Voters Guide May 8, 2012 West Virginia Primary Election
Democratic Candidates for US House of Representatives, Second District
CANDIDATE Dugald Brown
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE Berkeley
PARTY Democratic
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Dugald is a West Virginia native born in Martinsburg who attended WVU receiving a B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science, minor in Communications, and certificate in Digital Forensics. Currently an IT consultant who must regularly make technology choices based on pro/con criteria rather than political climate.
QUESTION 1. What should be done to control mounting Medicare costs?
ANSWER: The best way to control Medicare costs is to control the overall costs of healthcare – discussing single-payer is a necessity. Also helping would be examining for duplicate processes and consolidate these across the whole program. This approach would allow us to consolidate and reduce Medicare infrastructure.
QUESTION 2. What programs are you willing to cut or eliminate in order to reduce the federal deficit?
ANSWER: I would like to take a program-by-program approach to search for duplicate functionality and consolidate programs across all departments. This approach would allow us to consolidate and reduce government infrastructure. Also during this process, examine programs/subsidies for relevancy to current timeframe and eliminate outdated issues.
CANDIDATE William McCann
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE Jefferson
PARTY Democratic
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: I was raised in Morgan County, and now live in Jefferson County with my wife and daughter. I received degrees in History and Philosophy from WVU. I have a firm understanding of the issues that affect middleclass West Virginians and real solutions to the problems we face. Website: mccannforcongress.com
QUESTION 1. What should be done to control mounting Medicare costs?
ANSWER: To curb Medicare costs, the price of healthcare in general must come down. This may be achieved by promoting and expanding the number of healthcare professionals educated and employed in the U.S. The prices of medical equipment, medicine, and services should be made affordable to all Americans through regulation.
QUESTION 2. What programs are you willing to cut or eliminate in order to reduce the federal deficit?
ANSWER: I propose we create an agency which audits each government entity, to ensure that money is used wisely and not wasted or used fraudulently. The government should also be required to publish a yearly receipt that is available to the public. Wasteful programs would be apparent and should be cut.
CANDIDATE Howard Swint
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE Kanawha
PARTY Democratic
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Swint is recognized for his whistleblower role in the State of West Virginia’s purchase of the Greenbrooke Building through George Hohmann’s 2008 award-winning investigative series in the Charleston Daily Mail that resulted in savings of $3.4 million. Swint holds two Master degrees from WVU. Swint for Congress (Facebook) for more.
QUESTION 1. What should be done to control mounting Medicare costs?
ANSWER: Medicare spends over $50 billion annually on patient healthcare services provided in the last two months of their lives. It would be better to invest in preventive care for children to correspondingly reduce the provision of services in the ER, something that we all pay for, and extend healthier lives.
QUESTION 2. What programs are you willing to cut or eliminate in order to reduce the federal deficit?
ANSWER: Drastically reduce DoD spending for nuclear weapon programs, F-35 jet fighter, V-22 Osprey, “Next Gen” bomber, M1 tank, Littoral Combat Ship, and most SBIRS space weapons; reduce two full Navy wings and two aircraft carrier groups; close bases in more than 25 countries including South Korea, Afghanistan, and Europe.
Republican Candidates for US House of Representatives, Second District
CANDIDATE Shelly Moore Capito
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE Kanawha
PARTY Republican
Candidate did not reply
CANDIDATE Michael “Mike” Davis
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE Randolph
PARTY Republican
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Born in Ohio in 1946, I moved to WV in 1973. I’ve worked since I was ten. I worked my way through college. I have a B.A. in English. I am an artist/entrepreneur (www.shiboriwest.com) and own a campground (www.watergapretreat.com). I have four wonderful children and three grandchildren. www.michaeldavisforcongress.com
QUESTION 1. What should be done to control mounting Medicare costs?
ANSWER: By far, the last six months of health care costs for the elderly are the most expensive. It would save money and greatly improve the quality of life of the patients, their families, and friends, if providers were required to discuss end-of-life options with their elderly patients.
QUESTION 2. What programs are you willing to cut or eliminate in order to reduce the federal deficit?
ANSWER: The U.S. spends almost as much on our military as the rest of the world combined. I would bring the troops home from all over the world and drastically reduce military spending. Also, I would shrink the prison system by decriminalizing drugs. Drug use is a health issue.
CANDIDATE Jonathan Miller
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE Berkeley
PARTY Republican
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Family – Wife, Kimberly Miller, Step-son, Michael Williams. Education – Bachelor of Arts in political science from High Point University in High Point, NC – 2006. Work Experience – Loan Officer, Lincoln Mortgage. Substitute Teacher, Berkeley County Schools, Health Insurance Consultant, Self-employed. Political Experience – Delegate, WV House of Delegates, Elected 2006, 2008, and 2010
QUESTION 1. What should be done to control mounting Medicare costs?
ANSWER: One possible way to do this is to allow people to opt out of Medicare. Opting out gives people choices about Medicare while also “shutting off the valve” of future, long run Medicare costs. Any money lost in the short run should be replaced by cutting wasteful and unnecessary spending.
QUESTION 2. What programs are you willing to cut or eliminate in order to reduce the federal deficit?
ANSWER: We can cut over $500 billion, over 10% of the current budget, by placing caps on spending and eliminating unobligated amounts of money. “Unobligated amounts of money” is extra money just sitting around not being used for anything. Think of this as eliminating the “petty cash” fund for government agencies.
May 2012 Primary US House 2nd District.doc