State Senator Kent Leonhardt will run to be commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, he announced Monday.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State Senator Kent Leonhardt on Monday announced his plans to run for commissioner of the Department of Agriculture.
“After much consideration, I have decided to run for agriculture commissioner again because we need to grow farming and better serve West Virginians,” the Republican lawmaker from Monongalia County said in front of a small crowd outside the state Capitol.
Flanked by his wife, Shirley, seven state Senators including senate President and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Cole, and three delegates, Leonhardt said he planned to modernize state government’s role in helping farmers grow and provide West Virginians access to fresh food.
“I certainly do feel that department needs some new leadership to bring it forward,” he said of the agriculture department.
Citing his military background, Leonhardt said his expertise could help improve the complex operation of the state agency.
Following the morning press conference, Leonhardt mentioned a few specific things he would like to do as agriculture commissioner.
“First off we have to get a little bit better in the planning and the organization of the way things are being done,” he said.
Pointing to his involvement in the State Veterans and Warriors to Agriculture program, which is designed to integrate veterans into agriculture and support those already operating in the field through various training and support programs, Leonhardt said he’d like to see the department spearhead similar initiatives in the future.
“Agriculture is a business that has tremendous growth potential…