Beanard, Jones face off for the W.Va. House of Delegates District 10 seat
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WILLIAMSTOWN - The race for the West Virginia House of Delegates District 10 will be between two Williamstown men who have not previously held the seat.
Republican Justin Beanard is facing Democrat Christopher Jones for the seat that now occupied by longtime Republican Delegate Bill Anderson. Anderson lost the primary to Beanard in May by three votes, 829-826, with Anderson deciding not to seek a recount.
Beanard, 32, works at Chemours and said he feels lawmakers have forgotten they work for the people. He wants parents to raise their children and for taxpayers not to be forced to fund endless government programs without accountability.
"Elected officials should be answering to the people, not political insiders," Beanard said. "We do not need bigger government. We need responsible spending, lower taxes and a serious investigation into where every taxpayer dollar is going."
Jones, 34, who works as a warehouse manager at West Virginia University at Parkersburg, said he is running because he believes West Virginians deserve a government that works for them, listens to their concerns and puts their needs ahead of political interests.
"Too many people feel that their voices are overlooked and that the decisions being made in Charleston don’t reflect the challenges they are facing every day," Jones said. "I want to bring a fresh perspective to the Legislature, one focused on accountability, transparency and practical solutions.
"I’m running because I believe we can do more to strengthen our communities, improve opportunities for working families and build a better future for the next generation of West Virginians."
Beanard said one of his priorities is to address what he described as the failures within the family courts, Child Protective Services and the foster care system.
"I believe CPS needs to be completely abolished and replaced with a system built around professional investigations, protecting children, and respecting parental rights," he said. "I support exploring specialized investigative units within law enforcement agencies, staffed by properly trained investigators, potentially including qualified veterans and experienced law enforcement professionals."
Other priorities are healthcare competition and lower costs, eliminating taxes on seniors, infrastructure improvements, education with accountability before more spending, and eliminating the business inventory tax.
"West Virginia needs real competition in healthcare," Beanard said. "Repealing Certificate of Need (CON) laws is an important first step.
"I am concerned about the growing monopoly (of) WVU Medicine and the impact it may have on patient choice, quality and affordability."
Beanard said he wants to eliminate personal property taxes and residential property taxes for seniors. Clean water, reliable electricity, safe roads and dependable infrastructure are necessities across the state for all residents, he said.
Jones' priorities are improving public education, lowering the cost of living, strengthening communities and expanding opportunities for working families.
"Here in the MOV, we need to support good paying jobs, invest in workforce development and apprenticeships and make sure our young people have opportunities to build their futures here at home rather than feeling they have to leave the state to succeed," he said.
He also wants to address rising utility costs, protect access to quality healthcare and ensure that public resources are being used responsibly.
"Our communities need infrastructure and essential services that keep pace with their needs, along with leaders who are willing to listen to residents and work across differences to get things done," he said. "Ultimately, I want West Virginia to be a place where families can afford to live, children can receive a quality education, our elderly can retire in peace without the fear of financial downfall, workers can earn a good living, and people can feel confident that their government is working in their best interests."
He also wants to work on issues that are important to him, especially child welfare/domestic violence; repealing House Bill 2014 that deals with data centers; and addressing public education and the rising cost of living.
Jones said he wants to protect vulnerable children and improve the foster care system, including stronger oversight, better support for foster care families and caseworkers. He want to repeal HB 2014 as a way to have a more responsible approach to economic development and address concerns about local control, the long-term impact of large data center developments and how these projects could affect the communities expecting to accommodate them. He wants to make the state’s Public Service Commission an elected position to cut down on personal relationships with utility companies. He wants to put up guardrails on the HOPE voucher program, to help bring that funding back to public schools that the majority of West Virginia children attend.
"Public education and affordability are major concerns in West Virginia. I want to support our public schools, educators, and students while working to make everyday expenses, including utilities, more manageable for families," Jones said. "I would listen to those who are affected directly, like community organizations and professionals who understand these challenges, reviewing existing laws and programs, and pursuing practical legislations with measurable results."
Beanard has a charge of domestic battery involving his father that is working through Magistrate Court. He said he cannot comment directly on the charge as the case works its way through the court, but feels he will be cleared in the matter.
Beanard touts his Republican/conservative credentials and his belief in limited government, individual liberty, parental rights and fiscal responsibility. He joined a fire department right after high school, later served in the military and now works as an operator at Chemours.
"I understand what it means to work, serve and be accountable to others," he said. "I have always taken pride in our communities and our state. I am not running to build a political career. I am running to continue serving the people of District 10."
Jones believes accountability and transparency in government deserve greater attention.
"Public office is a responsibility, not a personal entitlement, and elected officials should be answerable to the people they represent," he said. "I believe we need to restore trust by being open with constituents, examining the influence of special interests, and making decisions based on what benefits our communities.
"We should also be able to disagree on individual issues while still working together toward common goals. My commitment is to listen, ask questions, do the necessary work and remain accountable to the people of this district."
Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com.