2022 General Election
Election Night Nov 8
Things
have changed in County Clay.There was a time when the
Courthouse filled with politicos awaiting election results to
be read over the PA system. That hallway between the
Clerk's office and CCC room, tables were set up where insiders
laughed and told stories. Munchies would be at hand. Outside,
smokers stood around and told jokes between the PA
announcements. In the center of the Courthouse, around the
atrium, every bench would be full and every corner had hushed
conversations were at hand.
For the last couple election cycles, that all changed. Last night there were just a few standing around at the wait.
All the Sch Bd were present except Susan Bodkins. New Superintendent Joan Haynie scribbled down the numbers as they were read. There were no happy faces within that group. Away from the newbees, senior Boardster Dave Pierson also wrote down the figures but huddled with Donnie Triplett.
That Levy went down to defeat 1165 to 972. That's a resounding defeat. Voters made it loud and clear, education in Clayberry sucks and until performance is shown, no more $$$ will come that way.
There was no laughter to be found.
For the last couple election cycles, that all changed. Last night there were just a few standing around at the wait.
All the Sch Bd were present except Susan Bodkins. New Superintendent Joan Haynie scribbled down the numbers as they were read. There were no happy faces within that group. Away from the newbees, senior Boardster Dave Pierson also wrote down the figures but huddled with Donnie Triplett.
That Levy went down to defeat 1165 to 972. That's a resounding defeat. Voters made it loud and clear, education in Clayberry sucks and until performance is shown, no more $$$ will come that way.
There was no laughter to be found.
As for local
contests...
Clarissa Hanshaw will become the next Circuit Clerk Jan 1st. Her opponent was a Republicrap that changed his name on the ballot. Hanshaw won with1263 to what's his name's 832.
In uncontested races, uncontested County Clerk Connie Workman garnered 1748 votes. First time runner Joyce Johnson received 1498 check marks.
Our new State Senator will be Mark A Hunt (R) with 14,568 to Richard Lindsay's 11,071. It's amazing how gerrymandering can work for the party in control.
Delegate Roger Hanshaw (R) will stay in place for another couple years after tromping challenger Laura McGinnis, 1659 to 400 in this county.
Those Repubs under the Gold Dome tried to engineer four W Va Constitutional amendments. All four failed overwhelmingly. They even tried dangling a carrot in front of voters but that didn't work at all.
Around the nation and from the Talking Heads, there was talk of a red wave. That didn't happen. Instead many Trump humpers scampered to back rooms with their tails tucked. We're hoping the dangerous years of Trump influence are behind us. Good!
The people have spoken and so far no civil war has erupted in the streets of the USA. That's even better.
It's time to get back to living minus all those campaign ads on the boob tube.
Clarissa Hanshaw will become the next Circuit Clerk Jan 1st. Her opponent was a Republicrap that changed his name on the ballot. Hanshaw won with1263 to what's his name's 832.
In uncontested races, uncontested County Clerk Connie Workman garnered 1748 votes. First time runner Joyce Johnson received 1498 check marks.
Our new State Senator will be Mark A Hunt (R) with 14,568 to Richard Lindsay's 11,071. It's amazing how gerrymandering can work for the party in control.
Delegate Roger Hanshaw (R) will stay in place for another couple years after tromping challenger Laura McGinnis, 1659 to 400 in this county.
Those Repubs under the Gold Dome tried to engineer four W Va Constitutional amendments. All four failed overwhelmingly. They even tried dangling a carrot in front of voters but that didn't work at all.
Around the nation and from the Talking Heads, there was talk of a red wave. That didn't happen. Instead many Trump humpers scampered to back rooms with their tails tucked. We're hoping the dangerous years of Trump influence are behind us. Good!
The people have spoken and so far no civil war has erupted in the streets of the USA. That's even better.
It's time to get back to living minus all those campaign ads on the boob tube.
---
There's a
couple contests in County Clay without a challenger. That
would be in the County Commission race and for County Clerk.
Joyce Johnson (CCC) and Connie Workman, are home free.
Oct 31 update
Changing a Constitution is heap big medicine. For the Nov 8th Ballot, the Repubs under the Gold Dome want you to give em permission to change the long standing W Va Constitution. For the most part, they and us the voters, haven't a clue on how the changes would affect us.
Amendment 2 takes taxes raised here in Clayberry and gives it to Charleston for those idiots to distribute fairly around the state, at their whim. Most including us don't know what happens to excess levies collected here and what a Constitutional change means for those funds now and in the future.
Any time Republicraps are in charge watch out. For the last 6 years that's been the case for the common worker's future. When they say if it's good for West Virginia, it's good for the worker. That is 24 carrot horse crap.
Sometimes it's just better to say No when we don't know what they want and the end results... down the road.
We're hoping all four of the changes go down in defeat
CIRCUIT CLERK With long time Circuit Clerk Mike Asbury deciding to sit this one out, it will be a whole new ballgame in the Court system. We have two newbees to chose from
Clarissa Hanshaw has worked in that govt office for many years and most likely knows the basics. The learning curve should be moderate if Clarissa is the winner.
Her challenger is a guy we know as Hiram Lewis (R). On the ballot he's had a name change to Bucky Lewis. This guy is well known to Clayberry but in a controversial way. More recently Lewis was back in the news with alleged animal cruelty charges being lodges against him.
Under most circumstances, getting charged with anything major, that would be enough to sideline any candidate. But, keep in mind, at one point and without any GOP support, he nearly toppled the long standing incumbent W Va Attorney General Darrell McGraw. Lewis came within 1/2 of one percentage point beating the highly regarded AG. In 2018, in a statewide election he did quite well, comin in in the middle of the pack (22,000+ votes) to be a Supreme Court Robe.
Don't count Hiram, now Bucky Lewis (R), out as a challenger on Nov 8th.
EXCESS EXCESS Local school system leadershit, opps we mean leadership, wants you to open your wallet a little further. There's a bunch of pros and cons to doing so. As best we can weigh it, No seems to be the right vote on Nov 8th.
While under the supervision of Superintendent Pretty Boy Paxton, student performance has fallen to some of the worst in the nation. Here's in West Virginia, with Paxton in charge, we have the fourth worst performance in the state.
Even the State School Board Chair Paul Hardesty agrees: “They suck,” he said. “I mean, they’re dismal. They’re not good… the worst in the history of the state.”
Our very own Delegate Roger Hanshaw's interview, spoke, similarly during a MetroNews interview: In mathematics, West Virginia public school fourth graders had an average score of 226, only better among states than New Mexico. In reading, the other big area assessed, West Virginia fourth graders scored an average 205, only better than New Mexico and Alaska.
Center of attention for voting against the Excess Levy points to one guy, the guy at the top, Mercedes Paxton. Supporting our claim that the head of the snake needs chopped up...
During the last Levy election, Jan 29th 2022, Paxton did so much arm twisting and used backdoor tactics so much, the Sec of State's office launched a criminal investigation into Paxton's tactics. That investigation continues today.
About that Paxton style of leadership:
Keeping a widow's dollars accumulated by her husband
There was that field trip to Charleston that was abruptly cancelled leaving 300 students in the lurch.
The people voted down the Levy just 9 months ago. Has anything improved in those 9 months?
It was Paxton that spoke in favor of building that "bridge to nowhere" at Bradley/Schoonover Field and astro turfing the football field beside CCHS.
Under his regime, Clayberry's standing went from 13th in the State to fourth worst
Now flush with COVID millions at the ready to be spent, he wants more from you
Should Paxton be entrusted with the $22+ million already under his command plus the additional $2.5 million in Excess Levy dollars? When is enough, enough?
Back in May, during the Primary Election, voters said overwhelming, we want change. That came in the form of three new Boardsters. Those new faces have taken charge and quietly we can see changes being made. Living without Excess Levy funds will make it tough on the newbees but, we honestly think, to see the much needed improvements in edumacation, the head of the snake has to be cut off.
Our opinion, vote down the excess levy for now.
Oct 27 update
We do have
a race in the 8th Senatorial District compliments redrawn
boundaries after the most recent census.
In this new Republicrap leaning district, we have an incumbent (new to us) and long time, want to get elected Trump humper, Mark A Hunt was a 2016 Democratic candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 2nd Congressional District of West Virginia . Guess the guy doesn't know he is! Here's his campaign website for his blah blah blah.
The Democrat guy is Richard Lindsay from Charleston. Already in office, he has a strong history of working for the average guy. Here's a brief look at his efforts. His website includes his platform if elected in Nov.
For the dimly lit Trump humpers, Hunt is your man. For everybody else, let's try on Richard.
In this new Republicrap leaning district, we have an incumbent (new to us) and long time, want to get elected Trump humper, Mark A Hunt was a 2016 Democratic candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 2nd Congressional District of West Virginia . Guess the guy doesn't know he is! Here's his campaign website for his blah blah blah.
The Democrat guy is Richard Lindsay from Charleston. Already in office, he has a strong history of working for the average guy. Here's a brief look at his efforts. His website includes his platform if elected in Nov.
For the dimly lit Trump humpers, Hunt is your man. For everybody else, let's try on Richard.
Oct 26 Update
I attended the School Board meeting
held at CCMS as part of the LSIC visitation policy. Ms. Goe
and the
staff do an amazing job of educating and caring for
students.
This was the last meeting to pitch the necessity of voting in favor of the excess levy. Sadly, attendance was scarce.
I asked to be on the agenda to speak about what I KNOW from serving this county as a school board member for 8 years. However, as I pondered what to say, this is what came to mind. Here are the excuses I’ve heard:
1. Money is the issue. “I give a lot now and I have to pay other taxes and I don’t see anything in return.” How are we taxed: You are taxed on the assessed value of your property. Mostly Class II for example: $50,000 divided by 100 = 500. Multiply the 500 by 13 cents = $65 is the annual cost, your contribution to the excess levy. Barely enough for a tank of gas or a cart of groceries. However, that $65 will feed a
child, provide school supplies/computer, and transport an athlete to a game and practice.
2. There is a lot of waste in the schools. There is waste in every business and household. Recently the new board has taken steps to address waste and implement policy/process to avoid/curb waste.
3. I do not like the teacher. I do not like the principal. I do not like the superintendent. I do not like board members. “So and so told me that such and such is happening at the school.” All of these “feelings” cloud judgement on what is necessary vs. how to punish a person.
#3 is the biggest challenge we face in a small community. Therefore, putting money issue aside, you choose to vote “NO” because of your “feelings.” When you fail to vote, you make no impact on theperson you harbor ill feelings towards. Instead, it makes an impact on extracurricular activities for students. It sets in motion the decision to lay off staff, eliminate programs, cease to fund activities, and ultimate school closures. These are the facts.
On November 8th, cast your vote in favor of the Excess Levy and support a child.
Submitted by Cheryl A. White
This was the last meeting to pitch the necessity of voting in favor of the excess levy. Sadly, attendance was scarce.
I asked to be on the agenda to speak about what I KNOW from serving this county as a school board member for 8 years. However, as I pondered what to say, this is what came to mind. Here are the excuses I’ve heard:
1. Money is the issue. “I give a lot now and I have to pay other taxes and I don’t see anything in return.” How are we taxed: You are taxed on the assessed value of your property. Mostly Class II for example: $50,000 divided by 100 = 500. Multiply the 500 by 13 cents = $65 is the annual cost, your contribution to the excess levy. Barely enough for a tank of gas or a cart of groceries. However, that $65 will feed a
child, provide school supplies/computer, and transport an athlete to a game and practice.
2. There is a lot of waste in the schools. There is waste in every business and household. Recently the new board has taken steps to address waste and implement policy/process to avoid/curb waste.
3. I do not like the teacher. I do not like the principal. I do not like the superintendent. I do not like board members. “So and so told me that such and such is happening at the school.” All of these “feelings” cloud judgement on what is necessary vs. how to punish a person.
#3 is the biggest challenge we face in a small community. Therefore, putting money issue aside, you choose to vote “NO” because of your “feelings.” When you fail to vote, you make no impact on theperson you harbor ill feelings towards. Instead, it makes an impact on extracurricular activities for students. It sets in motion the decision to lay off staff, eliminate programs, cease to fund activities, and ultimate school closures. These are the facts.
On November 8th, cast your vote in favor of the Excess Levy and support a child.
Submitted by Cheryl A. White