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.
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
