CHARLESTON — Now that a favorite son of the coal belt is governor, does his victory mean good things for southern West Virginia?

Lawmakers who represent the South feel Logan County-born and bred Earl Ray Tomblin is a decided plus for the region, which hasn’t had one of its own living in the governor’s mansion since Hulett C. Smith, of Beckley, won the post back in 1964.

“You look at everything that southern West Virginia has contributed to this state,” Sen. Mike Green, D-Raleigh, said Wednesday.

“And it’s amazing to think that it’s been 50 years.”

Green agreed with former Adjutant Gen. Allen Tackett’s recent assessment that Tomblin is better qualified and has more experience in leading the state than anyone else in the political arena.

“I echo and agree with that sentiment tenfold,” Green said.

“Regardless of geography, we elected the most qualified person to be governor last night. As a side effect of that, southern West Virginia will definitely benefit.”

Delegate Virginia Mahan, D-Summers, said she views Tomblin’s historic victory over Republican rival Bill Maloney as a positive one for the entire state, not exclusively for her region.

Mahan spoke for many election-weary West Virginians, voicing thanks the state is now out of “the campaign mode.”

“Tomblin is genuinely dedicated to moving our state forward,” the veteran legislator said.

“I’ve had the opportunity of dealing with the man at a level that has afforded me a glimpse of his real love of our state and our people. He has a real grasp and understanding of the challenges we face. And yes, I do think he will be able to help southern West Virginia in that he is willing to fight for good-paying jobs that we need to keep our whole state economically viable.”

Mahan said she has always looked upon the governor as “a fair and deliberative leader.”

“This is exactly what we will need going into the next few years,” she added.

Tomblin’s southern appeal certainly wasn’t lost on voters in that region.

In 11 counties there, the former Senate president captured 35,215 votes — almost five times his unofficial victory margin. Across the state, his total was 150,732.

“It’s pretty obvious that the southern counties carried Earl Ray Tomblin in this election,” Sen. Richard Browning, D-Wyoming, said.

“Not that he owes us anything for that, but we now have someone in the governor’s office from southern West Virginia who is acutely aware of our needs and problems, and that should help.”

Browning said Tomblin’s regional drug task force concept illustrates that.

What is needed as well is “better cooperation” with the Division of Highways to get state funding for the Coalfields Expressway, Browning said, noting that no discretionary federal funds have been applied there.

“The only state money we have used is the 20 percent matching for the federal money,” the senator said.

“We did use part of a bond issue for some work at Sophia early on. I think we’ll see a change.”

Browning said he is confident Tomblin will follow through on the need to diversify the economy of this region and that, if realized, will help alleviate the drug epidemic as more opportunities open up. In addition, he said the governor will keep working to resolve unfunded liabilities.

“I am very excited about having someone like Gov. Tomblin to work with,” he said. “He is one of us.”

“It’s been a long time coming to get another governor from southern West Virginia,” Delegate Daniel Hall, D-W.Va., said.

“Gov. Tomblin understands coal, coal miners and coal communities. He will continue to fight for what is best for southern West Virginia. West Virginia is on the rise, and Gov. Tomblin will help keep us going in that direction.”

Less impressed was Delegate Rick Snuffer, R-Raleigh, still seething over the House redistricting plan that ripped apart the 27th District, parceling out land and voters to Fayette, Wyoming and Summers counties.

“When Raleigh County’s five-member House district was gutted (while northern Monongalia County’s was enlarged), did a ‘southern’ acting governor benefit the southern county?” he asked.

“Don’t even think about asking Monroe County how much he benefited them.”

Another freshman lawmaker, Delegate John O’Neal, also R-Raleigh, said he looks forward to working with Tomblin, when possible, to improve West Virgnia.

“If southern counties benefit from a southern governor, then I welcome that,” he said.

“More importantly, I hope that Gov. Tomblin will pursue policies that benefit the entire state. We need less special interest influence of all kinds, and more concern about the general interests of all of our citizens.”

 When he initially entered politics in 2003, Snuffer said, southerners held key positions — Sen. Robert C. Byrd, Rep. Nick Rahall, Tomblin in the state Senate, Truman Chafin, of Mingo County, as majority leader, and Billy Wayne Bailey, of Wyoming County, as majority whip.

And, in the House at that time, Snuffer said, Delegate Bob Kiss, of Raleigh County, was speaker and Rick Staton, of Wyoming, was his majority leader.

“Much more leadership from the South then than there is now, and they didn’t manage to do much to bring good things for southern counties yet,” he added.

“Why should things improve now when there is actually a whole lot less political firepower than there has ever been?”

Delegate Rick Moye, D-Raleigh, said he hopes Tomblin’s influence can make a positive difference in roads and infrastructure in the region, especially now that huge plans are shaping up for the Boy Scouts of America camp in Fayette County.

“We really need to work on our roads and access to that facility, because when they have that Jamboree, it’s going to be a mess if we don’t get the roads fixed up and in shape for them,” Moye said.

One of the first groups to endorse Tomblin, the West Virginia Education Association, hailed his triumph.

“Moving West Virginia forward is a top priority for all citizens of our state, and public education is the key to making that move possible,” WVEA President Dale Lee said.

“We look forward to working with Gov. Tomblin to improve public education and prepare our state for the future.”

Tomblin narrowly avoided being a plurality governor, capturing 50 percent of the vote, and he got some advice from Ray Lambert, chairman of the West Virginia Family Foundation, in winning over the other half who voted for someone else.

“One sure-fire way is to promote a marriage protection amendment, one with teeth,” the Beckley man said.

“Not one which allows counterfeit marriages, as was proffered in the 2010 session. Passing our marriage amendment may very well ensure your victory again in the 2011 election.”

— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com