I lost the May 8th election. The two candidates that won are now the Democratic nominees that I will gladly vote for in November. I wanted to write this blog about one of the nominees that ran the kind of progressive campaign that I can support whole heatedly, Cindy Lavender-Bowe.
Cindy is a small business owner, former teacher and a mother. She comes from a family of coal miners, electricians and nurses. She has her Masters degree in leadership studies from Marshall University. She was endorsed by the Working families party, the WV School Service Personnel Association Political Action Committee, the WVEA, the AFL-CIO and the UMWA.
Most of that you can find on her web page, www.cindyforwv.com. Now, I want to tell you about the Cindy that I got to know on the campaign trail. If elected, Cindy will be the kind of delegate that will stand up for the working class of West Virginia. I know, because she has already done it. She stood with teachers on the picket line here in Greenbrier county, WV. She was speaking out for better pay and insurance for our teachers and state employees. West Virginia has a teacher shortage of over 700, because teachers and state employees often find better paying jobs working out of state. The hard won pay increase grudgingly approved by the state legislature is a step in the right direction to correcting the shortages. If elected, Cindy will continue the fight to help the working class of West Virginia.
Cindy will be the kind of leader that will make the hard choices, not because they are popular, but because that's what leaders do. I know, because she has already proven she will make the hard choice of speaking truth to power. She received an F rating from the NRA because she had the courage to tell the truth. There is room for the second amendment and common sense interventions meant to save lives.
Cindy will be the kind of stateswoman that can bring people together to achieve a common goal. I know, because I've seen it. She held a get out the vote rally the day before and the day of the primary election, and invited all of the Democratic candidates. She wanted us all to bring as much enthusiasm that we could muster for the election. She knows that when more people participate in elections, the better the outcome for the citizens of our state. It worked too. The Greenbrier county levy passed with flying colors. Maybe her "Get out the vote rally" helped. She also held an election night meeting of the Democratic candidates, because she knew that no matter who won, we had to stick together.
Cindy will be the kind of Delegate who will care about families and children. I know, because she was a big supporter and promoter of the Greenbrier county school levy. Had the school levy not passed, teachers would have lost jobs, children would have lost out on art and music programs, school security would have suffered, etc. etc.
Cindy will be the kind of Delegate that actually cares about combating the Opioid crisis. I know, because I've heard her speak on this subject. She attended and spoke at the pro Marijuana rally because Cindy knows that West Virginia needs to change in order to overcome the opioid crisis. I heard her speak about her extended family's struggle with drug addiction. Its not just a problem that she reads about in the paper. She understands what other families are going through. Cindy will act to save lives by creating and supporting legislation to combat the opioid crisis.
Cindy will be the kind of Delegate that will speak up for the downtrodden. I know, because she has already done so. Cindy has spoken about the need to shift the tax burden from working class West Virginians to the corporations and the wealthy. Cindy joined the march through the streets of Lewisburg on Martin Luther King day in celebration of the reverend and his life's mission to promote equality and combat poverty. Doctor Martin Luther King's message is just as important today as ever. I'm glad we have a Democratic nominee who supports that message.
On April 18th, there was a candidates forum for all candidates from both parties in the Delegate race. This is the web address to see all the questions and answers: https://mountainmessenger.com/gvt-hosts-second-meet-the-candidates-forum-senate-and-house-of-delegates-attend/
I will share with you here though, the questions and Cindy's answers.
“What qualifications do you have that will enable you to successfully represent your constituents if elected?”
Bowe (House-D): “As a former middle school teacher, and I have a teenager at home, I think I’m pretty equipped at wrangling knuckleheads. Seriously, I’m a hard worker, I’m passionate, I am passionate about West Virginia and the people. The only reason that I’m running is to be a voice for those people, the people that no one else is fighting for. Not the millionaires, not the out-of-state corporations, not special interests. I will not be beholden to anyone but you.”
“What new sources of revenue would you consider to be the best way to make West Virginia more solvent?”
Bowe (House-D): “I believe we need to start with shifting the burden from the working families to the corporations. That means increasing severance taxes on extraction industries, and increasing the corporate tax which was decreased several years ago. It did not bring the jobs that we were promised it would bring… We are an agricultural area. Elsewhere in the state we have the side effect of mountaintop removals, and that’s the perfect place to grow cannabis and hemp. I think that could be a brand new source of revenue for our state.”
“What long term funding sources for PEIA would you support?”
Bowe (House-D): “I’d like to see what the PEIA task force comes up with and react accordingly, but I want to make this clear, I think that any long term solution to funding PEIA has to be at the benefit of the public employees and not the insurance industries. For too long West Virginia legislators have been in the pockets of big business, and we’ve got to change that… We can increase some of these taxes that aren’t going to drive business away.”
“Can you explain why you identify with the political party you have affiliated yourself with? Please no mention of the opposing party in your answer."
Bowe (House-D): “I identify with the democratic party because to me, the democratic party has always been the party that fights for working families. That is at the core of who I am. The democratic party is also the party, I believe, that works for progress… It’s about the future and thinking forward.”
“What is your feeling and position on imminent domain and the pipeline going through our districts?”
Bowe: (House-D): “Imminent domain is necessary… however, in this particular instance with the MVP pipeline I don’t believe it should have been applied here.”
“In view of the economic state of West Virginia, plus the opioid addiction problem and the lack of organic and holistic healing medicines, what is your position on the way the House of Delegates handled Bill 4345, the medical marijuana bill? Would you try to make a reform pro or con?"
Each candidate explained their support of the bill, except for Hill, who is against the smoking aspect of the medicinal marijuana but not other forms, and Utterback, who said he didn’t have enough information to make a decision.
Again, you can find more answers from each of the candidates at the following web address, where I got the above information: https://mountainmessenger.com/gvt-hosts-second-meet-the-candidates-forum-senate-and-house-of-delegates-attend/
Its a rare issue where I find myself disagreeing with Cindy. Thats why I whole heartedly support Cindy Lavender-Bowe for Delegate in West Virginia's 42nd district, and look forward to volunteering for her campaign. If you would like to donate to Cindy's campaign, or volunteer, follow the web address here: https://cindyforwv.nationbuilder.com/donate
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