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) In the name of transparency, would you be willing to provide a written monthly update to the public on your efforts as a legislator, if elected?

I have strived to keep folks in my former district (43rd – Randolph and Pocahontas) and all West Virginians aware of the happenings of the legislature during the regular and special sessions. I know many have jobs that keep them busy and unable to attend or listen to the legislative session or committee meetings, and many of our seniors and others cannot attend because of mobility issues. Nearly every week during regular sessions of the legislature I updated folks through social media and live videos of the status of bills as well as the movement of bills through the committee process. I would love to provide a monthly column detailing the happenings of the Regular Session, special sessions (if any), and Interim Committee Reports. I have fought back against attacks to eliminate public notices in our newspapers because I believe the more information the folks of the district have, the more transparent our government will be.

2) What ideas do you have to help citizens and businesses struggling to regain their footing after the issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic?

I think the state legislature should partner with local Chambers of Commerce to conduct surveys with a wide variety of businesses and their owners/managers so that the legislature truly understands the issues and barriers our businesses are facing. I know finding people to fill open positions is something I hear from far too many business owners and managers. Many businesses are struggling with overly bureaucratic agencies and high workers compensation rates. Once we have compiled the data from the surveys the legislature could then begin fixing the barriers our businesses are dealing with from a legislative standpoint.

We have to improve our high-speed internet capabilities. Many folks are now working from home and businesses have had to adapt with how they conduct meetings and also how their products and services are sold or marketed. The pandemic showed that our high speed internet capabilities were not, and are still not where they should be for people to work from home and for businesses to conduct their business and market their products and services. The legislature must continue working to bring fast and reliable internet to all West Virginians. This would not only help residents and businesses but also our schools and hospitals recover and adapt post-covid.

3) What’s the best decision you’ve made, either as a legislator or on the campaign trail?

The best decision I’ve made was to run for office. I knew I wanted to give back to the community and to help folks have a voice in government and the legislative process, but I didn’t know if running for office was the right move. It was definitely the right move because running for office and being a Delegate the last four years has been the biggest honor of my life. I have met so many wonderful people around the area and talked with many about their issues and concerns, had I not not run for the House of Delegates our paths may have never crossed. It’s a tough job but it’s absolutely worth it when I’ve been able to help folks with their problems and to help them with their legislative concerns. With my service, I have been able to bring over $30,000 in grants back to Randolph and Pocahontas Counties to benefit some truly amazing non-profit organizations. Many of my best decisions bill-wise were very easy decisions. Co-sponsoring and voting to cap out of pocket insulin costs for diabetics is one I’m particularly proud of. Also, voting for the elimination of the personal income tax on social security to give our seniors a tax break, offering the budget amendment to give our law enforcement officers level four bullet proof vests, and voting against attacks to public education have been some of my best decisions on the floor.

4) What’s the worst mistake you’ve made, either as a legislator or on the campaign trail?

I am by no means perfect or will ever claim to be. There have been many hard decisions over the last four years that some people agree with and some people do not. Several bills I personally agreed or disagreed with but voted opposite of my beliefs to truly be a voice for the whole district. I have always sought out a balanced and common sense approach when deliberating legislation. My biggest mistake as a legislator and in life, is that I tend to take on more than I should and over schedule myself. Every mistake no matter how big or small is an opportunity for growth and to become better.

5) Why should a voter choose you over your opponent?

I’m asking for the continued support of the voters for many reasons. I am a lifelong resident of Randolph County and my family has been in Pendleton and Randolph Counties for hundreds of years. My only aspiration is to make our district and West Virginia the absolute best for us and future generations. I have consistently had a plan and a platform of bettering the district and the state. I have worked to better our education and healthcare systems and have been endorsed by AFT-WV, WVEA, WVSSP, the WV Nurses Association, and the WV Hospital Association. As Minority Chairman of the Technology and Infrastructure Committee I have worked to bring high speed internet that is reliable and affordable as well funding for our roads and to finish Corridor H. I have held companies accountable for substandard phone, internet, and cable services. My platform includes bringing new 21st century jobs with good wages and benefits to our area through investments in technology and infrastructure, ensuring our small businesses can grow and be successful, and protecting our major industries like timber and energy. I have been endorsed by the United Mine Workers and the WV Coal Association for my work to protect our miners and coal industry that my father and uncles worked in for many years.

I have life experience in working a full time job and for most of my teaching career held a 2nd part-time job in order to pay my rent/mortgage, utilities, and other bills. I know how difficult it can be and what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck and the help that our working families need. I’m a strong supporter of our public schools and all the public employees of the state. I graduated from Harman School, Marshall University, and West Virginia University, and taught at Harman School and Elkins High School. I grew up in the country down the Sully Road and growing up I helped work on the family farm in Sully. I know the hard work our farmers do to put food on the table because I grew up doing that work with my family. I know the hard work and struggles our small businesses face as my grandfather started his small store in Bemis in the 1960s that my parents now own and operate. I have a proven record of working with both parties in the legislature to accomplish good legislation that benefits our communities and residents. We need more cooperation and working together for common goals and less divisiveness. I am always available to listen to everyone’s concerns and help in any way that I am able to, and would appreciate your support to be your voice for another term.

Elias Coop-Gonzalez

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

He moved to West Virginia as a young child, originally born in Guatemala, where his mother is from. During President Trump’s re-election in 2020, he was the youngest member of the Republican National Convention from West Virginia.

At 18, he earned the distinguished title of Academy Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, the leading conservative thinktank in the world. 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.

After studying at Davis & Elkins College for a year, he transferred to Liberty University — where he is currently completing his bachelor’s degree in economics. Elias has partaken in a number of policy conferences such as CPAC, Mont Pelerin Society (based in Switzerland), and the Philadelphia Society, the latter two being free market economic forums.

He 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.

FIVE QUESTIONS

1) In the name of transparency, would you be willing to provide a written monthly update to the public on your efforts as a legislator, if elected?

Of course.

2) What ideas do you have to help citizens and businesses struggling to regain their footing after the issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic?

First off, I acknowledge (unlike my opponent) that the pandemic is over. Delegate Cody Thompson voted earlier this year to extend mask mandates in schools. Again — not two years ago, but this year. Our community cannot move forward if we sit in the past.

I will also fight to protect employees from being forced to take vaccines as a condition of employment. Our economy has been (and continues to be) devastated by mass resignations due to coercive vaccine measures. That is a decision not up to any government or employer, but rather to an individual and their doctor.

Lastly, I will fight like hell to see Corridor H finished. It is so close to getting completed, and to say it is long overdue is an understatement. It should not take more than a few months to finish, let alone several more years. Enough with the road politics.

3) What’s the best decision you’ve made, either as a legislator or on the campaign trail?

The best decision I made was to go door to door. I knocked hundreds of doors throughout the district. It gave me an opportunity to meet constituents face to face and hear their concerns.

4) What’s the worst mistake you’ve made, either as a legislator or on the campaign trail?

I wish I had spent a little more time at the senior centers in the district. I’ll be sure to do that as your Delegate.

5) Why should a voter choose you over your opponent?

It is simple — I am a conservative Constitutionalist. My opponent is not. In fact, Delegate Cody Thompson could not be further from these things. He’s expressed support publicly for transgender participants in women’s sports, abolishing the electoral college and gun control, and opposed abortion restrictions. He voted against a bill intended to prevent Critical Race Theory from being taught in West Virginia schools. There are many more ultra-liberal positions Delegate Thompson has, though I doubt this newspaper holds sufficient space to include them.