Published: September 03, 2008 11:20 pm         

Manchin tours eastern Greenbrier County

LEWISBURG — Gov. Joe Manchin toured eastern Greenbrier County Wednesday, stopping for chats with store merchants and local officials and visiting local businesses.

“This is really how to understand the concerns of the people of West Virginia, by getting out and talking to them,” Manchin said. “We try very hard to monitor what people’s needs are, but this is the only thing that makes it real. When you are out visiting the people, the rubber hits the road.”

Manchin’s whirlwind tour of eastern Greenbrier County began in White Sulphur Springs at 8:30 a.m. and ended in Ronceverte after his scheduled 3 p.m. visit there with local officials and store merchants. In between, he stopped at White Sulphur Springs Elementary School, Greenbrier Valley Airport, Lewisburg City Hall, Greenbrier Valley Theatre, Greenbrier Valley Medical Center and Greenbrier Physicians.

During a luncheon in Lewisburg, Manchin shared with city employees and store merchants some of his philosophy for the future of the state. Manchin will be taking on Republican Russ Weeks in the fall election, but the governor did not carry or hand out any campaign material. In fact, Manchin never mentioned the election or his opponent once.

“The biggest challenge is for people to take back their ownership of this state. Over the years, the state has developed an entitlement mentality,” Manchin said. “And I think that comes from so many absentee landowners that made us feel like we never owned anything. Like we always rented.”

Manchin called repairing the state’s infrastructure and delivering “the highest broadband” available as two of his top priorities. Another issue on his list is the state’s liquor and video lottery licenses. Laws regulating both areas are up for review next year by the Legislature and his office will be monitoring both issues closely, he said.

“I want to open an honest dialogue with everyone and let’s take a serious look,” Manchin said. “Should the liquor stores be in a free-standing store? I don’t know. I want to hear from the public on the issue.”

Manchin said the state’s fiscal vitality is much better than previous years, and planning in these areas, and others, can now happen. Manchin also said the consumer sales tax is on his radar.

“Many decisions in the past were based on getting immediate revenue that was needed,” he said. “If we want to change something now ... believe me, we can afford it.”

-----

As Manchin worked his way through the county, many well-wishers and fans stopped to say hello and shake hands. While walking in downtown Lewisburg, motorists passing by blew their horns.

“Now that’s a good sign,” Delegate Tom Campbell, D-Greenbrier said during his walk with Manchin.

But not everyone was completely enamored with the governor. During one stop, Manchin walked over and shook hands with a man who coolly replied: “Just keep my taxes low, governor.”

There was also a first, of sorts, for Manchin during his visit to the pre-natal unit at Greenbrier Physicians.

Staff there showed Manchin broadband technology that allows an ultrasound to be performed on a patient in rural Lewisburg and have it viewed by expert Charleston doctors in real-time. Charleston doctors said higher speed broadband technology is needed to realize the full potential of this technology.

Manchin said the new technology — which costs about $20,000 per unit — “should be in every rural hospital in the state.” A California visit has been scheduled for next week, he said, to explore bringing that type of technology to the state.

But it was the request by pregnant patient Jessie Van Burean that Manchin called “a first.” Van Burean asked the governor to sign the photo of her ultrasound.

“I’ve never autographed an ultrasound before,” Manchin quipped.

He signed it: “To a future voter.”

— E-mail: cgiggenbach@register-herald.com