A recent article in the Charleston Gazette highlighted the differences in fundraising between the two candidates vying to represent West Virginia’s 67th district in the House of Delegates, Republican Elliot Simon and Democrat Stephen Skinner.

It reported that “a handful of West Virginia counties are becoming pricey battlegrounds.” The article specifically mentions that, as a trial lawyer, Skinner has attracted the second largest amount of political contributions among WV House candidates “with fellow lawyers and labor union political action committees among his donors.” Political allies have funneled over $80,000 to a public office which pays $20,000 a year. Skinner has also leveraged his position as a board member of Fairness WV-an organization lobbying for special privileges for the homosexual, bisexual, and transgender community-to garner press coverage and contributions.

We do not need more special-interest politicians like Skinner in Charleston!

Elliot Simon, on the other hand, is retired and can dedicate his full-time attention to listening to the needs of Jefferson County residents. He believes in limiting government to make it responsive and accountable. If elected, Simon will promote freedom for all through common-sense reforms to the state budget, tax rates, stifling regulations, public education, and the court system.

Simon has experience representing residents’ concerns while serving on the board of the Eastern Panhandle Organization of Homeowners Associations. Furthermore, he knows how to bring economic prosperity and job creation to West Virginia from his experience as a small-business executive with responsibility for hundreds of employees.

Simon has been walking Jefferson County for months in a door-to-door campaign to meet with citizens. If he hasn’t reached you yet, you can find out more at www.simonfordelegate.com.

I hope that others will join me in voting for Elliot Simon on November 6!

Montani Semper Liberi,

Todd Metzgar

Harpers Ferry