Detch answers questions at Shepherd’s Center after Campbell cancels appearance

By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV 

LEWISBURG, W.Va. – Around 40 senior citizens attended the “Current Events” class yesterday morning at the Shepherd’s Center.

Attendees expected to hear from both candidates for House of Delegates in District 46–challenger Paul Detch, D-Greenbrier, and incumbent Delegate Jeff Campbell, R-Greenbrier. However, during announcements by organizer Ann McClung, attendees were told that Campbell had canceled his scheduled appearance. No reason was given for Campbell’s cancelation, and he did not immediately return RealWV’s request for comment.

Campbell also declined to attend an October forum hosted by RealWV for local and state candidates. Additionally, he declined to participate in a Mountain State Spotlight story involving questions on topics facing the district, published last week. Campbell did, however, appear at a GOP-hosted primary debate last May.

Campbell has been appointed to the House of Delegates twice. In 2017, he was appointed as a Democrat. In 2023, he was appointed as a Republican. He was elected to a full term in 2018 before being defeated in 2020. He won the Republican primary this spring over Trey Ewing.

Introductory remarks

Detch, a local attorney and Chairman of the Greenbrier County Democratic Executive Committee, did attend and was given time to introduce himself and take questions from the crowd. 

“I’m a 10th generation West Virginian,” Detch began. “I’ve been practicing law for 51 years. Same address, same phone number. I deal with government on a daily basis. And let me tell you, our state is going to hell in a handbasket.”

“Our governor tells us we have a surplus,” he continued. “But when we have children going to bed hungry, we don’t have a surplus.”

“Where are we after 14 years of Republican rule?” he asked. “Still 49th and 50th in most everything.” 

QUESTION: What areas are part of District 46 now? 

“Basically you divide it along 219 and I would represent everything on the east side of 219,” Detch answered. “When you get to the Pocahontas County line, the district represents both sides of the road up to Marlington but not including it.”

QUESTION: What’s your position on expanding the HOPE Scholarship? 

“My mother was the first woman elected to public office here in the county to the Board of Education,” Detch began. “Education is important to me and my family. West Virginia doesn’t have the luxury of subsidizing private education. Our teachers are ranked 49th in terms of their pay. They can go across the state line and get a $20,000 pay raise. Why is it we’ve had a steady decline in test scores? Our students aren’t being inspired. We need good teachers. They need to be adequately paid and have insurance.”

Detch discussed his concerns about using public funds for private school costs, which he said could negatively impact the state budget. “After January 1, there will only be three deputies covering Pocahontas County. All our young people are leaving. Our legislature isn’t trying to solve these problems.”

“People listen to me talk and say, ‘Let’s send that Detch down there to Charleston. He’s going to be a real troublemaker.’” 

QUESTION: What would you do for senior citizens? 

“For those of us who are senior citizens, I’m 76, we need to make sure we can get help in our own home,” Detch said. “Women have to leave the state for health care. West Virginia has the shortest life expectancy. West Virginia leads the nation in unnecessary deaths. Mostly because it’s a long ride to get to an emergency room. Big corporations are coming in and squeezing out the local pharmacies. We need good, rural health care.  We need to look after our senior citizens.”

This was the final candidate forum hosted by the Shepherd’s Center this election cycle. 

Early voting is currently underway and Election Day is November 5.