In May, 2015, Jim Justice declared his candidacy for Governor of West Virginia. In his announcement he said, “It’s time for someone to serve with no hidden agenda for themselves. It’s time for our political leaders to quit being preoccupied with trying to preserve themselves in their political office.”
After 20 months of campaigning and two elections that time has arrived. Justice takes the oath of office this afternoon in a ceremony on the South Plaza of the state Capitol, becoming West Virginia’s 36th Governor.
Campaigns are tough, but candidates enjoy wide latitude when discussing their plans. Justice pushed those boundaries ever wider, saying over and over that all we need to do is unleash the potential of our state. Justice’s down home manner, along with his sincerity, enticed 350,000 West Virginians (49 percent) to vote for him.
I’m not sure how many of those voters actually believe our state can land a Dollywood or that we’re about to embark on a “rocket ship ride” of job creation, but his track record of business success, saving the Greenbrier and thinking big did form a basis for hope. At the very least, some thought, “He’s not a politician; why not give him a chance?”
Some of us may have snickered when he said on the campaign trail that it makes sense to elect someone who, when it came to job creation, “done done it,” but it was authentic.
Candidly, we’re still not sure what he’s going to do as Governor. Yes, we know he will continue to coach the Greenbrier East boys and girls basketball teams and he’s promised to bring his famously rigorous work ethic to the job, but do we really know what’s ahead?
He has made a number of sound choices for leadership positions. Nearly every one of the appointees I’ve talked with has said they were drawn to service by Justice’s passion to make West Virginia better. That’s a hopeful sign. These folks were not looking for a state job, but rather they were compelled by public service.
He could leave the details to his cabinet secretaries, but I don’t think that’s his style. I remember riding around with him on a golf cart as he described all the changes made to the Old White golf course just before the PGA Tour event at the Greenbrier. He did not strike me as a delegating manager.
He famously had crews working night and day to finish the practice facility in time for the New Orleans Saints. It was a remarkable accomplishment, and one that could only be done with a load of money and an iron will.
However, government is, by its nature, quite different. One Capitol employee wonders what’s going to happen when the new Governor wants a desk for a particular office and is told that once all the paperwork is processed it could be delivered in a couple of weeks. Justice thinks big, but it could be thousands of little things that wear him down.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. After all, Justice is just now taking the oath of office, just getting started, and beginnings are about optimism. Today, all things are possible, which fits Justice’s persona.
He promises to be a different kind of leader, one who owes no political favors, is essentially non-partisan, is not campaigning for re-election and certainly doesn’t need the job. Those are all liberating factors.
Congratulations, Governor Jim Justice. Let the journey begin.
MORE: After Justice takes reins as governor, what will he deliver?