CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Former U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin says West Virginia is “in serious trouble” and he wants to lead it out of crisis mode by becoming the state’s next governor.
Goodwin announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination right across the street from the federal courthouse in Charleston Wednesday afternoon. He resigned his federal prosecutor’s job last week to “apply for a tough job.”
“We need a leader who is not afraid. We need a leader who is honest. We need a leader who has the ability, but more important what we need is someone with the integrity and courage to do the right thing,” Goodwin said in front of a crowd of supporters.
Fellow Democrats, Greenbrier Resort owner Jim Justice and state Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler, announced their campaigns months ago. A poll released by the Justice campaign this week shows Goodwin trails Justice and Kessler with 13 percent of the vote.
“When I haven’t even started the race and I’m where I am, I’m excited,” he said. “I’m thrilled where I am right now.”
Goodwin described himself as being “right down the middle” on the political spectrum, wanting things other West Virginians want like a good education for their children and protection from those who would seek to harm their families.
“People are fed up with politics as usual. I represent a compromise across the board,” he said.
Fifteen years in the federal prosecutor’s office, the last five as U.S. Attorney, has helped Goodwin take a non-political look at issues, he said.
“I didn’t always take politically popular positions. That’s the thing about the U.S. Attorney’s job. You can’t consider politics when you’re in that chair. You’ve got to bring justice,” he said.
The filing period for the May primary election begins next week.
Goodwin on other issues:
–On challenging the billionaire Justice: “The last time I checked you couldn’t buy votes in West Virginia or anywhere else. People want to be part of something they believe in.”
–On the current struggles facing the coal industry: “Coal will always be a big part of West Virginia. We have to come together and figure out what we’re going to do going forward. We want to hear from real West Virginians moving forward, what they want to do moving forward.”