The three candidates for the 14th State Senatorial District in West Virginia are looking at the lack of economic growth in the area as one of the main focuses of their campaigns.

Keyser businessman Gary Howell is the lone candidate on the Republican ballot for the May 13 primary election, while former Keyser resident Bob Williams and Keyser attorney David C. Webb are on the Democratic ballot.

The district, currently represented by Sen. Jon Blair Hunter, who is retiring, includes Mineral, Preston, Taylor, Tucker and Barbour counties, as well as portions of Grant and Monongalia counties.

“The cause of the lack of economic growth can be traced back to bad economic policies that have been coming out of Charleston for over 50 years,” Howell said.

“Consider that in 1950, West Virginia made up 1.3 percent of the U.S. population. Today, we only make up .6 percent.

“There should be about 2.1 million more West Virginians than there are now,” he said.

“As a result of these poor economic conditions, we struggle to fund senior services, highway construction and maintenance, fire, rescue, law enforcement and competitive wages,” he said.

“We must give West Virginia’s businesses a competitive advantage through business-friendly tax and legal reforms.

“Fewer taxes on both business and citizens will cause growth in the economy, including employment growth. Growth in the economy will increase tax revenue without increasing taxes.”

Howell also pledges to push for competitive salaries for state, county and school employees.

Howell, who has owned his own business since 1990, holds a bachelor’s degree in management from Frostburg State University.

He has served as a member and vice president of the Mineral County Planning Commission, member and secretary of the U.S. Route 50 Association, member and second vice president of the Keyser Rotary Club and member of the West Virginia Motorsports Council.

Webb addresses the state’s limited tax base and unfunded mandates, such as fire and police pension funds and regional jails, that require spending to fulfill the obligations created years ago.

“The business franchise tax, the tax on inventory and the corporate income will continue to be scrutinized (and reduced) for business stimulus.

“The tax structure should enable job creation and productivity, not suppress it,” he said.

Webb also expresses his concerns over health care, education and the environment.

“West Virginians are more likely to suffer from the serious illnesses of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, cancer and lung problems than the citizens of any other state — and this is alarming,” he said.

“We might consider a single-payer system with single billing and common forms throughout the insurance industry to achieve less administrative costs, lost time and frustration,” he said.

Webb believes that the No Child Left Behind Act, school nutrition, dropouts, discipline, unfunded liabilities, the school-aid formula and teacher retention, certification and pay need to be addressed.

He also feels that “no legislative act should be considered without taking into account the environmental impact.”

An attorney with a solo practice emphasizing domestic relations, criminal law, civil litigation and bankruptcy, he holds degrees in civil engineering and law from West Virginia University, and a master of laws degree from George Washington University.

He previously served as staff attorney with the Army Corps of Engineers and as assistant prosecuting attorney of Mineral County for four years.

He has been involved in Boy Scouting all his life, is a part-time farmer, is active in church and a member of the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters.

The last two years he has served as chairman of the Mineral County Democratic Executive Committee, and has been a member for 10 years.

Williams is also looking to expand the tax base, but not increase taxes.

“West Virginia citizens are currently ranked fifth in taxes paid as a percentage of their income,” he said. “We cannot continue to balance the state budget on the backs of the taxpayers and businesses.

“We must continue the tax reductions on businesses. We must reduce the unnecessary regulatory burden on businesses in order to improve the climate to do business in West Virginia.

“We all want good jobs with benefits,” he said. “This can only be accomplished with high-quality successful businesses.”

Williams, who grew up in Keyser, graduated from Keyser High School in 1969. He was active in the Boy Scouts and earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

He attended Potomac State College and transferred to Fairmont State, where he earned a degree in biology with a minor in political science. He earned his master’s degree in plant pathology from WVU.

Williams describes himself as a “champion for West Virginia and her citizens.”

He served as a county agriculture agent with the WVU Extension Service, plant pathologist and director of marketing and development for the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, as well as being executive secretary for the West Virginia Farm Bureau.

He also taught biology and botany at Potomac State College.

A licensed real estate appraiser and member of the West Virginia Realtors Association and the Potomac Highlands Board of Realtors, he owns Williams Appraisal Service.

He is also a member of a number of farm organizations.

Contact Liz Beavers at lizbeavers@yahoo.com.