Ireland Discusses the Economy, Voting at Chamber Luncheon
By Cathy Patton
“Every time I visit, it feels a lot more prosperous. It feels better down here. You’re not dead …Be very proud of what you’re doing here in McDowell County,” Secretary of State Betty Ireland related Wednesday during the McDowell Chamber of Commerce Luncheon.
Ireland visited Welch to address the chamber and to induct two local residents into the inaugural Class of the West Virginia’s Voter’s Hall of Fame during the County Commission meeting later that day. (See related story.)
During her talk, Ireland had plenty to say about both West Virginia’s business climate and the importance of voting.
“We’re open for business in West Virginia, but not open wide enough,” she said.
To improve the state economy, the secretary stressed that “we should take care of the businesses that are here” before reaching to outside businesses. We should also look to state universities for assistance because the university research centers help develop the jobs.
“Research centers are the way to go. That’s where the growth will come from,” she said. “…Until we change our business environment, we won’t get the big auto plants here.”
The state’s main impediment to economic growth is not taxes, but “the lack of the work force that businesses need.” On any given day, Ireland said 200 welding jobs are available, but the positions are not being filled.
“Our biggest problem is the lack of a skilled work force,” she said, adding that West Virginians are good workers when they’re on the job. The problem is insuring that they have the training to get the jobs.
“We don’t do well with kids who don’t go to college…and we don’t do as well with the technical high schools as we can,” she said.
The lack of technical training, she said, helps to create the problem.
After locating here, Ireland said that Tort Reform and Worker’s Compensation become chief concerns of businesses. “They want to know what we’re going to do about it,” she noted.
“We’re just not as business friendly as we need to be, but we’re getting there,” she said, switching to the topic of the May 13 Primary Election.
In touching on the primary, Ireland commended the County Clerk’s Office.
“Don (Hicks) is running a good ship down here,” she said.
Since taking office, Ireland said she has worked to eradicate every excuse people have for not voting. Those 18 to 24 don’t participate in the electoral process, as they should. To increase the number, Ireland said her office is setting up a Face Book Page aimed at college students. The poke feature on the page allows the user to send reminders. “We’ll ask college kids to poke their friends to vote,” she smiled
In listing other changes, Ireland said Independents can now vote in one another’s primary, either Democrat, Republican or Mountain Party.
On a national level, she said 34 percent of voters are registered as Independent. Twelve percent of state voters are Independents, and the number is rising.
Ireland cautioned that provisional ballots get thrown out 99 percent of the time.
“Don’t do that to West Virginia votes,” she said. “If you go to the polls and are not registered there, ask where you’re supposed to be. Poll workers have to tell you where to go.”
Voter information is open to the public, which often makes domestic violence victims afraid to vote, Ireland said. To insure that more domestic violence victims do vote, she said the Voter Confidentiality Program has been enacted. The program allows the voter to use a blind post office box for a mailing address, and prevents them from being tracked.
“Go to the (domestic violence) centers and go through the process,” she advised.
In discussing another change, she explained that Democrat and Republican candidates to the national convention won’t be on the ballot in the May 13 Primary. Instead, Ireland said the delegates will be selected at state conventions. The Republican Party held its convention earlier in the month. The Democrats will hold theirs in early June.
Prior to the Primary, Ireland said she will doing a number of public service announcements on overseas voting.
On a personal note, Ireland said she decided not to seek re-election to be able to care for her ailing 94-year-old parents.
“On another day, during another election, you’ll see me on the ballot,” she said.
