Jim Justice promised he would be a different kind of Governor, and we’re going to see evidence of that Wednesday evening when he delivers his first State of the State address.
Traditionally the Governor delivers the annual message to the Legislature and the people of the state standing at a dais on the riser in the House Chamber with the Speaker of the House and the Senate President seated behind him.
However, Justice is expected to deliver his address from the floor of the chamber.
Governors sometimes have visual aids, but Justice is going to take that to a new level by using a white board. Justice will use the white board and markers to explain the state’s financial challenges.
Justice started using the white board during a couple of recent appearances, liked having the ability to scribble down numbers during his presentation, and decided to use the same format tomorrow tonight.
Typically Governors have carefully crafted remarks that have been edited and re-edited. The Governor’s press office makes copies of the speech available about the same time he starts to deliver it.
Not Justice. The Governor may work off some notes or talking points, just as he did during his inaugural address, but it does not appear as though there will be prepared remarks.
Not working from a script is a double-edged sword; it significantly increases the risk of making a mistake, but it also fits Justice’s style as a “speak-from-the-heart” guy. Justice won election in part because he’s not viewed as a politician, so people may forgive him if he makes a few stumbles during an earnest presentation.
Justice’s coach-with-the-white-board approach should be enough to encourage even casual followers of state government to tune in tomorrow night… and that’s even before we get to the content. He promised during the campaign a bold and aggressive agenda, one that bends the curve of West Virginia consistently being “last in everything.”
That bold agenda, however, must also be shaped by the state’s budget crisis. Will Justice propose cuts of between $400 and $600 million? If so, what’s on the chopping block? Will he shift from his campaign statement that West Virginians are taxed enough and propose new taxes?
We don’t know for sure. What we do know is that, given the state’s financial problems, dramatic action will be necessary to fix them and Justice’s own unique style of delivery should make this State of the State speech an event not to be missed.
MetroNews will provide radio and video coverage of the speech beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday.