EDITORIAL: Raese vs. Manchin Provides Clear Choice in November
Both Morgantown businessman John Raese and Governor Joe Manchin can feel good about their primary wins last night. Both polled well in their parties' special primary election for the unexpired term of the late U.S. Senator Robert Byrd, each garnering over 70%.
Also, Ken Hechler was given a respectful salute by the state's Democratic voters with his 17% showing to help advance the discussion on Mountaintop Removal mining practices in Southern West Virginia. Not bad for a single issue candidate, and Hechler added a lot of thought and color to the campaign trail this year.
But now, for the next two months, all eyes will be on the political boxing match between Morgantown's John Raese and Fairmont's Joe Manchin. Both men are from North Central West Virginia, but as Raese pointed out last evening after receiving his party's nomination, that is where the similarities end.
For starters, we need to understand the difference between being someone engrossed in politics and government on a day to day basis, like Joe Manchin, and being the successful head of several family businesses, like John Raese. Every day for thirty years, Raese has been creating good jobs in his family's companies during the same period of time that Manchin has been constantly politicking.
So who's done more for West Virginia?
Fact: Raese has been responsible for the safety and well-being of upwards of 1,000 employees at any one time in his limestone, steel, and broadcasting companies across West Virginia. Through good economic times and bad, regardless of what new hurdles the state and federal governments put on him, Raese's companies managed to not only survive in a tough West Virginia business climate but thrive. His employees no doubt thank him for his dedication to the task, especially in economic downturns like the current one.
Until Manchin was elected Governor, he never had any kind of similar responsibility. The Secretary of State's Office, while an important one, only has about 40 employees. Before his work as Secretary of State, the most employees Manchin ever had responsibility for were a few at Manchin's Carpet Warehouse or his small coal brokerage in Fairmont.
This is not to downplay whatever successes Manchin had at those small businesses. We're glad they were open for business. However, they certainly don't compare with the responsibilities and major business planning that goes on daily at an operation the size of Greer Industries.
Simply put, John Raese has shouldered larger responsibilities on a daily basis for far longer than Joe Manchin. Raese's experience at analyzing complex problems and making key leadership decisions has been a lifelong education--one that has prepared him well for the deliberations and votes required in the United States Senate.
For Manchin, this kind of heavy lifting has only occured for him in the past five years. And it shows.
Another difference between the two men is ingenuity. While Manchin has shown determination to get elected to office, Raese has been opening up new lines of business, each of which has employed more people. Whether with his development of the statewide Metronews radio network, re-opening his cold-rolled steel works at Greer Steel, or creating Pikewood National golf course, Raese's vision for what is possible in West Virginia is always expanding.
That is why we believe that the time is ripe for John Raese. As long as he can get enough West Virginians--Democrats, Republicans, and Independents--to catch his vision of what a private sector economy in West Virginia can do for job creation here, we like his chances statewide on November 2nd.
Change comes gradually to these mountains. But we've already seen in recent years a willingness to try some more of what the Republican Party is offering in the form of candidates here lately.
And as Abraham Lincoln once said, "I may walk slowly, but I never turn back."