through reduced levy rates, economic growth through cleaning house at the MCDA, and by running an honest and open government, Roger believes he is the best candidate for the Mineral County Commission.