Mooney, Savitt gearing up for GOP primary battle in 2nd District

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — In the only contested U.S. Congressional race in the May 10 primary, incumbent Alex Mooney is getting ready to defend his seat.

In the GOP primary, he’s being challenged by Berkeley County businessman Marc Savitt. The winner of the race will take on whoever emerges from a crowded Democrat slate in the November general election.

Mooney, a constitutional conservative, has been criticized for not being visible within the district, an accusation that he rejected.

“Unlike the people campaigning and taking pot shots, I’m actually here doing the job,” he said. “And it’s a big job, taking on President Obama and working with my Republican colleagues and frankly working across the aisle with other Democrats down here.”

Savitt claimed someone he had talked to called Mooney “No-Show Mooney”, said Mooney had thrown away his advantage as the incumbent.

“He has not taken advantage of his advantage,” Savitt said. “From what I’ve heard, Mr. Mooney has not been in the district that much; he’s been around the country campaigning for a presidential candidate.”

Mooney has endorsed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in his run for president, and has served as the West Virginia Chairman for his campaign. Mooney said he wanted to focus on issues rather than attacks.

“I think the folks who are attacking me don’t have anything to run on so they’re resorting to personal attacks,” he said. “I would like to hear their plans for healthcare reform, how we’re going to defend Second Amendment rights; how we’re going to defend the coal industry. I’ve done the things I said I was going to do, and I’m going to continue to fight those battles even more.”

Savitt said he wanted to see a change in the unemployment program so that it can lead to those out-of-work eventually getting a job.

“We need to take the unemployment compensation program, and we need to retool it,” Savitt said. “Right now you can’t work and you can’t go to school if you’re collecting unemployment benefits. What we need to do is change that program and turn it into an internship type of a program.”

Mooney thought he was better prepared and more experience after the two years he has served as congressman.

“Two years later, I have a voting record,” he said. “I’ve been working hard for the people of West Virginia’s Second District, it’s certainly my privilege to serve them. I think there’s a lot of work yet to be done to defend the conservative values of West Virginia voters, and I’m intent on continuing to do that.”

Savitt said he would be campaigning hard between now and next week’s primary.

“I’m going to put my jeans and my boots on, and I’m going to get out into the district, and I’m going to meet with the people who trusted me to improve their lives. That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

The winner of the GOP contest will face one of several candidates vying for the nomination on the Democrat side: Mark Hunt, Harvey Peyton, Robert Wilson Jr., Cory Simpson and Tom Payne.