Dear Editor,
Since the Primary election, many people have approached me wondering who they should vote for in the general election, and I haven’t had an answer for them. Chris Reed, who defeated me in the primary, is a former Mountain Party member who switched parties to run as a Democrat in this race for Congress. He did virtually no campaigning during the primary and has had almost no presence in the general.
Former Democrat Wes Holden left the party to run as an Independent because he was told that a Democrat could not win. He worked to get Chris Reed elected in the Primary, voting for Reed himself and having his friends vote for Chris as well. Since the primary, Wes has campaigned with Democrats and has shown up at Democratic Party events. I guess maybe he thinks that Democrats do have a chance? Does Wes believe that West Virginians are not smart enough to make choices based on the quality and messaging of the candidate?
Imagine this- imagine that Wes started this campaign honestly, running as a Democrat against me. Imagine that we campaigned against each other, each of us honing our positions and raising the profile of the race. I would like to think that I would have won, but I don’t know. I do know, that given an honest race, I would have supported the winner.
Carol Miller has done no campaigning. She doesn’t feel threatened. Her weekly newsletters don’t even ask for votes because she knows she has them. The now splintered Democratic votes for the 1st Congressional District have guaranteed her reelection. The day Wes Holden filed as an Independent, he gave the race to her.
A few weeks ago, I filed as a write-in candidate. I am a Democrat, and to be perfectly honest, I’m the only Democrat in this race. I won’t misrepresent myself to get votes, and I won’t lie to you about who I am. I want to give you all an option. Our odds aren’t very good, but a vote for me is a vote for honesty and integrity. You deserve that.
Thank you,
Jim Umberger
