“Our country is in the middle of an incredible war, an incredible fight for the heart and soul of our nation. Our future,” Morrisey said during the event at the Elks Country Club.

“As your attorney general, since 2013, we’ve been on the front lines taking on all the tough fights that matter for our state and for our country. Let me tell you that the other side, they are ferocious. They come after West Virginia and our country every single day,” he said.

“That’s why it’s been the privilege of my life to serve as your attorney general. Because we give a little more than we get. And we’ve been fortunate to deliver on issue after issue after issue in fights to protect West Virginia, to protect our conservative values, to defend our Constitution, to uphold our freedoms, and ensure that the rule of law means something in our country.

“No double standard of justice should occur in America, and I hate what’s being done to Trump, and I fight every day to stop it,” Morrisey said.

The Inter-Mountain photos by Brad Johnson Don Wetsch, left, waves to the crowd after being named the Republican of the Year during the Randolph County Republican Executive Committee’s Lincoln Day Dinner Saturday in Elkins. Carolyn Jackson, at right, presents the award as state Senator Robert Karnes looks on.

The attorney general also noted that he has worked closely with several Randolph County residents.

“I remember when I first announced for attorney general back in 2012. One of the first calls I made was to this incredible woman, Carolyn Jackson. She steered me right in Randolph County in my first election, and she’s never let me down since. You’ve got a great executive committee. You have wonderful people who have knocked on doors for me, who have made the phone calls… I want to thank all of you.”

Also during Saturday’s dinner, the Republican of the Year award was presented to Don Wetsch.

Westsch “has lived in Elkins for more than 55 years,” Jackson said in presenting the award. Wetsch served in the Army, attended West Virginia University, and then had a 22-year career in the U.S. Forest Service in Montana, Idaho, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

He served as the administrative officer of the Monongahela National Forest in Elkins, then worked with the U.S. Treasury Department in Washington, D.C.

Westsch is a member of the Post 29 American Legion.