Endorsements, Opinion

Endorsement: Hardworking Morrisey deserves re-election

A Daily Mail editorial from the Charleston Gazette-Mail

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The race for attorney general is perhaps the state’s most contentious, even more so than the race for governor.

Republican Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is seeking a second term, facing Democratic challenger Doug Reynolds, a legislator and businessman from Huntington.

Both have thrown their fair share of mud, and each blames the other for targeting family members and making the race personal.

Morrisey and Reynolds met last week for an impromptu debate on the state Capitol steps at “high noon.” The unmoderated debate was free of frills, and at times the candidates got argumentative, but remained somewhat cordial.

It’s been an interesting race, to say the least.

The office of attorney general is an important part of West Virginia state government. The attorney general is one of six constitutional offices comprising the Board of Public Works and serves as the state’s chief legal counsel. Representing the state’s interests, as well as those of government officials, agencies and boards is a key part of the attorney general’s duties. The office also enforces consumer protection, unfair trade practices and civil rights on behalf of state residents, among other duties.

It’s not a job to be taken lightly, and Morrisey has proven he takes his responsibilities seriously.

Since taking office in 2012, Morrisey has turned the office around. He took the reins from Darrell McGraw, who served 20 years in the post and in many ways cast a shadow over the office. Over his two decades, McGraw was accused of using the post for political gain and seemed unwilling to bow to technological changes that would have made the attorney general’s office run more efficiently.

As small as it may seem, Morrisey modernized the office to make it more responsive to the state’s and residents’ needs. He hired a host of talented deputies, clerks and others who use their legal expertise to effectively work on the state’s behalf. Morrisey’s office focuses on regulations he thinks are harmful to West Virginia, including an ongoing lawsuit against the EPA’s Clean Power Plan.

He also pre-empted legislative action by banning “trinkets” bearing his name and image, showing taxpayers he will not use their money to pay for pencils, pill dispensers and other unnecessary items for political gain. The Legislature in 2015 passed a law banning other public officials from doing the same.

Reynolds is young, bright and determined. He says he would focus on the state’s drug problem and build up the Consumer Protection Division if elected. He also favors transparency.

But Morrisey has proven he has the determination and the knowledge — and an intelligent, driven supporting staff — to move West Virginia forward. He deserves re-election.

See more from the Charleston Gazette-Mail. 

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