CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Education Association teachers union has endorsed Jim Justice for Governor in the May primary.
“Jim Justice expressed a vision for our state and an assurance that West Virginia’s education professionals would help shape public education for the future,” said WVEA-PAC Chairman Dale Lee.
Justice is battling with Booth Goodwin and Senator Jeff Kessler for the Democratic nomination. A MetroNews West Virginia Poll released last week had Justice leading the pack with 32 percent, 25 percent for Goodwin and 23 percent for Kessler with 21 percent undecided.
Lee said the WVEA Steering Committee made the decision after interviewing all three. “Each of these candidates made strong points and they care deeply about the future of our state,” Lee said.
The WVEA is one of two teacher unions in the state with over 13,000 members.
Justice was pleased with the news. He issued the following statement Tuesday:
“I trust our teachers, and I will get the politicians out of their way,” said businessman Jim Justice. “I am fed up with our state being 50th in everything, and I want West Virginia to be known as an education powerhouse. We can do it if we’d just remove all the politics from the classroom, start listening to our teachers more and create new jobs. I am honored that so many teachers are as fired up as I am to turn around West Virginia.”