Communities

Thompson faces Coop-Gonzalez for House of Delegates District 67

Cody Thompson

"Hello to the voters of Randolph and Pendleton counties. My name is Cody H. Thompson and I have represented Randolph and Pocahontas counties as the 43rd District Delegate for the previous four years.

"I was born on Feb. 12, 1987 in Elkins, and my parents are Lanny and Kim Thomson of Sully Road. My paternal grandparents are the late Hugh Thompson and Nellie Thompson, who lives on the family farm in Sully. My paternal grandparents are the late Calvin and Frances Shifflett, who lived in Elkins. As a child I learned the value of hard work by working at my grandparent's farm in Sully, or helping out at my grandparent's community store in Bemis.

"I graduated from Harman High School with the class of 2005 where I was the Senior Class President and the President of the Future Business Leaders of America Club. I graduated from Marshall University with a B.A. in Secondary Social Studies Education and in 2018 I graduated from West Virginia University with a M.A. in Multi-Categorical Special Education.

"I have worked for Randolph County Schools since 2012. I previously taught at Harman School and currently teach Civics/US History at Elkins High School. After I graduated from Marshall University, I moved back home to Randolph County and to teach here because I wanted to give back to the community through teaching our young people and getting them excited about government and our nation's history.

"After redistricting occurred, I am now running for re-election to the House of Delegates to represent the 67th district which has portions of Randolph and Pendleton counties. If re-elected I will continue to stand up, fight for, and be a voice for the residents of Randolph and Pendleton counties. Please consider giving me your vote when you vote early or at your precinct on Election Day."

FIVE QUESTIONS

1) What are the biggest issues and challenges facing the residents of District 67 and how do you plan to address them?

"Randolph and Pendleton counties are stunningly beautiful and our people are some of the hardest working and kindest folks you'd ever meet. However, our counties are still dealing with the Opioid Epidemic. We are not doing enough to stop the growing drug use and the damage it's doing to our communities. Every West Virginian has been affected in some way by this crisis. Many have lost a loved one, friend, or colleague to overdose, and now many grandparents or relatives are raising young children that will grow up without knowing their parents. Our homes burglarized, property stolen, our police force stretched to their limits, court systems overloaded, families broken, and generations lost because of these dangerous drugs in our communities.

"As your Delegate I have worked to bring stronger punishments for those who are bringing dangerous drugs into our state to send a message that we are not going to tolerate it. I've advocated and voted for our foster care children who are completely innocent victims in this crisis. We need to do more to educate our young children about the dangers of drug use and how to say no and avoid the peer-pressure to use them. Those struggling with addiction need help and resources to recover and live successful and productive lives.

"Our counties are also greatly affected by not having high speed internet access or service that is reliable and affordable. As the Minority Chairman of the Technology & Infrastructure Committee I have advocated and fought to bring broadband expansion to our vastly underserved region. I have worked in a bi-partisan manner with the Chairmen of both the House and Senate Technology & Infrastructure Committees to craft and pass legislation to provide an incentive for companies to upgrade and expand their high-speed internet throughout the state.

"At the same time, I have called out the companies that have dropped the ball in providing reliable service, not maintained their Infrastructure, and were providing horrible customer service to their customers. If re-elected, ensuring that our counties have high speed internet access that is not only reliable but also affordable will continue to be one of my highest priorities."

2) Why should voters select you for the position?

"Being a voice for my family, friends, and colleagues the last four years has been truly the honor of my lifetime. I am a Randolph County native and my family has lived in Randolph and Pendleton counties for hundreds of years. I know and understand our values as well as our struggles because I have lived here my whole life and experienced them. I know how difficult it is to make your paycheck last after all your bills have been paid. I know what it is like to have my insurance premiums and deductibles rising while receiving less and less coverage.

"I have taken my job very seriously and have worked hard to bring our counties views to Charleston as well as working to solve problems that my constituents have faced. I have helped folks when their phone lines were not getting repaired and contacted the public service commission to ensure phone lines were repaired quickly. I have helped folks who have had issues with our secondary roadways needing repaired. During COVID I worked countless hours helping distribute food at Camp Pioneer and helping those who lost their jobs, so that they got the help they needed while many businesses were forced to close."

3) What new legislation would you propose or support as a Delegate?

"In the previous legislative session, I introduced over 30 bills and co-sponsored many more. I have co-sponsored legislation to reduce and cap the out-of-pocket expense for insulin that many West Virginians need to survive and live healthy and productive lives.

"I have voted for and supported the phase out of the state income tax on Social Security benefits so that our seniors have more of their money for their bills and medications. I have introduced legislation to give public employees raises to help bring their salaries closer to where they should be to fill the many vacancies in every department across the state.

"I have introduced legislation to repeal Right to Work and reinstate Prevailing Wage for our construction workers, so that West Virginia's workers make livable wages and that the jobs go to West Virginians, not out of state companies with out of state workers.

"If re-elected I will continue to push for these bills and also will continue to push for more support for our seniors, to keep more of their money, and to keep their medications affordable. I will work to solidify PEIA funding so that public employee's premiums, deductibles, and out of pocket expenses do not go higher with reduced coverage."

4) What is your realistic time frame for the completion of Corridor H?

"Corridor H was proposed 57 years ago in 1965 and current estimates finish Corridor H by 2036. That is entirely too long for a road that should have been finished decades ago.

"We must fight and ensure that funding is put in place to fund the completion of Corridor H sooner, rather than later. The longer we wait to finish the final few segments, the more expensive it will be to construct. The longer we wait for it to be finished we are also losing out on much-needed jobs and economic growth for our region.

"We currently have significant work happening on the Kerens to Parsons segment that should be open in the next couple of years. We have two major sections left to begin work on, Parsons to Davis and Wardensville to the Virginia state line.

"I know how important finishing Corridor H will be for our area and state. I will continue advocating in the legislature to ensure that Corridor H is a priority project in our state. I will work to ensure the most important highway in our region is finished before 2036. The funding is there, our crews are ready to get to work, let's get it built."

5) What would you do to help attract new businesses to District 67?

"The 67th district holds so much potential for job growth. We have a hardworking workforce, it's cheaper to build here and our utilities are lower than many surrounding states. I have been advocating to bring new 21st century industries with good paying wages and benefits. We must make the state more attractive to new industries through incentives and public/private partnerships that have been very successful in many other states.

"Ensuring that more of the 67th District has reliable infrastructure like water, gas, sewer, high speed internet and safe modern roads will make the district attractive to business investment and development, these investments will also benefit our residents. Our business growth should be diversified so that we don't have boom and bust cycles of the past.

"While I absolutely will fight to bring new jobs and businesses to the 67th District and region, it is also highly important to stress that we must protect our current business already here and our small family-owned businesses. Small business owners and our small family owned farms are the backbone of our economy and we need to work to ensure that our state supports them and encourages others to invest and start their own small businesses in our communities. We need to encourage and support a whole new young generation with agriculture and farming, helping them to get the knowledge and resources they need to start their own agriculture and farming operations."

Elias Coop-Gonzalez

Elias Coop-Gonzalez is a Christian, a conservative and a Republican -- in that order.

During President Trump's re-election campaign in 2020, he was the youngest member of the Republican National Convention from West Virginia. He also worked at the Elkins/Randolph County YMCA for three years before going on to work at the Leadership Institute, an educational non-profit.

Now, Coop-Gonzalez seeks to put West Virginia values back in the Legislature. He believes America is the greatest country in the world -- and that it should be kept that way. He is the only conservative running for the 67th district seat.

FIVE QUESTIONS

1) What are the biggest issues and challenges facing the residents of District 67 and how do you plan to address them?

"The biggest issues facing Randolph and Pendleton counties are economic development, education and opioid addiction.

"For economic development, I support certain tax incentives that can help attract businesses to our area, as well as reasonable tax reforms for individual citizens.

"If elected, I will support legislation that expands parents' options in regard to their child's educational opportunities. There also needs to be a more robust effort to combat the opioid epidemic. I will support legislation that helps West Virginians who suffer from drug addiction."

2) Why should voters select you for the position?

"I am the only pro-life candidate in the race. I am the only candidate in the race that completely supports the Second Amendment.

"I am also the only candidate in the race that opposes men competing in women's sports. I am the only Conservative running for this seat!"

3) What new legislation would you propose or support as a delegate?

"I want to propose a bill that bans abortions of unborn children once a heartbeat is detected, also known as a 'heartbeat bill.' I will also support any legislation that advances free market economics, individual liberty and property rights."

4) What is your realistic time frame for the completion of Corridor H?

"Based on the recent infrastructure bill passed by the House of Representatives, all indications for Corridor H's completion are around 2026. If we hired President Trump to do it, it might get done in a less than a year -- and for half the price."

5) What would you do to help attract new businesses to District 67?

"Reinforcing what I said above, I want to pursue tax incentives that attract businesses to our area. I also support the creation of a special needs school at Sugar Grove in Pendleton County, which will create jobs and provide much-needed support for special needs children.

"Most importantly, I will support legislation that makes it easier to support a family. The family is the centerpiece of our community. Healthy families mean healthy people and businesses."