Greenbrier County Commission candidates spoke to their positions on the county Sportsplex, the humane society, and more during a recent forum hosted by the Greater Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce.
The Tuesday, April 26, forum included candidates from three different races – Greenbrier County Commission, Greenbrier County Clerk, and Greenbrier County Circuit Clerk.
The county commission contest is for the seat of current Greenbrier County Commissioner Mike McClung who is not seeking re-election. The candidates in that race are Democrat DeEtta King Hunter of Lewisburg and Republican Blaine Phillips of Lewisburg.
Hunter was seated away from other candidates and wore a mask during the forum, because she had recently been exposed to COVID-19.
Greater Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ashley Vickers served as the moderator for the forum, and former Greenbrier Valley Theatre Artistic Director Cathey Sawyer served as timekeeper.
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| The forum included Greenbrier County Commission candidates Democrat DeEtta King Hunter (right end) and Republican Blaine Phillips (third from left), Greenbrier County Clerk incumbent Republican Robin Yates Loudermilk (second from right) and challenger Democrat Kayla M. McCoy (left end), and the Greenbrier County Circuit Clerk incumbent Democrat Louvonne Legg Arbuckle (third from right) and challenger Republican Jamie L. Baker (second from left). |
Both county commission candidates addressed the future Greenbrier County Sportsplex that has been funded by the sitting commission. The project site is located north of Lewisburg near the landfill.
“I think it’s on a lot of people’s minds,” said Phillips. “As a county commissioner, you’re over the funds that the county has. Currently, there is no plan, no budget. How a project of that size could be started without either is hard for me to conceive. The logistics of where it is located is not a great choice. I’ve talked to some contractors on what they perceived the final costs to be just running the utilities, much less building the complex. … At this rate, I don’t think even the younger people in here, their grandchildren, will be able to enjoy it.”
“I would not be able to support that project,” Hunter said. “It has taken, I don’t honestly know how much, but I’m going to presume millions of dollars, and it’s still a clay area that there’s nothing there. I was at the county commission meeting that they very first held about that complex. The presentation was not good. … The road is terrible going down toward there, I can imagine a lot of accidents there. I think it was a poor location. I don’t want other counties coming here and going down into that area. I don’t think the site of our landfill is a very good site for children to be playing.”
Both candidates stated they support working with the tourism industry to build the local economy. Phillips expressed pride at the recent growth in White Sulphur Springs, Ronceverte, and Rainelle, and highlighted the Meadow River Rail Trail as an important project for connecting the sides of the county.
Both Phillips and Hunter stated they want community input to come up with ideas for ways to best serve the county. Hunter emphasized the lunches she held in her time as mayor of Lewisburg, gathering each of the Greenbrier County mayors together once a month. Hoping to bring the lunches back, with more folks, Hunter explained, “sometimes we commiserated with each other, sometimes it was ideas, sometimes we just had fun, but we talked to each other.”
Both supported the continued financial support of the Greenbrier Humane Society. Phillips explained, “we have pets – I believe in having pets and caring for them, so definitely.”
Hunter spoke to the history of the subject, such as McClung’s opposition to the annual $200,000 the commission gives to the humane society for animal control.
“Those of you who’ve been here a long time know how many times, and how often, we have had arguments in regard to the Humane Society,” said Hunter. “We’ve had some big arguments over the years. Not only would I like to continue the funding, and continue with our volunteerism there, … but I also would like to see us have a dog park.”
In her closing statements, Hunter also endorsed her fellow Democratic candidates, saying “my comment is first to the Republicans. If you can cross over once or twice, do it for those two ladies to my right. Kayla McCoy is a dynamo. She is on top of it. She’s one smart cookie. Louvonne [Arbuckle], you have never heard anybody say anything bad about Louvonne in that office, not the first word. If you’re going to cross, cross for them.”
What follows is a condensed version of each candidate’s opening and closing statements:
Greenbrier County Commission Candidate DeEtta King Hunter, Democrat, of Lewisburg:
“I am a native West Virginia, born in Richwood, W.Va., and Mount Nebo, W.Va., which back then maybe I wasn’t so proud of as I am now. … I went to school at Nicholas County High School, then Fairmont State, as it’s now known Fairmont University, and that degree was a double major in accounting and political science. I then went to West Virginia University and have a master’s in public administration.
“My husband and I have owned a lot of different businesses. I grew up on a beef cattle farm and Mountain Bed General Store. We also later owned a part of the Foodland store in Pocahontas County. We have operated a cable TV business at Snowshoe. We have sold our own real estate and developed different developments of housing in Pocahontas County. And here, I kind of run ham a little bit. He is an attorney, or a real estate broker, and auctioneer, as well as an ordained minister. One of the most fun things we have done here in the last couple of three years, is perform weddings. That has been a real joy, we teased about the fact that we can marry you, we can help you get divorced, we can sell your real estate for you, and we can hold an auction if this doesn’t work out like we planned.
“I would appreciate your vote, I think that it is very important to have a two-party system. If I am not fortunate enough to be elected, then we will have a totally Republican county commission. I’m not sure that that’s in our best interest, to not have both sides represented. What I would like to do is be that person that listens to you all. … I just hope that we can work together, have ideas that will work. I’ve been going to city councils and asking them, ‘what can we do for you?’ They’ve all been surprised to see me there. So again, I ask for your support.
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Greenbrier County Commission Candidate Blaine Phillips, Republican, of Lewisburg:
“I appreciate you all taking your time out to come to here everyone. Special thanks to [Cathy Sawyer] and to you [Ashley Vickers] and the Greater Greenbrier Valley Chamber of Commerce for conducting this meeting for people to get to know us.
“Again, my name is Blaine Phillips, I’m running in the central district for county commission. I am a Republican. I believe in family, very important. I’m for tourism, for business, we need both of those to survive. God has played a big part in my life and continues to do so today. Again, I want to thank everybody for taking the time to come out to see me.
“I was born in Greenbrier County. I do care about all of the citizens in the county. I’ve been in business and in different businesses for over 40 years. One of the main duties of the commissioner is to oversee what is currently a $16 million budget, which does allocate the funds to the different departments, to make sure that employees have the right equipment, the funding for the right equipment, safe workplace. In business, I’ve been used to doing that, so I feel I have the abilities and the knowledge to take care of the position. Like everyone at this table, I would appreciate your support and vote.”
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