I have said it before, but I will say it again. Your readers are fortunate to be able to vote to re-elect Stephen Skinner to the West Virginia Legislature in the upcoming general election. He has served as a Delegate since 2012. This time he can be a Senator.

I know I am not from your county. But the views of someone who has been on the inside of the Legislature should be particularly valuable to your readers. Over the years I have lobbied the Legislature about the rights of surface owners and small mineral owners when the oil and gas drillers come calling, about consumer issues like used car warranties, about improvements in divorce courts and laws, and so on. I have done these things as board president of a statewide consumer organization and as a lawyer for the little guy. I even worked once for the Legislature as a lawyer drafting bills for the legislators.

I have had the privilege of working with Stephen Skinner on many of these issues since they have been elected to the Legislature. He listens hard, thinsk hard, makes his own decisions and then works hard to do what is best for your readers and the State of West Virginia.

Our state government has problems. The budget and other problems have gotten worse in the last two years. For that reason Stephen Skinner needs elevated to the State Senate, the seat he is running for in the upcoming general election. We have those problems because there are not enough legislators like Stephen Skinner working their way up in the Legislature from other parts of West Virginia.

I urge your readers to vote in the upcoming election to send Delegate Stephen Skinner back to the Legislature-but as a Senator this time! It will be good for your readers and the for the rest of West Virginia.

Sincerely,

David B. McMahon, J.D.

Charleston