Campaign Updates: Listening, Learning, and Leading for Huntington’s Future
The campaign is in full swing, and I want to take a moment to update you on what we’ve been working on. In case you’ve missed any of our recent social media posts, here’s a quick recap!
One of the things I enjoy most is going door to door in our neighborhoods, hearing directly from the people who make our city great. Recently, I spent time walking the streets of Southside and Highlawn, connecting with residents and learning more about their concerns.
As a result of a couple of my conversations, several longtime residents of Highlawn invited me to tour the area around GHPRD’s McClelland Park, where I heard a lot about the decline in their neighborhood. They’re deeply concerned about the rise in crime and drug abuse. People are living along the river, stealing from homes, and even threatening neighbors with machetes. One church is on the verge of closing due to repeated vandalism, and a state worker is at risk of losing his state-provided vehicle because his parked truck has been hit in multiple incidents. The people of Highlawn are desperate to save their neighborhood. They need real solutions, and they deserve better.
Meeting people in their communities gives me the chance to share my plans and, more importantly, hear feedback on what we need to do next. Together, we can ensure that Huntington thrives.
I had a valuable dinner with Jonathan Board, Executive Director of the WV First Foundation, the organization that oversees the $1.2B opioid settlement fund. Jonathan stressed the urgency of the opioid crisis—West Virginia’s overdose death rate is three times the national average, well ahead of the next closest state, which is two times the national average. He said that to reverse the tide, we need live data to see which programs are effective and which ones need to be rethought. I'm committed to supporting these data-driven solutions for Huntington.
Federal Reserve President Tom Barkin and I discussed inflation and how it’s affecting the prices of everything from groceries to housing in Huntington. Tom’s advice for what the next mayor should do was simple: Huntington needs to work with Marshall University to create more housing and drive the growth of our innovation district on 4th Avenue.
I had the honor of speaking at the Mission Tri-State Community Leaders Breakfast, where I shared my thoughts on the current state of the city and my vision for its future. I discussed the concept of "faithful citizenship"—how we can uphold basic human dignity while also ensuring public safety and protecting the rights of residents. Mayor Steve Williams, Dr. Michael Kilkenny of the Cabell-Huntington Health Department, and many other community leaders were in attendance, making it a great opportunity to engage in important discussions about these critical issues.
I also met with Dr. Stephen Petrany and Dr. Lyn O'Connell to review an updated draft of the Resiliency Plan, a collaborative roadmap for Huntington's recovery from the substance use epidemic. The plan will be re-released soon and is intended to help guide our community toward a healthier future.
On the campaign front, you’ll start to see more of me everywhere you go. We’ve released some new video content on social media, and supporters are putting out yard signs across the city. If you’d like a yard sign for your home or business, let us know—we’d love to have your support!
Also, please share or forward this message to your friends and family members who want to help make Huntington a better place to live and work!