PAY INCREASE- I would NOT have voted for the pay increase that legislatures decided to award themselves. I think that it was untimely with all the other issues facing West Virginians today. We must adequately provide for our teachers first and help get them the pension/ retirement they deserve as well as take care of our public employees to ensure they are receiving the appropriate pay for their day's work. Candidates run for office to serve the people of this community and state, not to get rich. I am not running for this office because I get paid, I am running to make a difference and listen to the concerns and issues of my neighbors, friends, and West Virginians across the district and how I can best make their voice heard.

PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP - The PROMISE scholarship is indeed a great thing that allows our high school graduates to further their education in an in state school for college. It was created to help keep our graduates in state for their education. We should not punish those students who decide to leave the state; instead work towards new ways of keeping them here. We must work with local businesses, educators, community leaders, and current employers to provide for ways to make more opportunities in the state available for our graduates who want to stay.

How do we contain the cost of the PROMISE scholarship?
We must examine all opportunities to partner with the colleges to establish a plan or form of prepayment of scholarships to help control escalating cost, thus locking the cost in at today's tuition rates for use on future scholarships. Also consider establishing a ceiling or maximum tuition reimbursement per high school graduate.

Offer businesses the chance to participate in scholarships and then they would have a vested interest in the graduate's future employment thus keeping our graduates in WV.

TEACHERS PAY / MERGER of RETIRMENT PLANS
We must figure out a way to merge the retirement plans while not losing sight on our pay raise for our teachers. Eligible teachers must be able to afford to retire thus creating opportunities for our new educators of tomorrow who will start contributing to the retirement plan.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT / JOBS
I will support reduction of the business franchise tax and make it easier to conduct business in WV. We must encourage innovation, entrepreneurship, and research funding which result in economic benefit for our state. Promote ways to help employers and employees provide Long Term Health Care for employees and their families by providing tax incentives for them. Continue the support for school and business partnerships to provide for a more educated and skilled workforce.

SENIORS/ VETERANS/ RETIREES
This is a vital untapped resource for West Virginia. We need to provide tax incentives to our seniors, veterans, and retirees in particularly income taxes, housing, and healthcare cost. This will help our existing citizens and will encourage new retirees and veterans come home to West Virginia. Incentives for our seniors' will allow their expenditures to stay in WV and stimulate our economy, provide ancillary jobs, and expand our population base.

EDUCATED WORKFORCE -- Priorities for Public Education
We must focus our education system in these areas to provide for a more educated workforce:

1. SCHOOL CULTURE An interconnectedness of students, staff, and parents with good communication

2. 21st Century Curriculum and Instruction where relevance and relationship are the keys to a meaningful education as out students can compete and excel in a global society/ teamwork/ entrepreneurship.

3. BEST PRACTICE- Schools provide appropriate instruction and become powerful learning communities.

4. STUDENT CENTERED PROGRAMS / POLICIES/ CONTINUOUS IMPROVMENT-Students become well rounded individuals- in music, art, technology, writing, teamwork, group projects, and speaking skills, in addition to the core curriculum. Collaboration, formative, summative, and benchmark assessment, and effective monitoring process, to ensure that we are preparing students that are ready for the future.
   

TAXPAYER LIABILITIES - What steps would I take to cut taxpayers responsibility?
Continue to increase the low income family tax credit and work to reduce the food tax. Establish tax incentives for new home construction, reduce taxes for our seniors and veterans, and also offer incentives for retirees wishing to return to WV. Should offer income tax breaks for recent graduates choosing to stay in the state to start their employment. We need to reduce the inheritance tax. Continue reduction of the business franchise tax to help attract new businesses to our area and support existing business base.

ENVIRONMENT - Environmental laws are continually being changed and I would be open for consideration of any laws that provide for the improvement of the health and well being of all West Virginians.