Rockefeller Speech
U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller will not be running for reelection in 2014.
The longtime Senator, who is currently serving his fifth term in the U.S. Senate, made the announcement on Friday in the Capitol City as he looked back over his Senate career. It first started in 1984.
“I’ve been proud to stand with the working men and women of America, miners and steel workers, teachers and nurses and everyone who deserves a fair wage,” Senator Rockefeller said at the Culture Center.
Now, he says, he will be spending more time with his family and working in public service in other ways.
“I will never be able to stop working for the people who have always meant so much to me and the causes that I am so passionate about and which sustain me,” the Senator said.
See video of announcement:
http://www.rockefeller.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=live-video
Rockefeller, 75, first came to West Virginia in 1964 as a volunteer with VISTA program. He was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1966 and then won his first statewide race as Secretary of State in 1968.
Rockefeller lost his only election in West Virginia in 1972 when he ran for governor against Arch Moore. He waited four years and ran again in 1976 and was elected to his first of two four year terms.
“He’s done a wonderful job serving the state of West Virginia and the U.S. Congress,” Marshall University President Stephen Kopp told MetroNews of Senator Rockefeller on Friday. “That’s a wonderful legacy he has built.”
Kopp says Rockefeller’s experience will be a great loss for the state.
“As a state I think we’ll lose an awful lot of seniority in the U.S. Senate, which is important. But it’s also important that he make the personal decision that he’s making and do it for all the right reasons for what he feels he can do,” Kopp said.
Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper, a longtime Rockefeller friend, said the Senator has had a legendary run.
“I think it’s important to recognize the incredible achievements of Senator Rockefeller and wish him well and continue to support him during the remainder of his term,” Carper said.
Senator Rockefeller says his last two years in the Senate will be busy. “We’ve got a really rough debt ceiling (debate) several weeks coming up, really, really rough and I want to be a part of that fight,” he said on Friday.
“I will continue pouring myself into it because there’s so much that’s important to do. There always is in West Virginia.”
Rockefeller says his decision has nothing to do with the announcement made by Congressman Shelley Moore Capito back in November that she planned to run for Senate.
He says he believes he would have defeated Capito.
39
Comments
cutty77
I have heard this for a while.His wife is very sick,and he been having some Health Issues himself. 75 years is getting up there.Shelly knew what she was doing.I wish The Rockefeller Family Goodness and Health.
January 11, 2013 at 9:50 am | Report comment
Joe Parsons
FINALLY!!
January 11, 2013 at 9:51 am | Report comment
Ferd
Good riddance.
January 11, 2013 at 9:55 am | Report comment
anti-dem
Ditto, wish it could have been years sooner
January 11, 2013 at 11:20 am | Report comment
Really
Good riddance??? Really. U may want to look around the state and see what he has made possible around here. Def would be a whole different story if he wouldn't have been in senate!
January 11, 2013 at 4:20 pm | Report comment
coachsites
The the POLITICS begin...2014 will be exciting....
January 11, 2013 at 10:03 am | Report comment
Uncle Fester
Yeeeaaaaaaaaaa !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Another socialist liberal out the door. WV moving closer and closer to red state status.
January 11, 2013 at 10:04 am | Report comment
al
I am very sad to hear that he won't be running. He has served his state well over the years. Now I guess we'll be stuck with Shelly do-nothing Capito.
January 11, 2013 at 10:23 am | Report comment
wvtomd
am also very glad the far left liberal fanatic is going home to new york. bye.
January 12, 2013 at 11:06 am | Report comment
Ash B
Sad, but understandable. Senator Rockefeller, thank you for your service. Best wishes to you and your family in your retirement.
January 11, 2013 at 10:10 am | Report comment
DWM
I'm sure there are a boatload of socialist liberals salivating to take his place. It is up to the electorate to make the right choice.
January 11, 2013 at 10:22 am | Report comment
Scott
Finally great news for this state .ITS A GREAT DAY TO BE A MOUNTAINEER.
January 11, 2013 at 10:24 am | Report comment
al
Not so much. Now instead of having a man who has worked tirelessly for WV, we will now be stuck with "do nothing" Shelly. Sure, it's a great day. ha!
January 11, 2013 at 8:32 pm | Report comment
Alum
Impressed by his money I see.
January 12, 2013 at 8:00 am | Report comment
Harold Bennett Jr
All I can say is Hallelujah!! I wish him well and pray he and his family enjoy a long retirement, however, I have been waiting for this for years.
Still a mystery to me is HOW the folks of our great state kept putting him back in all thesse years. Bring on a good Conservative who will represent the wishes of our state and not his/her personal agenda.
January 11, 2013 at 10:48 am | Report comment
Dave
Finally! Now if Rahall could only take his lead and follow him out!
January 11, 2013 at 10:57 am | Report comment
Wowbagger
This is not a surprise to me based on his recent behavior.
Look out West Virginia he can still do lots of damage over the next two years and will need to be hounded unmercifully to honor our wishes on the way out the door.
... I'll do one better. I doubt that Joe Manchin will run in six years based on his recent squishy stand on gun control.
Uncle Feaster, I'll second your
Yeeeaaaaaaaaaa !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let's paint it as red as the Cap of Liberty on the state seal!
January 11, 2013 at 11:00 am | Report comment
Alum
Bye Jay. Thirty years was too long.
However, I do hope you and your wife have good health because you'll need it with the legislation you vote for. Oh wait a minute, you are exempt as is the rest of Congress. Nevermind.
(However, the wishes for good health are genuine.)
January 11, 2013 at 11:22 am | Report comment
Chalkdust
Right! That's called irony. The son-of beeswax left us with a medical system designed by Obama's creedants and run by the IRS. Way to go you small-minded, arrogant, carpetbagger. Oh yes! I almost forgot....a Coast Guard Station in Martinsburg, W.Va. That really put a rocket up the economy's kisster in Berkley County.
I'm trying to tone it down a little out of respect for what the West Virgina voters gave many years ago. But the milk of human kindness cuts two ways, eh Jay?
January 11, 2013 at 2:48 pm | Report comment
James carr
Perfect scenario, Capito challenged on the right by the egotistical McKinley (he said he is watching her), some unknown yet to be determined Dem sneaks in and wins, see Indiana 2012. GOP greed at its finest.
January 11, 2013 at 11:31 am | Report comment
Alum
No, this is not limited to one party. It's simply good, old lust - lust for power.
January 11, 2013 at 11:48 am | Report comment
jethro
which wealthy democratic liberal will move in to take his place?? george clooney? rosie odonell? pierce morgan? lady gagga?
January 11, 2013 at 12:17 pm | Report comment
al
Any would be better than Shelly.
January 11, 2013 at 8:34 pm | Report comment
Hop'sHip
Thank you Rockie. If you judge a public person by the enemies they have made, you did good. You made all the right enemies. Have a long and happy retirement.
January 11, 2013 at 12:20 pm | Report comment
Alum
Using your logic I guess Bush 43 was absolutely fantastic.
January 11, 2013 at 4:00 pm | Report comment
Chalkdust
Nice catch!
January 11, 2013 at 9:13 pm | Report comment