Charles
Trump, the state’s former House of Delegates Minority Leader, is seeking a
return to politics after an extended break.
Trump
announced this week he has filed pre-candidacy paperwork to run for state
Senate.
Since
his last term ended in 2006, Trump has been doing what he left politics to
do—spendi more time with his family. But he said he loves politics and it’s
time to get back to it.
“The
timing is right at least as far as my family is concerned,” he said.
Before
2006, the 53-year-old Morgan
County
Trump
believes his eight years away from the political scene can help him
to become a better legislator.
“There
is a tendency sometimes when you’re within that sphere, when you’re within that
bubble to maybe be isolated from the things that people are thinking,” he said.
“I think a break in service was good for me.”
Now
he is seeking the 15th senatorial district, which includes all or parts of
Berkeley, Morgan, Hampshire and Mineral counties.
Trump
said the challenges facing the state today are not that different from what
they were back in 2006.
“We
have to advance economic growth and development in this state and of course
regulatory reform is part of that and tax reform is part of that,” he said.
With
the right leadership, Trump said the success that is taking place in the
Eastern Panhandle can spread throughout the state.
“We
have so many incredible assets, our citizenry, our population, the natural
resources and the spectacular beauty of this state,” he said. “It’s only
ourselves which are holding us back.”
Currently
the 15th senatorial district is represented by Donald Cookman
(D-Hampshire), a former judge appointed to the seat last year by Gov. Earl Ray
Tomblin.
