Morrisey Continues Statewide Travels Before Election

PATRICK MORRISEY

WHEELING – West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey – also the Republican nominee for governor – stopped in Wheeling and Ohio County on Thursday, and he took the time to count just how many counties he has visited since the primary election.

He determined that by the end of this coming weekend, he will have traveled to 45 of West Virginia’s 55 counties.

Among Northern Panhandle counties, Morrisey reported he had been to four – Hancock, Brooke, Ohio and Marshall – with a stop in Wetzel County planned for today. Visiting Tyler County will come in the next couple of weeks, according to Morrisey.

“What I mean by this is I’m not just driving through, but when I’m there I’m getting the chance to actually sit down and meet with people,” he said.

“I was in all the counties during the primary election, and in every election I’ve been to every county. That’s been important for me. We’re going to get there. I think by Oct. 20 we will have been in every single county.”

Morrisey — who faces Huntington Mayor and Democratic candidate Steve Williams in the general election — was first elected West Virginia’s attorney general in 2012. He is a native of New Jersey who was residing in Harpers Ferry at the time of his election.

What he has learned by traveling the state is that every county is different, and that there are regional differences.

“I’ve always believed that you go and you pay respect to every single county and the people that are there, and you listen,” Morrisey said. “That is why I do this.

“I know there are people who want to anoint you the winner in a race like this, but I reject that strongly. You have to be humble and you run hard to the line. And that’s what we’re doing. We’re going to every single county across West Virginia. We’re listening to people. And we’re going to continue to take the same approach as governor.”

Morrisey noted there is “nothing like being in a place and meeting the people who are doing the work” and observing them.

“It makes all the difference in the world. If you don’t do that, you have a much less academic view,” he said.

Morrisey noted that during the 2016 election, he visited all the counties in southern West Virginia that were affected by massive flooding.

Also, when flooding affected the Northern Panhandle last April, Morrisey visited the region to view the damage.

He reported than in his nearly 12 years as attorney general, he has hosted over 300 public meetings and at least 125 town hall meetings.

“We’ve had a lot of them because I want to make sure people have a chance to ask us questions, and that we are transparent,” Morrisey explained. “In our first year as attorney general, we went out and had town halls in every county and we’re going to do that as governor. It is critical to go to every county and listen.”

Those people Morrisey is talking to on the road tell him there are problems with the state’s foster care system, and that West Virginia’s drug epidemic often affects them personally.

“We know that the drug problem remains a big challenge,” Morrisey said. “I’m excited to work with President Trump. I think he is going to win again, and we’re going to be able to do a lot more work to tackle the fentanyl mess.

“And I look forward to working with him to promote West Virginia’s energy opportunities. I know the Northern Panhandle will have a lot to say about that given the richness of this region in energy resources.”

Morrisey also has noticed a positive feeling among the people during his travels.

“I think people are excited and happy about what has been done in the past,” Morrisey said. “They appreciate Gov. (Jim) Justice. But I also think they are looking forward to letting the next guy do some good things.”