CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A West Virginia labor leader says inviting the two leading candidates for governor to a debate on issues workers are concerned about is not an event in search for “gotcha” moments.
During an appearance on MetroNews “Talkline” Tuesday, Steve White, director of the West Virginia State Building and Construction Trades Council, said his group and the United Mine Workers of America just want some honest answers from Jim Justice and Bill Cole to their questions.
“The idea of debate and dialogue is really what we’re after here,” White said. “We would work diligently to have a neutral moderator to have a system where both candidates were comfortable with this, not an attack.”
Labor groups like the UMWA and the West Virginia AFL-CIO have already endorsed the Democrat Justice in the gubernatorial race. Those loyalties make the event a non-starter for the Republican Cole, according to his campaign spokesman Kent Gates.
“We would be happy to have a forum on labor issues with a third party neutral organization that had not already endorsed a candidate. I think that would be the fairest way to go. It needs to be a responsible moderator, someone who is respected,” Gates said on “Talkline” Tuesday.
The organizers would be willing to come up with the questions in advance, White said.
“We are not into a ‘gotcha’ event here. We are into serious discussion about workplace issues with the focus on the workplace,” he said.
Cole is willing to talk with union groups about his votes on right to work and the prevailing wage but in the right setting, Gates said.
“Bill Cole is not afraid of anybody. He’s willing to talk to any voter. He’s not willing to engage in a political stunt and theatre by Jim Justice supporters to benefit Jim Justice’s campaign,” he said.
Organizers had hoped for a debate in Charleston in late September. Cole and Justice are already scheduled to debate on Oct. 4 and 11. Justice accepted the invitation from the union groups Tuesday.
White’s group has yet to endorse a candidate in the race.