2020 West Virginia Attorney General nominee Sam Petsonk speaks at the Build Back Better Rally in Morgan’s Grove Park on Friday. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — “It’s like what Franklin Delano Roosevelt did. A lot of the best Democratic policies are based on this — providing funding for those in need,”said 2020 West Virginia Attorney General nominee Sam Petsonk on Friday afternoon, as he spoke in support of the Biden administration’s Build Back Better plan.

Petsonk was one of several state representatives from the Democrat Party, featured as guest speakers for the Build Back Better Rally at Morgan’s Grove Park. The rally was hosted by the Democrats of Jefferson County and the Shepherd University Young Democrats in the park pavilion.

According to West Virginia Democratic County Chairs Association and Jefferson County Democratic Party Chairman Leigh Koonce, this event was the first in-person event the Democrats of Jefferson County have held since the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

“You can tell it’s been three years since we’ve had an in-person event! We’re able to do it, because it wasn’t too cold to hold it outside,” Koonce said, indicating that many attendees were still choosing to stick with the more socially distanced option, by watching the rally online. “We had a lot of folks who wanted to be here who couldn’t attend in-person, so we’re streaming this on our Facebook feed, as well.”

Along with Koonce and Petsonk speaking in favor of the Build Back Better plan, which they said was currently waiting for its final, third phase to be approved by the federal government, Delegate John Doyle, state Senator Hannah Geffert, former Jefferson County AFT President Storme Shiley Frame and 2020 West Virginia Auditor nominee Mary Ann Claytor spoke at the event.

West Virginia Delegate John Doyle speaks at the Build Back Better Rally in Morgan's Grove Park on Friday. Tabitha Johnston

According to Koonce, one of the greatest reasons for supporting the Build Back Better plan was based in the biblical concept of “loving thy neighbor.”

“What better way to love thy neighbor, than to ensure your neighbor has food so she can eat, or what about so he can have gas to heat himself with?” Koonce said. “The Build Back Better program will exponentially help West Virginia!”

Many of the speakers commented on their delight in attending an in-person event with fellow BBB plan supporters.

“I’m so glad to see so many Democrats showing up here! The nation needs to see what West Virginia is made of,” Claytor said, indicating she believes West Virginia Democrats are too easily overlooked. “We have to stand up for those in need. That’s what West Virginia Democrats are about — they’re about standing up for our neighbor.

“It’s going to take the Democrats of West Virginia to get this bill passed!” Claytor said.

West Virginia Senator Hannah Geffert speaks at the Build Back Better Rally in Morgan's Grove Park on Friday. Tabitha Johnston

According to the rally organizers, the BBB framework is set up to provide access to affordable child care, provide universal, high-quality, free preschool for all three-and-four-year-olds, make an intensive effort to combat climate change, make education education beyond high school more affordable and accessible, invest in community colleges, provide nutritious food options for children, reduce housing costs, expand housing options, expand health care coverage, lower health care costs, support families with long-term care needs and cut taxes for families and workers.

Build Back Better signs were given out at Friday’s rally, to spread the word in a secondary avenue. Tabitha Johnston

Members of the Democrats of Jefferson County and the Shepherd University Young Democrats host a rally together in Morgan’s Grove Park on Friday. Tabitha Johnston