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‘Family Values’ PAC seeks Democratic control of WV Senate

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — West Virginia Family Values, a group that just emerged during this election cycle, has been making waves across the state with political radio advertisements targeting particular Senate races, including the 16th Senatorial District.

The Political Action Committee has stirred controversy, with Sen. Chris Walters, R-Putnam, even filing a lawsuit against the group for an ad he said associated him with a Jackson County sexual predator case because of the ad’s alleged ambiguity.

The group has issued radio ads denouncing 16th Senatorial District candidate Patricia Rucker, a Republican, claiming she supports out-of-state interests and taking money away from public schools in order to support private or charter schools.

The 16th Senatorial District covers part of Berkeley County and all of Jefferson County.

Lou Ann Johnson, political director for West Virginia Family Values, said the group became involved in this election because it wants to see change in the West Virginia Legislature, specifically wanting to help Democrats take control of the Senate.

“Our goal is taking back the state Senate, taking back Democratic control,” Johnson said. “Some people look at family values one way — maybe a set of social issues important to them — but at the end of the day, being able to raise a family with a living wage are family values, and those are economic issues.”

Rucker, who has not responded to the group’s negative ads directly, said the claims are “sad” and “ridiculous.”

“The worst part is the dishonesty. Negative ads are not new to campaigning, but the complete flagrant lies, the twisting of my words … it’s just so ridiculous,” Rucker said. “There might be legitimate issues that people should know about, and we’re really kind of crying wolf here. The biggest issue is they did not attack me on my actual stance. I would be OK with honest, frank discussions about issues we disagree on, but that wasn’t what they did.”

When asked where the group obtains information for its ads, Johnson said it’s a matter of public record.

“A lot of it is public information, public statements and questionnaires that are public information that candidates have responded to,” Johnson said. “Obviously, Patricia Rucker doesn’t have a vote record, but she has statements and questionnaire responses about her positions.”

According to the West Virginia Secretary of State’s campaign filing records, the group has received over $2.7 million in contributions and has spent over $2.2 million, but it has not directly contributed to any particular candidate’s campaign.

Nearly all of the group’s expenditures are registered to digital and radio advertising.

Johnson said the group, which is financially supported by several labor and education organizations, supports a variety of ideals that she said the Republicans that are being targeted do not.

“We’re about jobs that offer wages that a worker can raise a family on, protecting coal miners and increasing investments in public schools,” Johnson said. “The Legislature led by the Republicans in the past have done things to hurt working families, and we believe (Rucker) would support those same policies. It’s just out of step with our family values.”

Rucker said the allegations are upsetting.

“They say I’m for school choice and charter schools and taking away funding from public schools, but nobody has even proposed taking money from public schools. They say I represent out-of-state interests when I have received a total of $7,000 from outside the state, mainly from family,”Rucker said.

Johnson said the group has endorsed Rucker’s opponent, Democratic candidate Stephen Skinner, but Skinner says he has no involvement with the group.

“I have certainly nothing to do with them, and I don’t know what they have done. Certainly I am not aware of what they have done locally. I welcome endorsements from all sorts of organizations across the state, and I’m vaguely aware of them, but I have zero knowledge of their process,”Skinner said. “This group has not contributed to my campaign. They may be spending money, but they are not a donor to me.”

Johnson said the group is trying to reach middle, working class families and thinks the information in the ads is “fair, and many West Virginians would find it unacceptable.”

Rucker said she’s determined to maintain a positive campaign.

“It’s sad that the political discourse has turned into this, but I’m very grateful that people are starting to learn the truth. I’m so focused on winning my race and my positive campaign, which I’m very proud of,” Rucker said.

Staff writer Emily Daniels can be reached at 304-263-8931, ext. 132, or twitter.com/emilykdaniels.

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