CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker campaigned in West Virginia for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Cole and took a big swing at Cole’s opponent, billionaire Democrat Jim Justice.
“I have never in my life seen someone who is willing to run for governor who would think about running for governor while owing $15 million worth of back taxes to local governance,” Walker said of Justice.
Justice, listed by Forbes as West Virginia’s richest person, was the subject of a National Public Radio investigation that revealed his coal companies together owe $15 million in taxes and fines. The fines make Justice the nation’s top mine safety delinquent, NPR concluded.
Walker said candidates who are considering running for office are sometimes asked if they have any skeletons in their closet. That’s not the case in West Virginia, Walker said.
“This is not hidden. It’s right there. It’s on the tax books.”
Walker, the current governor of Wisconsin and a one-time presidential candidate, was accompanying Cole on a barnstorming tour of West Virginia, including stops in Bluefield, Charleston and Morgantown.
Happy to help Bill Cole today with his race for Governor of West Virginia. @BillColeWV
— Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) October 28, 2016
In Charleston, Walker spoke before a friendly crowd at Republican Party headquarters on Capitol Street.
“You can either go with Bill Cole and go with a man of his word,” Walker said. “Or you can go the opposite direction with Jim Justice.”
Walker took particular note of a Justice ad defending himself about his companies’ debts. The ad opens in a pasture, and Justice says “Bill Cole is feeding you a bunch of bull.”
“The bull I saw in that ad was coming right out of his mouth,” Walker said of Justice.
In addition to Cole, Republican Party leaders touted the statewide candidacies of Patrick Morrisey for Attorney General, Ann Urling for Teasurer, J.B. McCuskey for Auditor, Mac Warner for Secretary of State and Kent Leonhardt for Agriculture Commissioner.
Scott Walker discusses #coal pic.twitter.com/MKe6X6769P
— Brad McElhinny (@BradMcElhinny) October 28, 2016
Walker urged the Republican rank-and-file in the room to dedicate the next week and a half to door-to-door visits with people and phone calls. He said personal outreach is more effective than campaign ads.
“The reason you go to a restaurant for the first time is because a friend or neighbor tells you it’s the right place,” Walker said.
Cole spoke on his own behalf but also touted his fellow Republicans running for office, saying the GOP needs a sweep of the executive branch and to build on its majorities in the House and Senate.
“We will turn West Virginia around,” Cole said.
Bill Cole addresses crowd at Scott Walker event #WVpol pic.twitter.com/UBuUDqioE2
— Brad McElhinny (@BradMcElhinny) October 28, 2016
Outside, union members upset with Cole’s support of right-to-work and prevailing wage lined Capitol Street, holding signs and urging cars to honk.
Labor opposition to Bill Cole at Scott Walker event #WVpol pic.twitter.com/6JJZgdSt62
— Brad McElhinny (@BradMcElhinny) October 28, 2016
Walker said he had seen larger and more frequent crowds during his time of governor of Wisconsin, where he has been involved in longstanding fights over right-to-work. In 2011, Walker survived a recall vote over his support for limiting collective bargaining rights of public employees unions.
Terry Turley, a union electrician from Charleston, said he is no fan of Walker’s.
“Scott Walker is living proof of out-of-state interests coming in here. He’s living proof right up front.”