Two campaigns for governor are clashing over how the activities of an organization meant to distribute millions of dollars in opioid lawsuit funds could go into the political grist mill.
Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, a Republican candidate for governor, has been one of the driving forces behind the West Virginia First Foundation, which had a kickoff meeting last week to move toward distributing nearly a billion dollars meant to benefit West Virginia communities ravaged by opioid drug addiction.
Delegate Moore Capito, another Republican, is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which worked on legislation applying the West Virginia First Foundation’s activities to state law.
Capito, who is also running for governor, today questioned whether Morrisey would unfairly benefit politically from what the West Virginia First Foundation now does.
“It is crucial that these funds be delivered in an expedient and ethical manner,” Capito wrote in an open letter to Morrisey.
“Absent additional steps by you, however, the administrative role of the Attorney General in executing the Foundation’s mission may create the appearance of conflicts between this mission and your political campaign.”
The “West Virginia First Memorandum of Understanding” lays out the terms for the state and the many counties and cities that may receive a portion of the settlement to push back against ongoing drug addiction issues.
A major portion of the millions of dollars, 72.5 percent, goes to a private, nonstock, nonprofit corporation described as an Opioid Foundation. That foundation will now distribute the funding for work toward abating the opioid epidemic in communities around the state.
Capito’s letter proposed a pledge for Morrisey to recuse himself from participating in the selection of recipients of the money.
“The Foundation has a professional staff and independent board that are perfectly fit to serve as its face, and to identify the recipients without being muscled by an active candidate for higher office,” Capito wrote.
Capito also asks for Morrisey to ban his campaign or associated superPAC from soliciting or accepting campaign contributions or endorsements from any elected officials or local leaders receiving funds.
“Elected officials and local leaders who receive this crucial funding could then operate in a stress-free environment knowing that there will be no pressure to contribute to or endorse any political campaign,” Capito wrote.
Morrisey’s campaign responded not by addressing the substance but instead by making reference to Capito’s mother, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito.
“Campaign finance hypocrisy at its finest is when Kid Capito accuses another politician of politics by using politics – he gets most of his campaign money from his mom’s position in the Senate,” said Taylor Van Kirk, spokeswoman for the Morrisey campaign.