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Candidates Jeff Disibbio and Craig Hart Talk Water, Roads and More for Southern West Virginia

October 13, 2024 - West Virginia residents of the region which stretches from Mercer County up to southern Wayne County said they want to address basic needs, like water, roads, EMS service and making a living. 

This rural region, one of the hardest hit by the downturn in the coal economy, is the 6th Senate District, and whoever wins in the upcoming election will be a newcomer since the incumbent was defeated in the GOP primary this spring. As a part of Mountain State Spotlight’s “Citizens Agenda,” we asked the candidates about the issues residents said were important to them. 

Craig Hart and Jeff Disibbio

Craig Hart, an agricultural teacher, is running on the Republican ticket. The president of the Two Virginias Chamber of Commerce, Jeff Disibbio, is representing the Democratic ticket. 

Here are their responses to the questions edited for length and clarity. 

The 6th Senate District is large geographically, with many communities that are small in population and somewhat isolated due to the present state of the road system. As a state senator, how do you intend to represent all members of your district, especially the ones who live in sparsely populated areas?

Disibbio: This is the challenge that many of our people face, and it creates a problem for finding employment as well as bringing new businesses to the area. I am fortunate enough to have connections throughout the region that allow me to be aware of the challenges and concerns that many of the citizens have. 

Additionally, in my two current roles as president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of the Two Virginias and governor of Rotary District 7545, I have regular interactions with leaders and voters in my District to be able to discuss their concerns. I will also maintain an open forum online through social media and other similar sources so that the citizens can reach me. As always, I welcome anyone that would want to discuss things in person with me, as has traditionally been done.

Hart: Many road projects have been promised, but have never come to pass. It is time to make good on those promises. Our main roads are falling apart, and many of our side roads are not even safe to travel. It’s not rocket science – It is our job to fix the roads.

We can talk about future improvements once we get closer to a working road system. I have destroyed my vehicle campaigning, so we can be sure working families are destroying their vehicles just trying to survive.

Fix the roads!

Our disabled and elderly have historically relied on their families. I wish this was still the only solution needed, but with families breaking up and moving away, and drugs destroying so many families – other services need to be there to help them.

Transportation to get medical care, medications, and other basics must be available for those who need it the most.

While some areas of the district are making strides for economic growth, like Mercer County, others are having struggles catching up. For many people I spoke with in the district, roads and transportation were seen as the key to opening up the region for more development. As a state senator, which projects underway would you want to see completed. and what other roads projects do you hope to see started during your term?

Disibbio: For our district, the continuation and completion of the Coalfield Expressway is vital to being able to create more businesses and jobs in those areas that are more rural and do not have well established roadways that can make transferring of goods more achievable from these locations. By continuing to expand the Coalfield Expressway, we can provide the rural areas access that can be navigated much easier and can open up the area to many more opportunities with far shorter travel times and improved roads.

We must continue to expand and improve on the Hatfield-McCoy Trails system. The natural beauty and adventure that Southern West Virginia has to offer is second to none and we need to continue to grow and expand the reach and opportunities associated with the tourism that the Hatfield-McCoy Trails bring. Continuing to embrace tourism is something that is crucial to growing the economy here in southern West Virginia and showing off our great state.

The continuation of building infrastructure and broadband throughout District 6 is crucial to providing opportunities for people to be able to connect from wherever they are in West Virginia. This allows for business expansion as well as the ability for remote workers to be located anywhere in our state, and it opens up the job market and potentially higher wages for those West Virginians in remote areas.

Hart: Highways, broadband, flood control, and other promises were made by the state – It is time we push them to make good on them. Business and industry will not freely invest in a state that cannot be trusted to keep its word.  I will fight for promises already made to us but never delivered.

It is worth noting many of our health care facilities lack the beds and resources our community needs – This is something we need to be addressing immediately. The weakest citizens should not continue to be at additional risk.

Then we will identify which projects are most pressing and continue our progress well into the future.

In McDowell and Wyoming counties, the quality of water is a top concern. I have seen first hand, black water taken from creeks people drink out of. As a state senator, what will you do to ensure people in your district have access to affordable drinking water that is free of pollution?

Disibbio: This is a significant concern of mine and one that I have worked on first hand. Our Rotary club partnered with the Rotary Club of Kimball to distribute necessities and clean drinking water a few times over the past 2-3 years.

Additionally, I have worked with private companies and municipalities to create a plan to provide the electrical and water/sanitation infrastructure throughout the underdeveloped parts of Mercer County. This included funding requests that received several million dollars to help facilitate this plan and get the initial work underway to provide these necessities to those areas. This could be the beginning steps to continuing these projects beyond Mercer County’s borders and down into the other areas of need in McDowell and Wyoming counties.  

Hart: I believe the issue is worse than that. Today (Thursday) is the first full day of school we have had all week. Last week we missed instructional time due to an issue with Appalachian Electric Power. My students regularly go without showers or home cooked food due to not having water. Many videos have been sent to me of brown and black water coming out of sinks supplied by the public water system. My students refer to mid-week as “No Water Wednesday” and the end of the week as “No Power Friday”.

The coalfields built this state, and when the coalfields needed help, the state turned its back on them. Most folks from outside the area do not understand how it is to live without reliable (or affordable) water and power.

Wyoming is not in my district, but McDowell, through no fault of its own, has turned into a third world country. Those counties north of McDowell are following it down the road to economic and community destruction. Mercer certainly has its bright spots, and we desperately need it to have continued success. However, ignoring the struggles of its neighbors to the north is not an option. The fallout of one failed area soon visits the roads and neighborhoods of its neighbors. It is in the best interest of Mercer to have a safe and prospering neighbor, not one who looks to Mercer’s supportive services.

Who wants to invest in a community that lacks basic utilities? Even our tourists demand reliable water, power and emergency services.

The two principal cities in Mercer County have ongoing downtown redevelopment efforts underway. As a state senator, what role will you play in supporting efforts like these in your district?

Disibbio: In my role as president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, I have had a direct role in helping this Mercer County growth for the last 6 years. Having worked very closely with the cities, business owners, and county, we have created a unified goal of working together to redevelop the area, while working to obtain both federal and state grant funding opportunities, as well. This collaboration has been a long-term planning goal and has been the result of strategic planning for the future and working together on a plan that is beneficial to all. Having participated in these efforts has given me the unique perspective on what has worked and bringing that to the rest of our District is a great benefit.

Hart: We are a border district, as such, we must be more appealing than the states we border. Currently most of the stores up and down the district are located just outside of West Virginia.

I will work to revisit the tax and regulatory codes to make West Virginia far more appealing to business and industry.

This will not only supply additional tax revenue, but also attract business and industry that never viewed West Virginia as a favorable state to operate from.

Moreover, District 6 has some of the most historic sites in all of America, and they are falling apart before our eyes. If we allow this trend to continue, both its economic opportunity and history will be lost not only to us, but to all American generations to come.

Economic Development efforts need to be placed in saving these great sites and

communities. Never forget, this is not only about tourism, but also our history, families and culture.

Wayne County in particular has been the subject of media accounts regarding lack of resources for first responders, whether it be the lack of speedy ambulance service or the closing of the Dunlow Volunteer Fire Department. What will you do as a state senator to ensure everyone in your district has adequate fire and Emergency Medical Service coverage?

Disibbio: While this would be an issue that the County would have to provide more information about regarding their finances and use thereof, it is my goal to make certain that each and every citizen and business would be afforded the opportunity to have the support of our selfless first responders and the care and service that they provide.

Hart: They say all politics are local. That phrase never hit home with me until I was worrying about my own mom.

Will help be there when it is needed? Are we safe?

Does anyone want to do business in an unsafe area? Do trail riders want to come to an area that lacks emergency health care?

Fire and EMS are life issues. I am pro-life. It is the duty of the state to take care of its people. Funding, oversight, advising, administration assistance, public and vocation training dollars – There is a lot of work to be done. Lives are on the line every day we fail to take action.