FORUM: Umberger takes questions from community 

By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV

MAXWELTON, W.Va. — Sarah Umberger, Democratic nominee for House District 46, was the only candidate to attend a community forum in Maxwelton on Tuesday evening. 

Her opponent, incumbent Del. Jeff Campbell, Republican, did not respond to multiple invitations to participate in the community forum. 

Umberger began by introducing herself to the crowd. “I’m running because I can do a better job than our current representative. Our hospital lost services, our schools lost funding, people are working multiple jobs, and nothing has happened about it…since our last primary forum, nothing has changed except grocery prices are higher and gas is higher. The response from the party in power is that socialism is going to take over. It’s appalling. They are not looking at the real issues facing people everyday.”

Moderator Scott Womack asked Umberger a series of questions on issues facing the 46th District, which is primarily comprised of the eastern part of Greenbrier County and a small portion of southern Pocahontas County. 

Q: How can we respond to young people who say it’s a struggle to stay in West Virginia? 

“Both of mine left. I have two boys. One left to join the Army. He did a year in Iraq, came back to Seattle, and never came home. My other son didn’t come home after college. What we need to keep our kids here is good jobs and health care. My daughter-in-law had a baby yesterday. They couldn’t come visit for last three months because she needed to be close to a hospital who could help her.” 

Q: There’s lots of talk about West Virginia values from politicians. What are those values to you? 

Umberger said to her they are public service, caring for others, and taking personal responsibility. 

Q: What is something you’ve learned on the campaign trail? 

“The biggest thing is that when you get out and talk to people the things we have in common are so much more than the things that separate us.”

Q: If President Trump came to tour your district, where you would take him? 

“When someone comes here to visit I show them the things I love–our clean water and mountains. The complete disrespect I see for those things makes it hard to know what to show him. I guess I would still show him the things I love.”

Q: Have you received any campaign contributions from energy companies?  

“Every single bit of my money is from people,” she replied.   

Q: What’s your reaction to public officials signing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with corporations?  

“They’re ridiculous.” 

Q: Would you be willing to vote against your party? 

“I will vote for the things I think are right,” she said. “No matter what.”

Q: Let’s talk about data centers. Some local Republicans are now arguing that HB2014 didn’t take away local control. How do you see it? 

“It’s another scare tactic. Local control has been removed. Our tax dollars will leave the county. It doesn’t have to be that way. Take Loudon County, Virginia, for example. They say, ‘What are you going to do for us?’ They tax their data centers at 60%, not 5%, and have strict environmental rules.” 

Q: The state lost another 8,000 students this year. What’s the path forward for public education? 

“The path forward for education is to make the Hope voucher program means-based,” she said. “And have it be strictly used for academic purposes.”

Q: Lewisburg traffic gets worse all the time. What are your thoughts? 

“I had this idea,” she shared. “In lots of other places, when you’re going in and out of town in rush hour you have two lanes. Two lanes coming into town in the morning and two lanes going out of town in the evening. And no left turns.” She suggested that as a means of improving traffic in and around Lewisburg without needing major new construction.

Q: Do you support the constitutional amendment on the ballot?

“It’s a culture war fantasy. It’s already required that you be an American to vote. Now you have to have nine kinds of proof. They think undocumented immigrants are going to somehow become West Virginia citizens without being US citizens?”

Q: Who would you vote for as Speaker of the House?

“Kayla Young, Sean Hornbuckle, or Anitra Hamilton,” she replied.

Q: Volunteer Fire Departments say they’re struggling. What can we do to help them? 

“They are struggling. We need to increase our tax base. We need to keep the tax revenue from data centers to pay for them and their equipment.”

Voters will choose either Campbell or Umberger to serve as Delegate. The General Election is November 3. Early voting is underway now.