MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Former Florida Governor and Republican Presidential candidate Jeb Bush will do more than just attend a fundraiser and endorse Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Cole during his trip to Morgantown on Tuesday.
The son and brother of former U.S. Presidents George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush will stop at a luncheon for the West Virginia Business and Industry Council to deliver remarks to a gathering of West Virginia’s business and trade associations.
“We got a surprise call from former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who’s going to be in West Virginia, as it turns out, [Tuesday] campaigning for Senate President Bill Cole,” WV BIC Chairman Chris Hamilton said on Monday’s edition of the MetroNews-affiliated “The Mike Queen Show” on the AJR News Network. “There’s a core business group in the Morgantown-area that’s going to host a fundraiser for Senator Cole, and Jeb Bush will be their as the guest of honor to introduce Bill and advocate his candidacy.”
The luncheon and forum is expected to focus on energy jobs that could potentially help improve the size of West Virginia’s labor force.
“We’ll be having a business and an energy roundtable portion of our meeting,” Hamilton said. “Longview Power has graciously put together and is sponsoring our program and our energy forum.”
Other speakers include newly elected Supreme Court Justice Beth Walker, House Speaker Tim Armstead, Dr. John Deskins of the West Virginia University Bureau of Business & Economic Research, and Jeff Keffler of Longview Power and Dominion.
“Jeb Bush remains a very popular political figure in the state of West Virginia,” Hamilton said. “His entire family has had success here and our viewed very favorably here in West Virginia as well.”
Hamilton said it’s a rare and exciting opportunity.
“It is incredibly exciting to have Gov. Bush join the Business & Industry Council in
Morgantown,” he said. “We plan on discussing West Virginia’s energy industry and its impact on our job growth, so having the input of someone with Gov. Bush’s experience and stature is priceless.”
The meeting, which begins at noon Tuesday, August 16 at Lakeview Resort in Morgantown, is open to the public. However, due to limited space, advance registration is required to attend by e-mailing info@wvbic.org.