Gov. Bob Wise (D-W.Va), aka Hotlips, Not Running for Re-election; Dem vultures circling carcass

WV GOP press release | Aug. 6, 2003 | W.Va. Republican Party

[mountaineer]

Wise Not Running; Democrat vultures will begin circling the carcass but Republicans have already stepped forward

CHARLESTON, WV – Gov. Bob Wise announced today to selected cabinet heads and gubernatorial area representatives from his office that he will not seek reelection in 2004.

“No doubt the vultures in the Democratic Party who have been circling the body and waiting for the Governor’s dying gasp will now go in for the kill and line up to take his place,” said state GOP Chairman Kris Warner.

“The Republican candidates have already stepped up and let the people know they are ready to serve, regardless of whether Governor Wise was in the race or not.”

The labor unions have already chosen their anointed replacement for Wise – and it’s not Joe Manchin. Labor leaders have picked Lloyd Jackson and will instruct Democrat leaders to support him, according to sources.

“Democrat labor leaders and the hierarchy of Byrd, Rockefeller, Mollohan and Rahall, meeting in smoke-filled back rooms have chosen Jackson as their anointed candidate,” said Warner.

“Jackson has done his time in the Legislature, and he’s part of the failed leadership of the past decades. But the way the Democrat leaders see it, he’s a continuation of the good old boy network who fits in perfectly with their plan to maintain the status quo. On our side, the people will decide who our nominee will be – and it will be someone who understands the fundamental changes needed to turn our state around.”

Warner, who predicted Tuesday morning on the statewide “Talkline” radio program with Hoppy Kercheval that Wise would not seek reelection, said the Democrat leaders are in total disarray.

“Democrat leaders around the state have been meeting to devise a plan to stop the oncoming Republican juggernaut,” said Warner. “They see the writing on the wall. In the last few months since the state Republican Party became a dominant force in West Virginia, the Senate Finance Chairman, Senate Judiciary Chairman, State Democratic Chairman and now State Governor have all gone by the wayside.

“The tide is turning, and West Virginians can look forward to an election in 2004 that offers a choice between the failed status quo and GOP candidates in every race from Governor to every Legislative seat who have a clear vision for the rescuing our state for future generations.”

[martin_fierro]

Wise. Ass.

[mountaineer]

Governor content to let rumors fly
Hunting jobs, house in D.C.? Or running in 2004?


By Phil Kabler
STAFF WRITER

Gov. Bob Wise confirmed Tuesday he was vacationing in the Washington, D.C., area two weeks ago, but declined to put to rest a tidal wave of rumors about his political future.

“I understand the political world is really caught up in this,” Wise said of speculation over whether he’ll seek re-election, whether he was house-hunting in Washington, or whether he and wife, Sandy, have been extended job offers in the nation’s capital.

“Actually, I was on vacation,” he said of the Washington trip. “My family and I had a great time.”

Asked to elaborate, he said, “Most families treat vacation as a private matter, and that’s the way we treat it.”

Wise also said he’ll make an announcement on whether he will seek re-election in 2004 “sometime before 2004 — when I’m ready.”

Spokeswoman Amy Shuler Goodwin said she expects that the governor will make an announcement within the next week or two.

Wise said Tuesday, “I’ll make an announcement about my campaign plans when it’s appropriate.”

The governor’s political future has been the topic of widespread speculation since allegations surfaced in May of an affair with Angela Mascia, an employee in the state Development Office.

The rumors reached a fever pitch this week, perhaps because the Legislature was in town for monthly interim meetings.

The departure of Wise, a formidable campaigner who has raised $1.3 million for the 2004 campaign, would turn the Democratic primary into a wide-open race, with any number of potential candidates joining the field.

Secretary of State Joe Manchin is the only Democrat who has said he is running for governor in 2004. Several Republicans have said they will run.

Wise brushed off the rumors as fodder for what is normally a slow month for politics.

“Most people in the state are more worried about their futures than they are in my future, and I agree with them,” Wise said.

He said he would rather talk about such things as his announcement Tuesday of a program to provide low-cost health-care coverage to West Virginians who lose their jobs to foreign competition, and to retirees whose pension plans have been liquidated.

“Jobs, education, economic development, health care,” he said. “That’s what people are concerned about,” he said.

http://wvgazette.com/section/News/2003080543

[lilylangtree]

Saw this post and called my WV mama and papa (both are BIG demos and they feel sorry for my repub choice). They hadn't heard the news yet. Both indicated along with quite a number of our WV relatives that they had NO intention of voting for Hot Lips Wise if he chose re-election. Along the same vein, both of my folks would love to get rid of their State Democrat Senator Tracey Dempsey, who's doing nothing in Charleston but lining his pockets.

[mountaineer]

I just hope they don't vote for the Dem candidate, whoever it may be. Vote for Rob Capehart!

[lilylangtree]

Asked them who they thought would replace Wise. Since both are big democrats, they're looking at Mollihan. I've tried to turn them to the pubby way of thinking since their philosophy is in alignment with conservative pubbies. In fact my dad was raised a pub. Mom's always been a demo (would use the name RAT but she's my mama afterall). Unfortunately, my dad lost his job under a pub administration back in the 60's. He said then he'd never vote pubby again. And he hasn't except the one WV Pub Congressional Representative in the 80's who helped him obtain some benefits. In fact both of my folks went around their local area campaigning for this pub but he lost the election. That's the only pub they've ever voted for that I can remember. Rather than vote pub, they just leave the box blank if they don't like the demo candidate.

[mountaineer]

Sheets Byrd has anointed Alan Mollohan as his successor in the Senate, whenever the doddering old fool finally decides not to run for reelection, or dies (whichever comes first). I really doubt Mollohan would be interested in being governor, considering he doesn't want to live in this state (who knows when he ever did, for that matter)!

[lilylangtree]

Thanks! I'll pass this on to the folks. I miss beautiful WV but not the politics. I was in WV for the month of July.

[Mo1]

The labor unions have already chosen their anointed replacement for Wise – and it’s not Joe Manchin. Labor leaders have picked Lloyd Jackson and will instruct Democrat leaders to support him, according to sources.

The Union Leaders will instruct?

Gee .. didn't they do that in California also

It's very telling of who the Democrats answer to

[Kuksool]

There is now a job opening for West Virginia Governor next year.

[Timesink]

Who's Lloyd Jackson? I've never even heard of him.

[ZOTnot]

Mountaineer, look for the cabinet secretaries to start 'bailing' now. The budget is a mess anyhow so who would want to stay around the Titanic so long as they can still catch a lifeboat.

[Timesink]

BTW, who do you have to sleep with to get on the GOP mailing list?

[ZOTnot]

Timesink,

Jackson was the state senator from Hamlin (Lincoln County). Was chair of the Senate Education committee.

[Timesink]

Underwood 2K4!

[lilylangtree]

Lincoln County, WV has been in a timewarp for the past 40 years under the leadership of Lloyd Jackson, and his son LJ, Jr. They run Lincoln County at Hamlin. That's why there's no industry there except teaching and welfare. To work outside of teaching profession, people in Lincoln County travel to nearby Logan County which does have some medical arenas since Lincoln County doesn't even have a hospital, Barboursville/Huntington (don't remember the county these cities are in) appear to be thriving towns if you judge by the infrastructure or leave the whole state altogether like I and many citizens did years ago and are still doing. Lloyd Jackson would be the worst for West Virginia. Lincoln County schools are so bad since the teaching profession has poor quality teachers that schools have been taken over by the state. Some relatives and even myself return to Lincoln County occasionally over the years. Nothing changes. Sure, superficial changes. But the bottom line is that Lloyd Jackson and his network of good ole boys are indicative as to what's wrong with WV. I can't stress enough how bad Lincoln County is economically under the continued leadership of Lloyd Jackson. BAD, BAD, BAD!

[ZOTnot]

BAD BAD BAD:

Must be REALLY bad!

I heard Jackson lost/gave up his senate seat because voters were irate about him backing the plan to consolidate the four high schools.

Barboursville and Huntington are in Cabell Co. Barboursville is flourishing. Huntington is not. There is a joke about Barboursville annexing Huntington because Huntington is nearly bankrupt and has an awful mayor and city council to boot.

[lilylangtree]

Forgot to add that in Hamlin, across from the Lincoln County courthouse is a very new-looking building called the LCOC (Lincoln County Opportunity Co., Inc.) headed by one Alice J. Workman Tomblin. This building is newer and better looking than the Courthouse. This Company advertises as providing home health care services in the county. Ms. Tomblin and her family have been part of Jackson's Lincoln County Democrat machinery since before I was born. Ms. Tomblin's caregivers are paid minimum wage. Remember, if you aren't a county employee or a teacher, the only other major industry is welfare. Yet, through Ms. Tomblin's connections, she draws a salary with benefits of over $100,000.00 a year which is more than the governor of WV receives. State Senator Tracey Dempsey is on the board of directors that oversees the LCOC who voted for this excessive salary with benefits. Ms. Tomblin doesn't even have a college education but feels her salary is warranted because she's on call 24/7 at her choice. Ms. Tomblin represents just a part of the graft and other illegalities under Lloyd Jackson's leadership. Ms. Tomblin and other Jackson's cronies like Senator Dempsey are salivating at the thought of what his potential governorship will bring to them and their pockets.

[ZOTnot]

Any connection there to Senator Tomblin?

[lilylangtree]

Don't know. Ms. Workman Tomblin was married to a Jesse Tomblin that died about 10 years ago of lung cancer. Mr. Tomblin worked at American Car, where the employees sprayed the inside of coal cars. The company, I believe, no longer exists. Too many of its employees contracted lung cancer I suspect. Mr. Tomblin left his wife quite well off financially but with her unbelievable salary and benefits she commands attention in Jackson's democrat machinery in Lincoln County. Lloyd Jackson will be bad for the people of WV. He'll just continue with the policy of do-nothing for West Virginians like he has for Lincoln County. In Hamlin, same faces same political machinery same philosophy of do-nothing.