"I come from a proud family that has been involved in public service for as long as I can remember. I want to work for YOU. I am ready to work for YOU. Together we need to create more living wage jobs, improve and support our public schools, and make a work-centered economic development strategy a top priority. With nearly a decade of government experience, I know what it takes to find solutions, navigate complicated governmental agencies, and work together to get things done."
LIST OF ISSUES
STRONG and SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC AGENDA
A strong and sustainable economic agenda for West Virginia must focus on real relief for working families while protecting the public services that communities rely on every day. Broad, sweeping income tax cuts may sound appealing on the surface, but in practice they often deliver the greatest benefit to higher-income households while reducing the state’s ability to fund essential priorities like education, infrastructure, and healthcare. Instead, a more effective approach is a “kitchen table” strategy that responds directly to the cost-of-living pressures families are facing right now—housing affordability, childcare access, and rising healthcare costs.
Affordable childcare, in particular, should be treated as core economic infrastructure rather than an optional service. When childcare costs consume a disproportionate share of a family’s income, it limits workforce participation, strains employers, and holds back local economic growth. Expanding access to affordable, high-quality childcare allows parents to work, supports small businesses in hiring and retaining employees, and strengthens the overall labor force across the state.
At the same time, targeted tax relief offers a more responsible and equitable way to provide immediate support without undermining long-term fiscal stability. Measures such as tax credits that help first-time homebuyers with interest costs or other targeted incentives can make homeownership more attainable for working families while preserving critical state revenue. This approach ensures that essential public systems, including programs like the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA), remain fully funded and stable.
Ultimately, the goal is to build an economy that works for everyone—not just those at the top of the income scale. By focusing on targeted relief, strengthening childcare access, and protecting core public services, West Virginia can create a more balanced, sustainable path forward that supports working families and strengthens communities statewide.
SUPPORT for PUBLIC EDUCATION
Not only is education the key to attracting potential businesses, it is one of the largest employers in our state. For this reason alone, education must be considered a critical and fundamental area in need of sustained improvement and adequate, stable funding in West Virginia. A long-term investment strategy is essential—one that strengthens teacher recruitment and retention through competitive salaries, stronger benefits, and predictable funding that allows districts to plan responsibly and effectively.
The 2026 RAND Corporation report, commissioned for $114,000 by the West Virginia House of Delegates, provides a detailed review of the state’s public school funding formula and the Hope Scholarship voucher program. The report recommends capping the voucher program based on income eligibility and increasing direct aid to rural school districts to better align funding with student need.
A key finding warns that expanding the Hope Scholarship universally would inefficiently subsidize private tuition for families who would have chosen private schooling regardless of public support. Instead, RAND recommends income-based eligibility to ensure resources are targeted to students who need them most. The report also highlights that West Virginia ranks 5th nationally in special education enrollment and 8th in poverty, yet remains near the bottom in special education funding, recommending adjustments to the state aid formula to better support districts serving higher-need populations.
Additionally, the report notes significant financial strain on county school systems driven by declining enrollment tied to overall population loss. Despite these findings, the West Virginia Legislature did not immediately implement major funding formula changes or cap the Hope Scholarship in the most recent session, citing budget constraints and concerns about impacts on wealthier counties.
In line with these findings, it is imperative that we ensure our children are served by qualified and certified educators. This requires continued investment in competitive compensation and benefits that attract well-prepared candidates with strong academic backgrounds and rigorous training. Collaboration with higher education to recruit future teachers is essential, along with well-funded, long-term induction and mentoring programs that help new educators succeed and remain in the profession.
WORK-CENTERED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
A work-centered economic development strategy approach recognizes a simple but powerful reality: businesses don’t just follow tax incentives—they follow people. A healthy, skilled, and stable workforce is one of the strongest economic development tools a state can have. By focusing on closing the wage gap through steady, predictable minimum wage adjustments and strong equal pay protections, this strategy ensures that work in West Virginia actually pays enough to support a family. In a state that has long struggled with low wages and outmigration, raising the floor on pay is not just an economic issue—it is about keeping talent here, strengthening communities, and making sure local employers can compete for workers.
At the same time, workforce participation depends on more than job availability; it depends on whether people are healthy enough and supported enough to stay on the job. Protecting funding for rural healthcare, strengthening public infrastructure, and supporting policies like paid sick leave directly contribute to a more reliable labor force. When workers can access care, recover from illness without financial penalty, and rely on basic services in their communities, they are more consistently able to participate in the economy. These investments are not just social policy—they are workforce strategy, helping ensure West Virginians can stay healthy, stay employed, and build long-term stability in the communities they call home.