CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia voters care most about jobs and the economy.
Greg Thomas, executive director of West Virginia Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, said a recent poll his group commissioned proves that with 98 percent of respondents listing those areas as their top priorities.
About 48 percent of those questioned said they did not think those issues were adequately addressed during the 2014 Regular Legislative Session.
“There are, obviously, a lot of people in West Virginia that are not satisfied with the direction of the state,” said Thomas. “I think what this survey says is, ‘Hey, we’re open to the idea of going in a new direction.'”
In the poll, 51 percent said West Virginia was on the wrong track and, Thomas said, that attitude could be reflected at the polls this year. “The candidates this year that go out and deliver a positive message about how they’re going to take the state in a new direction will probably be successful and the other ones won’t,” he said.
Thomas talked about the survey MBE Research conducted for WV CALA on Thursday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
Other findings from the survey, which focused on West Virginia’s legal climate, including the following:
– 38 percent said they believe lawsuit reforms would have a positive impact on the state’s economy and job market
– 53 percent support the creation of an intermediate appellate court
– 50 percent of those interested in the election said West Virginia has one of the worst legal systems in the United States
– 51 percent see lawsuits hurting job creation in the state
A total of 401 interviews with West Virginia voters were conducted from March 17-18. Cell and landline respondents were questioned. The survey has a 4.9 percent margin of error.