CAMPAIGN NEWS

Safe, orderly schools are essential for both learning and teaching. Today, despite the best efforts of educators and administrators, student behavior remains one of the most serious challenges facing our public schools. Assaults on school employees and repeated classroom disruptions are occurring at unacceptable levels across all grade spans, undermining student achievement and threatening employee safety. Discipline problems of this magnitude cannot be solved through punis

West Virginia’s public schools are facing a funding crisis that can no longer be ignored. As enrollment declines, special education costs rise, and more state dollars are diverted to the Hope Scholarship without meaningful limits or accountability, our public‑school systems are being pushed to the breaking point. Record numbers of schools have closed. Programs that once supported student success have been slashed. Teachers and service personnel are being asked to do more wi

I stand with Education West Virginia in calling for long‑term stability and fairness in PEIA. I support legislation that would establish a clear and predictable cost‑sharing structure requiring the state to pay no less than 80 percent of PEIA costs, with employees paying no more than 20 percent.

I believe West Virginia must make a sustained, long‑term commitment to improving education employee salaries if we are serious about strengthening our public school system. While recent salary increases are appreciated, they have not made West Virginia competitive with surrounding states or the national average. According to 2025 data, teachers in Maryland earn an average salary of $84,338, Pennsylvania $76,961, Ohio $68,236, Virginia $66,327, and Kentucky $58,325. West Virgi

My campaign is rooted in a simple belief: West Virginia must honor the promises made to those who dedicated their lives to educating our children. Our retired school employees built the foundation of our public education system, yet too many are now struggling to make ends meet. The fact that in West Virginia, education retirees do not receive automatic cost‑of‑living adjustments (COLAs) is appalling, and that for many retirees, their pension has never increased, even as infl

A recent report commissioned by the West Virginia House of Delegates takes a clear, data‑driven look at how our state funds public education. Its findings are sobering: West Virginia is not investing enough in its public schools, and the dollars we do invest are not distributed fairly or efficiently. For families, educators, and taxpayers in Jefferson County, the implications are direct and urgent. West Virginia’s students face some of the highest needs in the nation — but ou

What the Nine No‑Income‑Tax States Can—and Can’t—Teach Us By Rob Vincent, Candidate for House of Delegates, District 99 www.vincent4wv.org Periodically, I come across West Virginia, families that are asking a simple question that has big consequences: Should our state eliminate the personal income tax? It’s an appealing idea. Nobody enjoys paying income tax, and the promise of “keeping more of what you earn” resonates with every household. But before we make a decision that w

Jefferson County has always been uniquely tied to the federal workforce. With thousands of residents employed by federal agencies—directly, through contractors, or in mission ‑support roles—national budget fights don’t feel distant here. It hits home. … more

Utility bills aren’t just numbers on a page — they’re a monthly stress point for families across Jefferson County. Electricity, water, sewer, natural gas, broadband, and trash service all add up, and for many households, these costs are rising faster than wages. In my earlier post, “Kitchen Table Issues — What we spend our money on is what we value”, I argued that a budget is a moral document. It reflects priorities. And right now, too many of our state’s decisions are shifti

Every family in West Virginia understands “kitchen table economics.” You sit down, look at what’s coming in, look at what’s going out, and make choices based on what matters most. You invest in your kids, your home, your future. You cut back on the things that don’t strengthen your family. State government should work the same way. When West Virginia passes a budget, it’s more than a spreadsheet. It’s a statement of values. It tells us what our leaders believe is worth invest

HB 2014 and its implementing rule collide with core guarantees in both the West Virginia Constitution and the United States Constitution. The rule—advanced by the Legislative Rule‑Making Review Committee—declares that a ll applications and letters of intent for high‑impact data centers and microgrid districts are confidential, including location, water use, emissions, engineering, and financial details. Companies decide what the public is allowed to know, and anything they la

West Virginia Department Education-- 2024–2025 Data Means for Jefferson County School choice and the Hope Scholarship Program sit at the center of one of Jefferson County’s most consequential education debates. The conversation isn’t abstract—Jefferson County’s public schools are already navigating enrollment decline, staffing shortages, and budget pressures. According to the West Virginia Department of Education’s Education Data 2024–2025 report, statewide public-school enr

I am a U.S. Navy veteran and seasoned executive with nearly four decades of leadership in behavioral health, education, and federal policy, today I am announcing my candidacy for the West Virginia House of Delegates, District 99. My commitment to public service is rooted in my upbringing in Show Low, Arizona, where poverty and foster care shaped my early years. My civilian career began at the Olympia Educational Service District 114, in Bremerton, Washington as an adolescent