Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval  Watch |  Listen
11:00am: Darian DeVries Introduction Press Conference

State Senate confirms EBA nominations despite Democratic concerns about backgrounds

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Senate on Thursday confirmed two of Gov. Jim Justice’s nominees to the state Educational Broadcasting Authority.

Senators voted 22-6 and 21-6 respectively to appoint Greg Thomas and Danielle Waltz. Republicans were united in their support.

Thomas has represented multiple conservative causes, including former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship’s 2018 U.S. Senate campaign. Waltz is an attorney who has also lobbied on behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Senate Democrats have raised concerns about the appointments because of the individuals’ political activities. Justice has argued the appointments are an attempt to bring “diversity” and “balance” to the EBA, which governs West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

“We in this country rely upon a free press — that’s the First Amendment — untainted by bias and prejudice,” Sen. Mike Romano, D-Harrison, said about the Thomas nomination. “To put somebody like this on a board that governs our public broadcasting system is a real travesty.”

Romano noted his concerns with Thomas’ background.

“Here we have somebody who is clearly a political partisan,” he added.

Sen. Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, who criticized press coverage of the state Legislature during the regular session, said public dollars should not go toward partisan news coverage.

“One thing that tells me is that the influence within that body is way too far left,” he said. “If you want to balance things out and not make it political, I think one, it’s good to give diverse opinions on a board rather than have them all one way. Second … this nominee also has represented in the past politicians from each party.”

Tarr did not mention any instance of media bias from West Virginia Public Broadcasting during his remarks on the Senate floor.

Justice also appointed Ron Hughes to the EBA. Hughes is a senior account executive at Pikewood Media Group, the parent company of West Virginia MetroNews, and a former accounts executive at Charleston Newspapers.





More News

News
MetroNews This Morning 3-28-24
Summary of West Virginia news/sports/weather for Thursday, March 28, 2024
March 28, 2024 - 6:25 am
News
PSC approves settlements involving Mon Power, net-metering cases
Rate increase went into effect Tuesday.
March 27, 2024 - 9:42 pm
News
Speakers at Focus Forward symposium discuss AI capabilities in West Virginia
The event was organized by the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.
March 27, 2024 - 8:30 pm
News
Justice vetoes vaccination exemption bill, draws praise from healthcare groups
Educational and healthcare organizations banded together to urge a veto.
March 27, 2024 - 6:35 pm