The Charleston Daily Mail profiles newly elected West Virginia Republican Party Chairman Mike Stuart (@MikeStuartWV on Twitter)…

New state Republican Party Chairman Mike Stuart wants to turn the longtime minority party into the majority at the state Capitol by luring conservative Democrats and recruiting increasingly competitive GOP candidates.

He said the state Democrat Party’s infrastructure isn’t working as it should or for whom it should. Combine that with the argument that many state Democrats are DINOs – Democrats In Name Only – and Stuart thinks he may be able convince some elected officials to switch parties.

“What’s that party machine do for working folks?” he said. “We need conservative Democrats to finally make the right decision – not the easy decision how to get elected.”

Stuart jokes that he’ll create a 12-step program for Democrats, but his real pitch to conservative members of the party is simple: “Your leadership doesn’t respect you like I’m going to respect you.”

Stuart, who was elected West Virginia party chairman July 24, was an unsuccessful candidate for the 30th District House of Delegates seat in 2006. He also is a former Kanawha County Republican Party chairman.

He said West Virginia voters already have fired one top Democrat – Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-W.Va. – and he thinks they are ready to get rid of more, perhaps including Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va.
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Read the entire profile by clicking here.

Thanks to Charleston Daily Mail Capitol Reporter Ry Rivard (@ryrivard on Twitter) for the great profile piece.

Which would you prefer, a candidate supported by a terrorist group or by Sarah Palin?
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According to the Charleston Daily Mail, U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller will host a fundraiser for Senate Majority Leader at his home in Charleston on Friday.
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From the Charleston Daily Mail…

Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., is feeling pressure to run for the U.S. Senate, but has yet to make a decision.

“I don’t know which direction I’m going to go, I’m sorting through that right now,” Capito said.

But Capito said she is not scared of losing a Senate election, which, given the likely timing of the race, would force her to give up her House seat. But she is worried about the state losing the momentum that she says she brings.

Read the full story here.

The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce is urging its members to contact Senator Byrd’s office to express opposition to an amendment the Senator inserted into the U.S. Senate’s final health care reform bill.
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Charleston Daily Mail reports…

“Dan Greear, the Republican lawyer who nearly unseated Attorney General Darrell McGraw, is eyeing the seat soon to be vacated by Kanawha County Circuit Court Judge Irene Berger.”

Charleston Daily Mail – Link.

COMMENTARY

Wednesday September 2, 2009

Ben Adams: Enabling charter schools is important to W.Va.

I am a student with recent, relevant experience West Virginia public schools. Over the past 13 years I have spent thousands of hours in classrooms, courtesy of the taxpayers of our state.

I have experienced very good teachers, and have been made to endure instructors who were less than adequate. I have attended schools considered “successful” and those categorized as “failing.”
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Earlier this week, Kanawha County Senator Erik Wells announced that he will reintroduce legislation during the 2010 regular legislative session to allow charter schools in West Virginia. This is an issue that should be addressed. As the article states, West Virginia is one of ten states in the United States that does not allow charter schools.

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The Friends of America Rally that is taking place on Monday, September 7th – Labor Day – in the heart of the coal country is going to be a huge success.

In the few short weeks since it was announced over 25,000 people have requested FREE tickets to the event. I have been told that the number has grown significantly and an announcement will be forthcoming on the new number of requested tickets.
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The AP is reporting…

“A West Virginia legislator is sticking with his pledge to picket the West Virginia Turnpike when its tolls increase this weekend.
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The Charleston Daily Mail is reporting that Sedgewick Claims Management Services, a company that is owed more than a $1 million by the State of West Virginia, is demanding to be paid money that is due to them.

However, West Virginia Auditor Glen Gainer says the state doesn’t owe the company anything. The Auditor’s office was the target of a scam in which it transferred over $2 million to bogus accounts.
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Carrie Webster

Last Wednesday, President Obama nominated Kanawha County Circuit Judge Irene Berger to replace U.S. District Judge David Faber in West Virginia’s Southern District.

Berger must now be confirmed by the United States Senate. Most folks in the legal community believe she will be confirmed with very little opposition.

Once Berger is confirmed and seated on the federal bench the seat she currently occupies in Kanawha County on West Virginia’s Thirteenth Judicial Circuit will become vacant.
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Michelle Saxton, Capitol reporter at the Charleston Daily Mail,  has a story on who is eyeing the race for the Governor’s mansion in 2012. More thought to come on this later today. Here.

I could not believe what I was reading. Yesterday, the Charleston Daily Mail reported that one state employee has been involved in as many as three different automobile accidents while driving a state vehicle and has cost the State of West Virginia around $462,000. Read the rest of this entry »