FORUM: Gilkerson takes questions from community 

Stephen Baldwin, RealWV

MAXWELTON, W.Va. – Kent Gilkerson, Democrat nominee for Senate District 10, was the only candidate to attend a community forum in Maxwelton on Tuesday evening. 

His opponent, incumbent Sen. Vince Deeds, Republican, accepted an invitation to participate in the forum in September before pulling out late last week when a Republican-hosted “Meet and Greet” was announced for the same date. 

(RealWV will provide a recap of the Republican-hosted event tomorrow.)

Gilkerson began by introducing himself to voters, saying he grew up in Fayette County before eventually receiving a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He began his career at Anthony Correctional Center before transferring to the Alderson Federal Prison Camp, where he worked for 25 years and served as a union leader. “Then somewhere along the line, my wife and I got the bright idea of planting a few strawberries, and now Sunset Berry Farm has been in business for 16 years.” 

Moderator Scott Womack asked Gilkerson a series of questions, from audience members and himself, on issues facing the 10th District, which includes Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe, Nicholas, and Summers counties.

Question: Let’s talk about agriculture. Beef producers are struggling, family farms disappearing. Is there hope for small farms in agriculture’s future? 

Gilkerson said, “It may be swinging a little bit. Growing up everyone had gardens and did canning. We went away from that. People went more to grocery stores. But it might be swinging back.”

As a farmer, Gilkerson said the problem he faces is the cost of doing business. “Our costs are so high. Our fertilizer bill doubled this year. Diesel is outrageous.” 

He also described a USDA equipment rental program which he’d like to see implemented on a larger scale, which he said would allow more small farmers to access equipment when they need at an affordable price. 

Q: Have you ever taken campaign donations from energy companies or energy-based political action committees (PACs)? 

“I never have or never would. Once you do that, you’re beholden to what they want,” Gilkerson said. “It should irritate everybody (that) they’re raising our bill and giving my opponent thousands of dollars.” 

Q: Do you believe it’s acceptable for government officials to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with corporations pertaining to their public work? 

“Totally against it,” he said.  

Q: Your signs say “stop data centers.” Is that really possible? 

“I doubt it’s possible, but I’d like a moratorium until we get local laws and regulations in place. My opponent told everyone there is local control. There is no local control. They took it all out of the hands of county commissions.” 

Q: Do you think there could be economic benefits to data centers? 

Gilkerson agreed there could be, but he expressed skepticism. “Everyone is guessing what they could do. If the county got 100% of it, it could do a lot of good. But the county doesn’t get that. They assess them at 5% of their total value and the county only gets 30% of that 5% value. The rest goes to the state.”

Q: Our state recently withdrew from consideration as a nuclear hub. Was that the right or wrong call? 

Gilkerson indicated he thought it shouldn’t have been considered in the first place. “In previous years, we had a ban on nuclear. My opponent voted to open the door…the governor pulled away (earlier this fall) due to a lot of heat coming down. If we don’t have the right people in place, it could hurt us.”

Q: Do you support Flock cameras? 

“I don’t,” he said. “It’s a major violation of our privacy.”

Q: Are you familiar with the proposed rare earth mineral refinement facility in western Greenbrier County, and do you support it? 

Gilkerson said, “I honestly don’t know a lot about it. They promised all these jobs and made a big announcement like they did before. I know they do need jobs (in western Greenbrier County) but I don’t know much about it.”

Q: If elected, you’d be one of 34 people in the state to elect the Lieutenant Governor, who is the Senate President. Who would you vote for as Senate President? 

Gilkerson said he would vote for Sen. Joey Garcia, D-Marion. 

Q: If you could take President Trump on a tour of your district, where would you take him and why? 

“I would take him through Rupert. Day or night, it’s the same situation. Lots of homelessness and addiction.” Gilkerson also said he would like Gov. Patrick Morrisey to go to Rupert as well, referencing the state’s addiction problems. “He needs to see what he’s done.”

Q: The WV Board of Education is proposing a new funding formula for public schools. WOuld you be willing to work with them on a new formula? 

“Absolutey,” he said.

Q: Let’s talk about the Hope Scholarship. If elected, what guardrails would you place on the program? 

“Income limits,” he began. “Right now there is no limit. You can make millions and still get it. There also needs to be a limit on the activities that are covered.” He described people suggesting that their farm sign up as a vendor to receive funds for allowing kids to come use their giant trampoline, but he refuses. “That’s not what it should be for.”

“I also think there needs to be testing. Take tests after 9 weeks. There needs to be accountability for families that may not even be teaching their children.”

Q: Volunteer Fire Departments are getting crushed financially and with a lack of volunteers. Your thoughts? 

Gilkerson said he’s heard stories of fire departments having to buy their own equipment due to a lack of government funding. He proposed, “If a data center is coming then we can get tax revenue back in the hands of counties.” 

Q: Can you vote against your party on a bad bill? 

“Yes. Some of the biggest disagreements I’ve had have been within my own party. I’ve done it in my work with the union. You’ve got to show backbone.” 

Q: Do you support the constitutional amendment on the ballot this fall? (The amendment would add language to the state constitution that only US citizens may vote. Supporters say this is a necessary election integrity matter. Opponents say it’s already the law.) 

“I voted no,” GIlkerson sais. “It’s just a way to rile up the (political) base.” 

Q: How do you address the accusation that Democrats are a bunch of socialists? 

“It’s a scare tactic,” he said. “Are VFDs and police socialist programs? They are programs that help all of us.”

He also argued that the Trump Administration is pursuing socialism in offering voters checks to vote a certain way. “Those $5,000 checks from Trump are a socialist thing.”

Voters will choose either Deeds or Gilkerson to serve as Senator. The General Election is November 3. Early voting is underway now.