Democrats vying for local, state and federal positions were on hand for a meet your candidate at the Milsop Community Center in Weirton Saturday, Apr. 19. The event was sponsored by the Hancock and Brooke Democratic Women.
Mike Pushkin, chairman of the West Virginia Democratic Party, was on hand to welcome those in attendance and to warn of a dangerous mail card campaign the Republicans are waging. Since the Republicans closed their primary, only registered Republicans may vote on the Republican tickets.
The Democrats, said Pushkin, chose to keep their primary open allowing not only Democrats, but those registered no party affiliations and independents to vote on the Democrat ballot.
Pushkin said Republicans are waging a mail campaign suggesting that no party affiliations and independents can’t cast a vote.
Among the candidates speaking was Jeff Kessler, a former WV Senate President, who is running against Sen. Shelly Moore-Capito. Kessler who served in the West Virginia Senate for many years, is an attorney who is a Northern Panhandle resident. Couching himself as the working man’s candidate, Kessler worked as a garbage man while working his way through college. He cited the economy, clean water and health care as issues the average voter cares about.
