News

News Release
West Virginia Young Democrats Convention
Charleston Civic Center
Charleston, WV
April 4, 2008 – 7:30 pm

If you want a nominee who goes with the flow or you want to continue with the way
things are going, I am NOT your candidate.  I have a public record of 32 years in
elective office as Mayor of South Charleston (elected 8 consecutive terms) that shows I am willing to stand up and be counted.  For example, under my leadership South Charleston was the only West Virginia city to pass a resolution to end U.S. involvement in Iraq.  I joined the truckers today at the state capitol to protest the price of diesel and gasoline.  Someone needs to take big oil to task.  It is helping to break the American economy and dictating our foreign policy while earning record profits.  I support a price freeze on ALL petroleum products.  I support incentives that will wean us away from oil and encourage conservation.  It is time public officeholders and those seeking public office do something other than offer lip service.

Recently it was reported one in six people in West Virginia are on food stamps.  This is sad and shameful.  It is hardly a legacy of either party that our state continues to lag behind the rest of the country.  This week I was in another community visiting a
local newspaper.  Walking to the newspaper office a car stopped with a man. woman
and two children to ask me where was the homeless shelter was located.  Leaving the newspaper office about an hour later a different car stopped with an adult man and woman who also asked me the location of the homeless shelter.  It struck me a couple of hours later to read a statistic and then to confront the reality.  Neither is an attractive picture.  It is one we must change.  The politics of the past have not served us well in this regard.

You as young Democrats are undoubtedly college educated or attending college.  In
other words in all likelihood on your way to productive and fulfilling lives and future
careers.  However, the impoverishment I have just described affects all West Virginians adversely regardless of our station or station in life.  As those engaged in the political process at a youthful age, you have a challenge to address this problem.

 
___________________________
Robb for Congress * Marsha Smith, Treasurer
P.O. Box 8747 South Charleston, WV   25303             (304) 744-8231
rrobb@suddenlink.net      www. robbforwv.com