CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The new West Virginia Senate Majority Leader is already making plans for the 2019 Regular Legislative Session.
Next year, Senator Tom Takubo (R-Kanawha, 17) will be helping set the Republican agenda.
He said a grant program for community and technical colleges to build the Mountain State’s workforce will be among his priority issues to help “move West Virginia forward.”
“I’m not bashful about hard work,” Takubo said.
He’ll replace outgoing Senate Majority Leader Ryan Ferns (R-Ohio, 01) who lost his re-election bid on Nov. 6.
.@DrTomTakubo joins @HoppyKercheval to talk about being named the new Majority Leader in the @wvsenate. WATCH: https://t.co/wkudfIAoe1 pic.twitter.com/gXuiCKvBe2
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) November 27, 2018
As the new 2nd in command in the Senate, Takubo will be running floors sessions.
“What I would like to do is just have a very common sense approach about it and there’s just sometimes we’re not going to agree and that’s okay too,” Takubo said on Tuesday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
He’s a critical care specialist in the Kanawha Valley and has served as chair of the state Senate Health and Human Resources Committee.
With his new Senate role, Takubo said he would be stepping back from his practice a bit at busy legislative times.
“We’ve got a big group and I’ve got a very supportive group of partners and practitioners that help me during the session,” he said.
A South Charleston resident, Dr. Takubo was re-elected earlier this month after first being elected to the state Senate in 2014.
“He has a great grasp of the issues, of why we need to move West Virginia in a positive direction,” Senate President Mitch Carmichael (R-Jackson, 04) when he made the announcement on Monday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
“He gets along very well with all members of the Senate.”
Takubo said he is happy to serve by taking on a larger role.
“The Senate President asked me to step up and part of being a good team player is doing what you’re asked,” he said.
The 2018 Regular Session begins on Jan. 9, 2019 at the State Capitol.