MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The two major candidates hoping to be the next governor of the state are spending West Virginia Day working.
Republican nominee, state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said he’ll be working today and then plans to hit the campaign trail tonight.
“There are a lot of folks across the state that are relaxing and taking it in,” Morrisey said. “I’m going to be busy doing some work, and we’ll get together tonight for a good campaign event.”
Democratic gubernatorial nominee, Huntington Mayor Steve Williams spent the day in Kansas City as member of the board of directors for the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
Williams is meeting with mayors across the country to present about the innovative ways they have addressed blight, homelessness and the opioid problem.
“I’m chairing a few meetings on how we deal with the opioid settlement and how we start showing others around the country how to be able to open up that money, infrastructure, and things like that,” Williams said.
Morrisey said during the campaign he traveled to every county in the state, learning about the people, places, and challenges. He reflected on his father, who worked in a steel mill and faced similar struggles as many West Virginians have for generations.
“It’s always important to remember your history because that helps reveal the best direction for the future,” Morrisey said. “West Virginia is unique, and we have a chance to be that shining state in the mountains, and I tell everyone in state and out-of-state about that because this is going to be our time; we are poised to rise up.”
Williams said he’s celebrating West Virginia Day by bringing a part of the mountains and Appalachian hospitality to every attendee at the conference. He noted that the next governor of the state should have the important skills required of mayors to address people and issues in a personal way.
“The population of the state of West Virginia is really the size of a good-sized city,” Williams said. “Frankly, I think that’s what we need—a governor with a mayor’s mentality—to get in, get involved, and bring everybody with you.”