Mid-Ohio Valley General Election 2024: Foggin, Marion squaring off for 14th District seat
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PARKERSBURG -- The candidates running for the West Virginia House of Delegates 14th District are looking at a variety of issues they want to work on.
Incumbent Republican Dave Foggin will be facing Democrat Jim Marion for the seat. Foggin is running for a second term. The district covers part of Wood County and part of Wirt County.
Foggin, 53, of Belleville, is a former Chemical Engineer for five years at Century Aluminum in Ravenswood who has taught physics and chemistry at Parkersburg South High School for a number of years. He has resided in Wood County all his life.
"I just want to represent the people of the 14th District openly, honestly and fairly," he said. "I want to make West Virginia a better place for all of us to live and work in and to raise our children."
Foggin said he doesn't know anyone in the legislature, Republican, Democrat or independent, who is not looking at economic development and bringing jobs to the state.
"Everyone is interested in creating jobs in West Virginia," he said.
Foggin has been working on a student/school safety initiative with Wood County Schools and law enforcement.
He also serves on the Natural Resources Committee and is an avid outdoorsman. He is looking at working on a couple of things with the Division of Natural Resources involving drones and thermal imaging to track where wildlife is, if they are wounded or possibly dying.
"Technology moves faster than we do," he said of issues where people can utilize technology while they are out in the woods and things involving technology that might not be covered in the law yet.
He also serves on the agriculture committee and is interested in helping farmers.
"I want to make sure we do things that make sense when it comes to farming and agriculture," he said. "There are different things that have come up in committee that we need to make sense of, like keeping and maintaining farmland.
"I try to collect a lot of data and I try to base my decisions on that data and what is best for the people in that area."
He is still learning about different aspects of the Legislature. There is a lot each legislator has to keep track of with bills and legislation happening as well as
"I am still trying to learn and gain the respect of my constituents and the people in Charleston," he said. "I just try to be honest and I try hard to do the right things for my constituents.
"I am focused on doing a good job for the people back here. I have the ability to help my neighbors."
Marion, 71, is a retired UPS delivery driver (27 years) and has never held public office, but has run for the House a number of times.
He wanted to run again because he feels many people are not being fairly represented in Charleston. He feels the Legislature needs that Democrat perspective and some of the Republicans, although some of them have some good ideas, some of what they want to do ends up hurting the state.
One conversation is about retaining people and growing the population.
"What laws they do pass are hurting the state more than it is helping," he said.
He wants to do away with Right To Work and bring back the prevailing wage.
"That would bring in better businesses to the state and higher paying jobs," Marion said. "It would help get the roads fixed."
West Virginia is not so concerned about charter schools and the state needs to use its money to support the schools they have and make them better.
"Charter schools or private schools are fine if rich people want to send their kids there and pay for them," Marion said. "We need to keep our money for the rest of the children in the state going for public schools and public education.
"That means more teachers and better pay for teachers."
Marion believes diverting education money to private schools/charter schools is hurting the state. He believes having good roads and good schools will bring in more businesses and more people to the state.
Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com