Click on this for printable version : Voters Guide Primary 2016 US House of Representatives
Voters Guide US House of Representatives May 10, 2016 Primary Election
This candidate information is brought to you by the League of Women Voters of West Virginia as a public service. Candidate responses are printed exactly as received, including spelling, grammar and content. Candidates’ responses were limited to 60 words.
Candidates for US House of Representatives Congressional District 1
Democratic Candidate for US House of Representatives Congressional District 1
Candidate: Mike Manypenny
County of Residence: Taylor
Party: Democrat
Biography
Education: BS Agriculture and Forestry / Environmental Science
Political/civic experience: WV House of Delegates 2008-2015, Founding member Tygart Valley Chamber Commerce, Tygart Valley Child Advocacy Center, Project HOP2E Food Bank, Grafton Farmers Market. Board of Directors Northern WV Centers for Independent Living, an advocacy organization fighting for the rights of the aged and disabled communities.Tygart Lake State Park Foundation, Taylor County Family Resource Network, Taylor
- What measures would you support to address the growing income disparity among Americans? I support bridging the income gap for equal pay between men and women and would sponsor Legislation to do so. I also support increasing the Federal minimum wage to help bring low income earners out of poverty. I would also work to eliminate subsidies/Corporate welfare, and promote programs that help American companies succeed and stay in the US.
- What should Congress do to preserve individual rights while also enhancing national security? We need to preserve our Constitutional rights to privacy and stop Congressional over-reach that steps on those rights in the name of National Security. However in the name of National security, I do support the right of the NSA and FBI to perform surveillance with a Court ordered search warrant like it has been throughout history, when evidence is adequate.
- What steps could Congress take to address our nation’s epidemic of drug abuse?We need to require evidence-based prevention curriculum to be taught in our schools to intercept those students with a high risk of substance abuse. Bringing social-workers into the schools could also help in identifying and stopping substance abuse along with issues like school bullying that tends to lead students who are abused into a life of substance abuse.
Republican Candidate for US House of Representatives Congressional District 1
Candidate: David B. McKinley
County of Residence:
Party: Republican
Candidate did not reply.
Candidates for US House of Representatives Congressional District 2
Democratic Candidates for US House of Representatives Congressional District 2
Candidate: Mark A. Hunt
County of Residence: Kanawha
Party: Democrat
Biography
During 14 years in the legislature, Mark Hunt advocated for working people, small businesses, the middle class and rebuilding infrastructure. Mark played a pivotal role in passing legislation to keep neighborhoods safe, including Meagan’s Law, a required national registry for sex offenders. Hunt also supported laws with enhanced penalties for crimes against the elderly, handicapped and children.
- What measures would you support to address the growing income disparity among Americans?First, raise the minimum wage so all wage earners can support themselves without requiring a second job. This also frees up that second job for another job seeking unemployed individual. Second, alter the tax code so that those with more disposable income pay a proportionate share for infrastructure and domestic projects that all Americans enjoy daily.
- What should Congress do to preserve individual rights while also enhancing national security?Ensuring constitutionally guaranteed privacy and due process while eaves dropping on potential domestic insurgents are concepts that appear to be at direct odds with one another, but they are not mutually exclusive. Enhancing the security of private citizen information and toughening laws for those individuals who leak private personal information would be the best means to ensure privacy.
- What steps could Congress take to address our nation’s epidemic of drug abuse?Congress should implement a federal drug court and drug treatment program. This pilot project in West Virginia funnels non-violent drug abusers through a drug court system where they can obtain addiction treatments, rather than mere jail time. This program has had great success with low acts recidivism.
Candidate: Thomas Payne
County of Residence: Berkeley
Party: Democrat
Biography
Born Keyser, WV: graduate Keyser High; PSC; USMA (West Point); and UD LAW: INF draftee, Army Officer, Inf., Airborne, Jumpmaster, Ranger, SF and JAG: AV (5/5) IP Counsel; Corporate Executive; two reports from Jack Welch; extensive Worldwide Business Experience; extensive corporate and government personal contacts; including USMA Classmate, Senator Jack Reed; experienced high level negotiator: WV heritage; Rev War.
- What measures would you support to address the growing income disparity among Americans?A. Rebuild our 25th in the world infrastructure by adding millions of jobs and accelerating rather than hindering economic growth.
B. Resurrect the depression era defeating concepts to convert the currently idle 47% of our workforce into self-esteem building gainfully employed citizens.
C. Eliminate the maximum income subject to SS tax; tax income and investment gains at the same rate, no ceiling.
- What should Congress do to preserve individual rights while also enhancing national security?Why must National Security interests prevail over individual rights interests? Simply because, if the national security forces of the United States are defeated, American citizens will no longer enjoy the individual rights that we normally enjoy! The survival of the American civilization is more important in the end than the survival of individual rights for each individual United States citizens.
- What steps could Congress take to address our nation’s epidemic of drug abuse?Enact legislation providing resources for:
A. Educating the public and healthcare providers about the problems of prescription drug abuse;
B. Dispensing, storing, and disposing of controlled substance medications;
C. Enhancing and increasing utilization of prescription drug monitoring programs;
D. Identifying “doctor shoppers” and the therapeutic duplication and drug-drug interactions; and
E. Shutting down “pill mills” and stop “doctor shoppers” who contribute to prescription drug
trafficking.
Candidate: Harvey D. Peyton
County of Residence: Putnam
Party: Democrat
Biography
Married to Jennifer Bailey Peyton. Three adult children, five grandchildren. Educated in Kanawha County public schools. BA, WVU 1971. JD, WVU 1974. Nine hours, master’s degree, public administration. Editorial Board, WVU Law Review. Clerkship, Judge Robert Maxwell, Northern District, WV. Private practice in Putnam County restricted to consumer oriented claims for individuals, workers, small businesses. First time candidate. Website: peytonforcongress.org.
- What measures would you support to address the growing income disparity among Americans?Apply principles of bottom up economic growth. Turn dialogue from selfish individualism to beneficial collective action. Eliminate non-productive tax provisions such as carried interest and deduction of stock options. Impose transactional tax to reduce speculation. Support the rights of workers to organize and collectively bargain. Support gender equality and income. Make post-secondary education affordable.
- What should Congress do to preserve individual rights while also enhancing national security?Adopt legislation specifically stating those areas in which Americans have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Establish procedures requiring the intervention of a neutral and detached judicial officer before the United States government is permitted to interfere into those areas where privacy is reasonably expected.
- What steps could Congress take to address our nation’s epidemic of drug abuse?Stimulating the economy so people can enjoy the dignity of work would go a long way to stemming the epidemic. To break the cycle, I support funding programs for treatment and rehabilitation and passing second chance legislation to allow people who are convicted of non-violent drug offenses to have real opportunities to work and rejoin society.
Candidate: Cory Simpson
County of Residence: Kanawha
Party: Democrat
Biography
Simpson is a native of Kanawha and spent the last 12 years on active duty as an Army JAG. His service includes years as a prosecutor and one combat tour each with the 82nd Airborne, and Special Forces. His most recent assignment was at the Pentagon serving as legal advisor to the National Commission on the Future of the Army.
- What measures would you support to address the growing income disparity among Americans?In the short term, we need to raise the minimum wage so people who work a full week are not living below the poverty line. We then need to expand access to educational and technical opportunities so more people get the education and skill-sets needed to secure solid middle class jobs.
- What should Congress do to preserve individual rights while also enhancing national security?From my time in the military, I understand our security challenges. We must ensure our intelligence and security forces have the proper resources and authorities to keep us safe. However, this cannot come at the cost of personal liberties. We are a Constitutional democracy that prioritizes personal liberties and protects our citizens from the government. This must never change.
- What steps could Congress take to address our nation’s epidemic of drug abuse?Saint Augustine said “There is no saint without a past; no sinner without a future.” We save money and lives when we treat drug abusers, instead of locking them up. As a former federal prosecutor I believe we should allow those who struggle with addiction the opportunity for redemption and to clear their records when certain conditions are met.
Candidate: Robin Wilson
County of Residence : Roane
Party: Democrat
Biography
I graduated from Glenville State in 1988 with a degree in Biology and Social Studies Education. I’ve been a teacher and social worker for at-risk youth, done community development projects through the Benedum Foundation, helped start small businesses, grown lots of vegetables, and installed our solar power. I feel blessed living with our good neighbors and beautiful hills. www.renew-wv.org
- What measures would you support to address the growing income disparity among Americans?First, a fair tax policy, where the richest 1% pay a more progressive share of estate, income, social security, and financial transaction tax. Secondly, create an economic revolution where people and planet are prioritized over profit. Strengthening unions, raising the minimum wage, providing universal health care and free education at public universities would reverse the growing wealth gap.
- What should Congress do to preserve individual rights while also enhancing national security?Our Military policies have created terrorism. Eliminating our support for dictators, oil wars, islamophobia, torture, and occupation would remove recruiting tools for ISIS. We should follow the example of Norway which pledged a more open and tolerant society after they lost 76 people in a 2011 bombing. Our strongest weapon is a democratic open society.
- What steps could Congress take to address our nation’s epidemic of drug abuse?We need to return to a war on poverty not drugs. The war on drugs has failed us. Treatment, not jail time, is cost effective and humane. People abuse drugs to kill pain. Congress should increase funding for treatment, jobs, and job training to help end the hopelessness that leads to drug use. We should abolish mandatory minimum sentencing laws.
Republican Candidates for US House of Representatives District 2
Candidate: Alex X. Mooney
County of Residence:
Party: Republican
Candidate did not reply
Candidate: Marc Savitt
County of Residence: Jefferson
Party: Republican
Biography
Jefferson County resident. 30 year Martinsburg business owner. Chaired 2 national small business associations. Frequently called to testify before Congress on small business issues. Kean University ’77. Responsible for repealing a WV consumer sales tax. Extensive experience in Washington as a Main Street business owner, outspoken supporter of the free market, makes me uniquely qualified to represent WV.
- What measures would you support to address the growing income disparity among Americans?Education is the key to correcting income disparity in America. Additionally, government regulations and our current tax system are forcing major corporations to outsource jobs to other countries. Correcting this will bring jobs back to America and provide better paying jobs for our citizens. Lastly, we must aid lower income citizens to wean themselves off government assisted programs.
- What should Congress do to preserve individual rights while also enhancing national security?The greatest threat to national security is both legal and illegal immigration. Our vetting and visa process is a failure. Our government must use existing technology to better protect us. Individual rights can still be preserved by using the Constitution as a guide.
- What steps could Congress take to address our nation’s epidemic of drug abuse?Congress must realize the war on drugs was a failure. Incarcerating anyone other than traffickers and dealers is a waste of time and money. Drug courts and rehabilitation is the answer. Congress should re-direct funding for this effort.
Candidates for US House of Representatives Congressional District 3
Democratic Candidate for US House of Representatives Congressional District 3
Candidate: Matt Detch
County of Residence: Greenbrier
Party: Democrat
Biography
I am a native of Greenbrier County. I possess a bachelor’s and master’s degree in criminology. My master’s thesis was on counter-terrorism in Afghanistan. I served four years with the US Secret Service under Presidents Bush and Obama. I currently live in Lewisburg, where I help run a small business. Please find out more at www.detch2016.com
- What measures would you support to address the growing income disparity among Americans?I will fight to grow the middle class by attracting well-paying jobs to West Virginia. By developing infrastructure programs, we will make West Virginia more accessible to business and provide great jobs to West Virginians. We must ensure that all citizens and corporations are taxed fairly and that our middle and lower class workers are given opportunities to succeed.
- What should Congress do to preserve individual rights while also enhancing national security?
Congress must ensure that our intelligence and law enforcement agencies have the tools to track and surveil potential terrorists threats while communicating efficiently with one another. Congress must also hold these agencies accountable by making sure they act within the parameters of our Constitution and not lose sight of our Bill of Rights when enacting counter-terrorism policies. - What steps could Congress take to address our nation’s epidemic of drug abuse?
Congress can help fight the drug pandemic by enacting legislation with input from medical professionals, law enforcement officials, and recovery experts. We will have to take measures to curb prescription opioid abuse. We must equip law enforcement agencies to capture and convict drug dealers. And we will provide opportunities that prevent addiction and allow addicts to recovery with dignity
Republican Candidate for US House of Representatives District 3
Candidate: Evan Jenkins
County of Residence:
Party: Republican
Candidate did not reply.