CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The race for the U.S. Second Congressional District seat in West Virginia includes five Democratic candidates who are all eager to move the Mountain State forward.
“We could really do some good,” said candidate and Nitro lawyer Harvey Peyton. “I’m really encouraged about the future of West Virginia after having traveled the district.”
The district covers Jackson to Jefferson County — an area that candidate Mark Hunt, a Kanawha attorney and former state House of Delegates member, described as being very “diverse.”
“There’s very diverse interest going from Jackson to Jefferson, so it’s almost like running in three separate districts because every group of people you meet with have very different and real needs,” Hunt said of his time on the campaign trial.
Those needs include high speed Internet with expanded broadband access as well as improved infrastructure, according to Peyton.
“We are suffering in every place in this district because of the lack of ability to offer a place for portable jobs — people who do business on the Internet,” he said. “There’s a lot of potential here.”
Every person has different needs, said candidate and U.S. Army Veteran Cory Simpson, but sometimes every issue can’t be addressed.
“We have such a diverse population in and so many different interests,” he said. “It’s hard to walk into a room sometimes and connect with everyone on those issues, especially during a time when I’m still trying to introduce myself to people.”
Hunt was quick to say he would be the right person to get the job done because of his 14 years in the state Legislature.
“It’s all about experience. I have the experience to be a congressman now without the tax payers paying for me to be trained,” Hunt said.
But Simpson said his military experience will give him the edge this Primary Election May 10. He said meeting other veterans has been rewarding.
“It’s been an absolute honor to be able to talk to them, get to know them a little bit and hear about their challenges here in West Virginia,” he said.
Peyton predicted the race will be decided in the Eastern Panhandle.
“It’s going to come down to a three-way race between three candidates, two of whom are Charleston lawyers and me from Putnam County,” he said.
Tom Payne, a Martinsburg patent examiner, and Robin Wilson, a retired teacher from Roane County, are also Democrat candidates in the Second District race.
The Democrats are hoping to replace current seat holder Rep. Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.) who is running against GOP candidate and Berkeley County businessman Marc Savitt.