Friday, November 21, 2014

Delegate from Mingo County vying to become minority leader



With less than two months before the start of the legislative session, a delegate from the southern part of the state is introducing the idea of becoming the new minority leader in the House of Delegates.
Delegate Justin Marcum (D-Mingo), a lawyer from Williamson, was reelected to his position in the recent election by securing 71 percent of the vote. First appointed to a seat in 2012, he believes he now has the perfect balance of youth and experience.
 “I’m going on my fifth year, I’m not a career politician but I have some experience. I think I can navigate the House,” he said. “I’ve had numerous pieces of legislation pass. I feel I’ve got the experience to be able to get some stuff done, but I’m also a new face that can bring new life to the Democratic Party.”
New life that Marcum and others feel is very much needed after the party was pushed back on Election Day by state Republicans with control of the House going 64-36 in favor of the GOP.
Marcum said he doesn’t blame previous leadership for the loss.
“I have no hard feeling against Speaker [Tim] Miley (D-Harrison). He’s been a good leader. No matter what happens, we’ll keep our friendship and still be friends,” he said. “As a matter of fact, I’ve been called from some delegates that asked me about this, that were interested in seeing a new face that is also an experienced face.”
The political shift in the state, Marcum credits to the desire to see a shift in focus and, particular coming from voters in the southern part of the state who work in the coal industry, disapproval in recent national policies believed to have a negative effect on energy production.
“It goes to fighting for the people who put us in place to lead, who elected me and other individuals in Southern West Virginia and across the state,” he said. “I do think coal is the number one issue. I think it was very noticeable in the last election.”
If selected as minority leader, Marcum said he would strive to work on bipartisan solutions with the new Republican majority to move the state forward.
“I think it’s important that we work together,” he said. “We have to have a moderate voice who can reach across the isle. We can’t let the capitol in Charleston turn into Washington D.C. and if elected minority leader, I would not let that happen. Gridlock is not the answer. We have to work on focusing on the betterment of the state.”
While Marcum said there is some support for him, he will still need to drum up support before the Democrats meet to elect leadership.
“We’re going to work the phones. To say we got the support now would be a lie. I don’t think we go it now.”
Miley has previously stated he has received the support of his fellow Democrats to continue leading the party in the state House.

With November interim meetings wrapping up this week, lawmakers will return to Charleston one more time in December before the 2015 Regular Legislative Session begins on January 14.