The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Today's Front Page

October 13, 2012

Chamber geared up for election forum

By Mannix Porterfield Register-Herald Reporter

What does the business community want to hear from the men and women seeking political office this year in West Virginia?

To answer that, one can either join the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce at its traditional “Meet the Candidates” Tuesday, or tune into radio station WWNR.

There is a dearth of candidates planning to shake hands with business interests and the public.

On the statewide level, incumbent Democrat Earl Ray Tomblin definitely isn’t going to make the event, owing to a prior commitment, and Republican challenger Bill Maloney’s attendance was still in doubt as of Friday.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., is on the program, yet his GOP rival, Morgantown businessman John Raese, sent word he wouldn’t be able to appear if foggy conditions set in, suggesting that he would fly into Beckley.

Candidates for the Board of Public Works are turning out, along with two candidates seeking a seat on the West Virginia Supreme Court — Democrat Tish Chafin and Republican Allen Loughry.

In the 3rd District congressional race, Republican nominee Rick Snuffer is ticketed to attend, but the Democratic incumbent, Nick Rahall, who has occupied the office 36 years, has another commitment and cannot make it, Chamber president and CEO Ellen Taylor said.

On the local level, Taylor said Raleigh County hopefuls likewise will be at the guest table, including the two women sparring off for the open commission seat — Republican Linda Epling and Democrat Sherrie Hunter.

In addition, candidates for legislative seats will attend.

“So many of the people, especially with our redistricting the way it went, may have an uncertainty of what district they’re in,” Taylor said.

“And then they go to the polls and they end up seeing people’s names on the ballot and they don’t know these people. It really is even more of a reason for people to come and shake hands and meet these candidates and hearing something from them. It’s different than it was the last election. Their territory is different. We really need to encourage people to come out and meet those candidates.”

The event officially starts with a 7 a.m. continental breakfast at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center. The event goes live half an hour later, moderated by Jay Quesenberry of Southern Communications.

The public is invited to attend free of charge but needs to make a reservation to help the Chamber plan on how many to serve at the breakfast by calling 304-252-7328, Taylor said.

“We can still take reservations Monday afternoon,” she added.

— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com

Text Only
Today's Front Page
  • powerball Drawing tonight

    With an estimated Powerball Jackpot of $600 million, the largest prize in the game’s history and the world’s second largest lottery prize, many local residents are dreaming of how they would spend their fortune if they were to strike it rich.

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • Details still ‘sketchy’ concerning shutdown of cardiac stent procedures at RGH

     The four-day suspension of heart stent procedures at Raleigh General Hospital due to an “unexpected availability of physician coverage” and without further explanation has left more questions than answers, answers that, according to hospital spokesman and Director of Marketing Kevin McGraw, will not be available until at least Monday.

    May 18, 2013

  • ticket 2013 Click-it Or Ticket campaign starts today

    Beckley Police Lt. Paul Blume wants to let motorists know that if they get pulled over in the Beckley area today, they’re getting a ticket.

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • grad An Eye Toward the Future

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • RGH suspends heart stent procedures until Monday

     Officials at Raleigh General Hospital issued a statement late Thursday afternoon indicating that “due to the unexpected unavailability of physician coverage,” cardiac stent procedures won’t be available to area residents at the Beckley facility until Monday, May 20.
     No other details were provided by hospital officials.
     Interventional cardiac care procedures were launched at RGH in November 2009 to serve a growing need for angioplasty lab services in Southern West Virginia.
     

    May 16, 2013

  • Thompson to depart house speaker post

    Rick Thompson is abandoning his post as speaker of the House of Delegates to accept a cabinet-level job in the Tomblin administration as head of the Department of Veterans Assistance.
    Thompson’s departure is likely to trigger a scramble to succeed him as speaker, with a number of Democrats expected to jockey for the post.

    May 16, 2013

  • No Powerball winner; jackpot soars to $475 million

    The Powerball jackpot has climbed to $475 million after no tickets matched the winning numbers in the latest drawing.

    May 16, 2013

  • W.Va. House speaker to take Cabinet post

    Sources tell The Associated Press that House Speaker Richard Thompson is leaving the Legislature to join Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s Cabinet.

    May 16, 2013

  • At least 6 confirmed dead in Texas tornadoes

    A rash of tornados slammed into several small communities in North Texas overnight, leaving at least six people dead, dozens more injured and hundreds homeless. The violent spring storm scattered bodies, flattened homes, threw trailers onto cars.

    May 16, 2013

  • 051613 1A1 News FOP 1.jpg THIN BLUE LINE — National Peace Officers Memorial Day observed

    Police and community members took time Wednesday to pause and memorialize.
    “These are men and women who had a calling for peace in a world full of darkness, those who chose to represent a thin blue line that runs through that darkness,” Lt. R.S. Prince of the Oak Hill Police Department, who served as master of ceremonies, told the gathered crowd.

    May 16, 2013 2 Photos