Stollings, Salango officially enter gubernatorial race

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — While Gov. Jim Justice officially registered for his reelection bid on Thursday, so did two prominent gubernatorial candidates on the Democratic side.

Kanawha County Commissioner Ben Salango and State Senator Ron Stollings (D-Boone) both filed the paperwork to run for governor at the Secretary of State’s Office.

Salango appeared on Thursday’s MetroNews ‘Talkline’ and said while it feels good to officially turn in the paperwork, he is working hard to earn name recognition around the state.

Ben Salango

“Some of them do, a lot them don’t but that’s the reason you get out,” he said on citizens knowing his name. “You want to make sure that you spread the message, get the name recognition and meet as many people as you possibly can.”

Salango ultimately says the state needs to be taken in a different direction.

He said his experience as a Kanawha County commissioner and the change in the county during his time would be seen around the state if he is elected.

“Some of the things I have done in Kanawha County, I can do statewide,” Salango said. “In terms of diversifying the economy with sports tourism and other things I have done here. The UKAN program where I have taken the unemployed and turned them into entrepreneurs.”

Stollings spoke with MetroNews on Thursday as well. He said he is also working on name recognition around the state.

Ron Stollings

“I have been crisscrossing the state a good bit,” Stollings said. “I’ve been in the Northern Panhandle, Eastern Panhandle, and in the South. There are still places to go and I am still working hard on fundraising. I am not a multi-millionaire so I can’t loan my campaign, $500,000 right off the bat.”

Stollings citing Salango’s campaign fundraising of $875,000 in the first filing of the primary election. Records show that $500,000 came out of pocket in the form of a campaign loan while the rest totaling around $375,000 came from contributions.

Salango’s contributions total more than Stollings’, Stephen Smith’s and Jody Murphy’s contributions combine on the Democratic side.

Stollings said the state is facing plenty of challenges in areas such as childhood education, the healthcare system, protecting preexisting conditions, and expanding the economy.

“We have some really heavy lifting to do and if we can’t invest early in all these issues, then we are going to have so much need in the rears that we just can’t print enough money to take care of that stuff,” he said.

Smith, the first person to launch a campaign on the Democratic side, is expected to file his paperwork at an event on Saturday at the state Capitol.

Murphy, an economic developer in Pleasants County, has yet to formally enter the race.





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