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John "J.R."
Pitsenbarger
Current Senator John "J.R." Pitsenbarger was appointed by Gov. Jim Justice in October and sworn into office to serve the 11th Senatorial District in November 2019.
Pitsenbarger, a Republican, is vice chair for the Agriculture Committee, as well as serving on the committees for Children and Families Select, Economic Development, Education, Interstate Cooperation, Judiciary, Natural Resources and Transportation, and Infrastructure during the regular session.
He was born and raised in Nicholas County. He owns and operates his family's 160 year-old cattle farm along with his wonderful wife of over 25 years, Tanya, and their family.
After graduation from Glenville State College in 1992, with a teaching degree in social studies, John took classes toward his master's degree in Education.
Having a love of radio from a very young age, Pitsenbarger worked for 32 years in southern and bluegrass gospel, along with Christian county music before retiring from radio as a multi-award-winning DJ and program director.
Pitsenbarger has been involved in several aspects of the agricultural community. Currently, he is president of the Nicholas County Farm Bureau, and chairman of the WVU Extension Board of Governors for Nicholas County. He also has an Honorary West Virginia FFA Degree. He has previously served on the Nicholas-Webster FSA Committee and as the chairman on the Nicholas County Farmland Protection Board. John also enjoys volunteering his time to the WVU Extension Services Farm Safety Day. Additional positions previously held in leadership roles were as follows: vice president of the West Virginia Farm Bureau, vice chair of the Nicholas County Fair Board, and vice chair of the Elk Conservation District.
With all the roads he has traveled and his diverse experiences, John is receptive of and has a caring nature for others. It has always been a passion for Pitsenbarger to help resolve issues, no matter how small or large, by bringing groups of people to work together to be able to move forward. A positive outcome is the best result in any situation. As your senator, John's door is always open to listen to your concerns and be receptive to work towards helping the majority overall in the 11th Senatorial District. Pitsenbarger likes to utilize his leadership and experience to assist his district in being even more prosperous. Everyone has a place, and everyone counts. Success through Integrity can never go wrong.
5 QUESTIONS
1) What are the biggest issues and challenges facing our region and how do you plan to address them?
The biggest issues and challenges facing our region right now would be the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the opioid crisis, suicide, domestic violence, businesses closed and our people needing to work.
I am addressing these issues, and any other issues, with the 11th District county officials and state leaders. I am open to collaboration with everyone to make sure that Grant, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph, Upshur and Webster counties are afforded every opportunity to help in bringing back our businesses and jobs with hope and peace looking toward the future. Through legislative studies and implementing any available funding needed to jump start our economy is of the utmost importance currently and the near future.
2) Why should voters select you for the position?
The voters should elect me for senator in the 11th District so I may continue the good solid foundation I have laid and continue to cultivate since November 2019. I have developed good open communication with all my county officials, as well as various groups and individuals in supporting our district to be stronger and better -- even before the pandemic hit us.
3) What changes would you make in the state's pandemic response and stimulus efforts?
The changes I would make to the state's pandemic response and stimulus efforts is still changing moment by moment and day to day. This is a situation that none of us have experienced and all of us are learning as we go through it together. It would not be prudent for anyone to offer changes until this awful pandemic is under control with medication available to control it and then assess what we went through to improve upon it to be better prepared should something else ever occur to this magnitude to endanger all of us.
4) What is your realistic time frame for the completion of Corridor H?
A realistic timeframe for the completion of Corridor H is a complicated answer to provide. It is not a cut and dry situation. To the best of my knowledge, to date, a section from Kerens (in Randolph County) to Parsons (in Tucker County), there are two sections under construction. This would take approximately 3 to 4 years to complete barring any unforeseen circumstances. The next project will be paving these two sections. Once this is completed, there are two additional sections left from Parsons to Davis and Wardensville to the Virginia State Line. There are several steps or phases of work that goes into this magnitude of a project and that would include environmental studies, bidding out the work for the various phases and choosing the contractor for that particular work being bid on. Since we all know that revenues are down and taxes from vehicle and gas helps to fund such work, both the short and long term budget is affected due to the pandemic. I am committed to seeing Corridor H completed and as a best estimate for the timeframe to be finished realistically would be 2034-35 or sooner, with no major issues being foreseen.
5) What would you do to help local businesses, such as AHF Wood Products in Beverly, return to full capacity?
To help local businesses return to full capacity, and in particular, you mentioned AHF Wood Products, there most likely would have to be different avenues made available to help get these businesses back up and running to normal. Temporary furloughs and lay-offs are hard decisions for any company/organization to have to make, but there was no choice at this particular time. Wood products are something that is needed and supplied everywhere. The timber industry is one of the key's to West Virginia's future. Some businesses may be able to get back up and running easier than others due to their product/service being offered.
Denise Campbell
Elkins resident Denise Campbell is seeking a West Virginia Senate District 11 seat, representing those living in Randolph, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Upshur and Webster counties as well as part of Grant County.
Campbell, a Democrat, is a former West Virginia Delegate, having served three terms for the 43rd District. Currently, she is a professor and SIMS lab director at Alderson Broaddus University.
Campbell is an R.N., Licensed Nursing Home Administrator. She has a master's degree from Marshal University, a BSN degree from Alderson Broaddus College, and ASN from Davis & Elkins College.
She is the daughter of Carol Hudnall and the late George Hudnall and the late Martha Ann Geier-Hudnall. She is married to husband Ric Campbell and has two children: Lance Bond and Logan Campbell.
Her affiliations include: Member, West Virginia Nurses Association; Elkins Rotary Club; Randolph County Farm Bureau; National Rifle Association; Past President, Randolph County West Virginia University Parents Club; Past PTO President, Third Ward Elementary School; Member of the Board, West Virginia Health Care Association; Davis Health Systems Foundation; Appalachian Community Health; Greenbrier Birthing Center; Randolph County Chamber of Commerce; Advisory Board Member Davis and Elkins College Nursing Department.
She was elected to the House from 2010-2014. Legislative positions she has held include Vice Chair, Committee on Economic Development and Small Business, 81st Legislature; Vice Chair, Committee on Legislative Oversight Committee on Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority, 81st Legislature; appointed by Gov. Joe Manchin to WV Center for NSG Board, GOHELP Advisory Committee, WV Autism Trust Fund Board; and Vice Chair, Banking and Insurance, 81st Legislature.
5 QUESTIONS
1) What are the biggest issues and challenges facing our region and how do you plan to address them?
The COVID-19 pandemic has created many issues for our region and has exacerbated prior concerns. I will work with all levels of our government to assess the needs, prioritize, develop a plan and implement as soon as possible. We realize the reopening of West Virginia will leave citizens, workers, and business owners with many additional hurdles to overcome.
These are new and trying times. We must work together to solve the obstacles we are facing and support one another. We all need to work to stay safe and keep family members, co-workers, and those around them safe and healthy during the rebuilding of our communities.
I will continually meet with stakeholders -- community leaders and individuals -- to help make and implement plans to solve issues while insuring there are ongoing evaluations to make changes where needed.
2) Why should voters select you for the position?
I ask for your support and vote because I know the legislative process and know how to accomplish things. I live, work and volunteer in the community and I am able and willing to work with others. It is so important to be able to work together because we can accomplish so much when we put political division aside and do the work that is needed.
My desire is to help West Virginia communities be stronger, safer, and more productive. In my three terms in the WV House of Delegates representing Randolph and Pocahontas counties, I have written, introduced and spoke on behalf of good policies at the state and national level.
My experience as a nurse and professor has awarded me many experiences and opportunities to be a leader. I volunteer with many city, county and state organizations and serve on several boards of directors. I have been appointed by three WV Governors to serve on state boards related to healthcare, nursing, and long-term care.
As a WV Delegate, I developed, introduced, and lobbied for many pieces of legislation such as the 'Land-Fill Bill' which helped save the city of Elkins thousands of dollars. I will and have worked with local citizens such as (Mike Snyder) and state agencies such as the DMV and community organizations such as the Dry Fork Community Center to create the 'In God We Trust' license plate.
Most important, I genuinely care about our community and I want to be an advocate and voice for rural WV. I am not afraid to stand up and speak up for our district.
3) What changes would you make in the state's pandemic response and stimulus efforts?
I would want more support for Workforce WV and our citizens applying for services to prevent delays. To accomplish this, I would help form a pandemic committee in collaboration with local leaders, health departments and healthcare providers to ensure we would be better prepared in the future to acquired needed supplies and the correct protective equipment (PPE). It is important to ensure the safety of our frontline workers and essential employees. I will work toward having a 90-day supply of PPE for all business on hand at all times.
Another need I would address is to increase testing ability to help businesses open. Also, I would assist small businesses with a safe plan for the reopening, so they know how to best protect citizens and employees, especially our most vulnerable for COVID-19.
I feel like we need to look at the distribution of the Coronavirus stimulus checks and make sure everyone eligible receives their benefits in a timely manner.
4) What is your realistic time frame for the completion of Corridor H?
I believe Corridor H needs to be completed as soon as possible because of the economic reach the roadway would provide, which is estimated at creating and supporting more than 168,000 jobs.
COVID-19's broad reach will likely affect current and future projects for the Corridor and funding is needed to complete the project. Currently, we are facing a probable downfall in not only the state but also the country.
Once things stabilize, I believe WV needs to look at all priorities and keep Corridor H at the top of the list to ensure its completion. I would look to the experts dealing with Corridor H to answer this question and they seem to envision its completion in the early 2030s.
5) What would you do to help local businesses, such as AHF Wood Products in Beverly, return to full capacity?
I would work to make sure businesses such as AHF Wood Products in Beverly has a trained workforce that is ready and able to perform the work needed.
I would work with the economic development offices in our county and state to assist with identifying needs of these businesses and would work with any and all businesses in need of assistance.
I believe we need to work with and support businesses, including those in the timber industry. We need to keep the lines of communication open and listen and help with their concerns and help support their ideas to thrive and provide more jobs, while keeping workers and those using business services safe and healthy.
Robert Karnes
Hi, I am Robert Karnes. I am a Republican running for the WV Senate 11th District.
I was born in South Charleston and grew up in Nitro. I graduated from Poca High School in 1987.
Like many West Virginians I was forced to look outside West Virginia for career. Over the next 20 years I worked in every state in the United States but always came home to West Virginia.
My wife Amy and I have been married for over 25 years. We have five boys and three girls. Seeking a better future, better jobs, more opportunities for my children and yours is the primary reason I decided to seek political office.
With your help, I was elected to the Senate in 2014 as part of West Virginia's Republican Revolution.
With majorities in both houses for the first time in over 80 years, we immediately focused on creating jobs and economic growth. In the five years following, WV added more jobs than in the previous 20 years.
We stripped away dozens of job-killing regulations and instituted much needed legal reforms.
I cowrote and cosponsored Amendment 1 to end taxpayer funded abortions in West Virginia.
I helped amend the parental notification bill to add real teeth and prevent human traffickers from forcing abortions on their victims.
I was a cosponsor on and helped pass Constitutional Carry and other measures to protect gunowner privacy.
As the Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Tax Reform, I led the charge to stop the largest tax increase in West Virginia history. Holding the line on spending as well as stopping this tax increase helped create a $200 Million surplus the following year without ANY tax increases.
We used this $200 million surplus to pay for raises for teachers and other state employees.
We passed the Veterans to Agriculture program that Commissioner Leonhardt has been using to help veterans. As well as legalizing fireworks and using the tax dollars to fund a 2nd veterans retirement home in WV.
I wrote, sponsored, and passed out of the senate a right to farm amendment. This is necessary because across the US farmers are increasingly being sued because they are farmers. Only an amendment can prevent a local judge from declaring any legislative protections unconstitutional.
Now with the COVID-19 crisis, staying safe, reopening our economy, creating jobs must all be top priorities.
According to the Moody's rating agency West Virginia is expected to have a $1 billion deficit in next year's budget. The pressure to raise taxes is going to be immense. I have always opposed tax increases and I always will. We can not tax our way out of the hole we are in. We can not tax our way to prosperity.
Instead we need to continue the reforms we started in 2014. We still have many regulations that do more harm than good. We still have a legal system that inadequately protects people and businesses from frivolous lawsuits.
We must reform our tax system in a way that helps drive economic growth while paying for necessary services.
I stand with President Trump as he works to Make America Great Again.
With your help we will continue the work we have started, enhancing our freedoms, growing our economy and protecting our Christian Values.
I have a strong work ethic which made me an integral part of the leadership team in the Senate.
I have Chaired the Natural Resources Committee, Agriculture Committee, Select Committee on Tax Reform, Pensions Committee and was Vice Chair of the Education Committee.
I have been endorsed by the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the Associated Builders and Contractors, The WV Coal Association, the Family Policy Council and West Virginians for Life. I also have a 100% A rating from the National Federation of Independent Businesses, 100% A rating from the NRA and 100% A rating from West Virginia Citizens Defense League.
If you want to see more jobs, guard our freedoms and give opportunities to our children I need your vote on June 9. Please vote Robert Karnes for State Senate on June 9.
Let's help President Trump Make America Great Again.
5 QUESTIONS
1) What are the biggest issues and challenges facing our region and how do you plan to address them?
a. Creating jobs and economic growth.
We have reformed our legal system, reduced regulations and streamlined the business startup process. We need to continue those efforts and we need to reform our tax code to be more job and economic growth friendly.
b. Recovering from the COVID-19 crisis.
The long-term effect of the COVID-19 crisis is going to require that we double down on the economic reforms we started in 2015. According to Moody's West Virginia is likely to have a $1 Billion hole in next year's budget. It's important that we not revert to raising taxes to fill budget shortfalls. This approach has caused a lot of economic damage to West Virginia over the years. Instead we need to continue the reforms we have started if we want to see West Virginia create sustainable, long-term growth and more jobs.
c. Better Access to interstate markets.
We need to finish Corridor H.
2) Why should voters select you for the position?
I recognize the need to continue our pro-jobs reforms, to protect our Christian values and defend our constitutional freedoms.
I am an experienced senator with a proven conservative, pro-jobs, pro-growth record.
I will support President Trump as he works to rebuild our economy.
I have a very strong pro-life record.
I am not a bench warmer content to let others decide our future. My work ethic put me directly into leadership roles in the WV Senate. I will continue working just as hard for a better future for our children.
I strongly support the 2nd Amendment.
I co-wrote and co-sponsored Amendment 1 ending taxpayer funded abortion in West Virginia. I am 100% pro-life.
3) What changes would you make in the state's pandemic response and stimulus efforts?
COVID-19 has certainly caused major disruption in our daily lives and our economy. We need to recognize and thank the first responders who have continued to work as we have picked our way through the process of shaping a response.
I think we should be looking at ways to restart our economy that continue to address concerns raised by healthcare workers dealing with COVID-19 and citizens alike. But we also must keep in mind all of the small business owners who are seeing a lifetime of work at risk because they can't open their doors. They also have tens of thousands of employees who may not have a job to come back too if we do not start moving in that direction soon.
I encourage everyone to use common sense when out in public to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This is not the only virus and the same practices; washing hands often, being careful when handling food, etc would prevent the spread of other diseases even in normal times.
4) What is your realistic time frame for the completion of Corridor H?
I believe if we focus on it, we can complete it around 2030. It is important we elect somebody who has a clear vision and understands how important economically Corridor H is to Elkins, Buckhannon and the rest of the central WV highlands. I have lived and worked in Randolph and Upshur counties for more than 20 years, I know how important it is to our region. I helped make sure it was included in the Roads to Progress plans and I will make sure the state continues to prioritize Corridor H.
5) What would you do to help local businesses, such as AHF Wood Products in Beverly, return to full capacity?
There are several pieces necessary to getting our local economy going post COVID-19.
We are a natural resource intensive economy and AHF is a natural resource refiner in an extended supply chain. The extended supply means disruptions like COVID-19 can have very long-lasting effects. The construction industry in a few dozen states will each influence the demand for AHF products.
AHF is a great asset to Randolph County because it helps turn our timber into a marketable product that is exported to many states, but it also means we are at the mercy of the other state's COVID-19 policies. Governor Justice needs to be very proactive in helping to reopen those states to West Virginia's exports.
Employees at AHF need to feel safe working and I know that some employees and their families are very concerned about COVID19. I think management at AHF will need to address these concerns directly with employees. And they will need to follow guidelines issued by state and federal authorities related to protective barriers, PPE, etc.
We are still going to be feeling in the negative effects of COVID-19 next January. I believe there is going to be a massive budgetary shortfall. Moody's predicts at least a $1 Billion shortfall. We are going to have to work very hard to convince some that a huge tax increase to fill the hole is a very bad idea. We need to be ready to do hard work on the budget to ensure we do not harm our economy long-term by choosing the easy solution. I have never and will never support tax increases on our over-taxed state. They would be very harmful to our economy. Staying away from tax increases will help AHF and other local industries be competitive and regain their footing at a time the economy will likely be fully coming back to life.