Gubernatorial Candidates Debate at Hedgesville High School
Though protestors of the proposed ‘high-voltage power line’ for the area lined the streets leading up to Hedgesville High School last night, preceding the 2nd of 4 gubernatorial debates in the state, the PATH issue didn’t dominate the discussion going on inside.
Rather, the state’s three gubernatorial candidates – Democrat Governor Joe Manchin, Republican Russ Weeks and Mountain Party Candidate Jesse Johnson – talked in greater depth about issues ranging from area road infrastructure to torte reform.One issue that candidates seemed to differ on was locality pay for teachers … to address the current exodus of educators who are leaving the state for higher paying positions. Governor Manchin said he has been working to get teacher bonuses and higher pay for specific areas in the state approved in the legislature, but all of his bills so far have been defeated.
Johnson said if he were governor, he would adopt an entirely new approach to learning that involved a new approach to learning that focused on free, life long education.
Weeks said he would target all teachers in counties that border other states by offering them a package of incentives they could not refuse.The candidate forums sponsored by WEPM and the Journal will continue next week on Wednesday, when candidates for the 57th state delegate district and the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals will debate at Shepherd University.(photos by Robert Lyles)
