Coop-Gonzalez

CHARLESTON — A Randolph County delegate has announced his support of the newly formed West Virginia Freedom Caucus.

Four Republican state legislators announced the official launch of the West Virginia Freedom Caucus on Sunday, to coincide with Constitution Day.

Elias Coop-Gonzalez, a Republican delegate representing District 67, released a press statement asking the public to pray for the success of the caucus.

“For too long, the establishment in Charleston has undermined the will of the people and the Constitution,” Coop-Gonzalez said in the statement.

“They have deliberately weakened bills meant to protect children from gender insanity. They have wasted billions of taxpayer dollars on useless projects and corporate subsidies,” he states. “They have advanced the far-left, Biden-backed ‘green’ energy agenda.

“They have shut down any attempt to grant West Virginians vaccine freedom, which even most Democrat states have. They have increased the size and scope of government… and much more.

“For these reasons, I am proud to announce the creation of the West Virginia State Freedom Caucus, which will actually advance the Constitution and the will of our people,” Coop-Gonzalez said.

“Please pray for our efforts as we steer West Virginia forward by bringing us back to the Biblical principles that made our country the greatest in history.”

The West Virginia Freedom Caucus includes Delegate Bill Ridenour (R – Jefferson, 100th District), Delegate Geno Chiarelli (R – Monongalia, 78th District), State Sen. Patricia Rucker (R – Berkeley, 16th District) as Vice Chair, and Delegate Geoff Foster (R – Putnam, 20th District) as Chair.

On Sunday, Foster stated, “We will obey our oaths to defend the Constitutions of the United States and West Virginia against all enemies. We will uphold the Founding Fathers vision of Liberty, Representative Democracy, Limited Government, Free Enterprise, and Truth.

“We will combat tyranny, corruption and waste, to shepherd in a revitalization of West Virginia and our economic well-being.

“We will stand for the rights of all states to govern themselves, and will fight federal despotism. Mountaineers have made it clear that they will be Free, and we will do everything in our power to preserve that Freedom,” Foster said.

The mission statement of the caucus is, “The West Virginia Freedom Caucus will protect personal freedoms, shrink the size of government and governmental control, reinforce traditional family values, reduce spending and taxes, and promote Constitutional Conservative values as intended by the Founding Fathers of the United States.

“Too many politicians claim they stand for these values, but truly care only about their own political power. The Freedom Caucus will expose these politicians to West Virginia voters regardless of party affiliation.”