In broad strokes, Cole and Justice differentiate themselves

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia gubernatorial candidates Jim Justice and Bill Cole might have best defined their differences during a discussion of how the state should expand high speed broadband to rural communities.

During their first debate Tuesday night at the Clay Center in Charleston, Justice and Cole described different roles the government should play in that process.

“We absolutely need prosperity, and that’s our government’s responsibility,” Justice said.

Cole countered, “I think the role of government is simply to be a facilitator.”

Voters who were counting on the debate to hear the candidates describe specifics about policy likely experienced disappointment.

But the two candidates — a Democratic businessman and a Republican businessman — demonstrated differences in broad strokes, including their personalities, their speaking style and their view of government’s role in citizens’ lives.

MORE Justice declares Cole debate ‘loser’; GOP hopeful dismisses attack

Justice, the Democrat, discussed government as he has consistently throughout his campaign — in wonderment that its problems could be so hard for others to solve.

He said West Virginia already has key ingredients for success, including location in the mid-Atlantic corridor, natural resources, tourism potential and an agriculture base.

“This job is not that hard. That’s a heck of a ball team. You just have to have someone who can go out and sell our state,” he said.

Cole, the Republican who has been Senate president for two years, often spoke of government in need of greater efficiency.

“We need to rightsize,” Cole said.

The two men spoke before an audience of journalists and citizens at the debate, which was sponsored by the West Virginia Press Association and AARP and hosted by West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Ashton Marra.

During the discussion of expanding broadband Internet, both candidates agreed greater access would boost West Virginia’s economy. They differed on approach.

Cole said he would get the representatives of private providers in a room and not turn them loose until they would agree to an expansion strategy. He said government should not hand them the funding or lay out how to do it.

“I’ve never seen state or federal government run a business better than a private sector businessperson,” Cole said.

He added, “If you can find it in the Yellow Pages then state government has no business being in it.”

Justice said broadband would broaden economic opportunity, including for those who seek to work from home — and government should seek out every possibility to get it done.

“That’s government’s responsibility,” he said. “We ought to be finding a way to deliver prosperity and jobs to our people.”

Justice attacked Cole over the length of time it took the Legislature to pass a budget. West Virginia had faced a projected revenue shortage of $270 million.

“Couldn’t pass a budget. Fighting amongst themselves. And they were in control. I don’t like that,” Justice said.

Cole countered, “Jim shows his absolute ignorance of the process when he says I caused the budget crisis.”

Cole deflected blame to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s administration, saying it set budget projections artificially high to avoid cuts.

“The governor didn’t want to do the heavy lifting of rightsizing state government,” Cole said.

They disagreed on the specifics of dealing with the state budget under their own administration.

Cole discussed further exploration of government waste and also wants to examine special revenue accounts.

Justice said he does not want to raise taxes or make cuts, and said the answer is economic growth.

“You will not be able to cut your way out of this mess. You have to some way grow your way out of this mess.”

He blamed Cole for not being able to achieve that during his time as Senate president.

“Bill Cole’s been in office for umpteen years,” Justice said. “He’s been in complete control for two years. I can’t imagine.”

At the debate’s beginning, Cole knocked Justice for lacking specifics. He said Justice would advocate for “jobs, jobs, jobs.”

“Jim, I have to ask, what’s your plan, plan, plan?”

There were some areas of agreement.

Both agreed they are open to legalizing marijuana for medical use. Cole expressed deep reservations about legalizing recreational pot. Justice expressed reservations too, but said he would explore the economic impact.

Cole and Justice will debate again at 7 p.m. next Tuesday, Oct. 11, also at the Clay Center. The debate, sponsored by the West Virginia Broadcaster’s Association and Citynet, will be moderated by Hoppy Kercheval of MetroNews. It will be aired live across the state on television and radio. It also will be streamed on www.WVMetroNews.com

Early voting starts Oct. 26 and goes through Nov. 5.

Election Day is Nov. 8.





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