We believe that Michael Teets has a winning campaign under way for the job of West Virginia’s commissioner of agriculture.
We hope the general public feels the same way.
Mike Teets is a Hardy County farmer who is opposing Democratic incumbent Gus Douglass, a man who has served in the post 40 years — or 10 four-year terms. Douglass was elected agriculture commissioner six times between 1964 and 1984 and has won four more terms since 1992.
Douglass has given good service to the state.
But Teets, a 14-year county commissioner in Hardy County, brings into this race the experience to be a strong state commissioner and the dedication to do an excellent job.
Teets believes that if someone like him doesn’t step up and run for the West Virginia commissioner of agriculture, the state’s food supplies are going to be in the same shape our energy situation is. And that’s not good.
He believes that food safety is a hot topic in the Mountain State.
“If we have a major outbreak of e-coli or something of that order, West Virginia is not prepared to handle that right now,” he said.
He believes that the state needs to have a team in place where everyone would know exactly what they are supposed to do to get it fixed up in a matter of days.
“But right now,” he said, “since we don’t have that, and if we’re not prepared, we’re going to be in a serious situation.”
The recent closing of the large apple plant in Musselman really bothers him.
“No one from the Department of Agriculture in Charleston went to negotiate with those people. I think they would have left it here if someone had gone to talk with them. They only moved it 60 miles away. I feel if the governor or the commissioner went to talk with these people, they would have left it in Musselman. Right now there’s nothing being done to keep these industries here.”
Teets knows the number of farms in West Virginia is really dwindling. The Mountain State had some 30,000 farms in the 1960s. We have only 21,000 today. He has a plan to maintain West Virginia farms rather than to maintain the status quo. And the status quo is that the state is losing more farms with each passing day.
There was a case in Hampshire County recently when, following a rabies outbreak, all members of the cattle were killed rather than just the few animals that were infected. This was all done at taxpayer expense and, as Teets says, “it was an awful lot of our money spent for nothing.”
Teets says he has nothing at all against the present commissioner.
“But there is potential throughout this whole state to produce so much more, but it’s just not being done.” he added.
Teets seems to be the man who can get the agriculture department rolling again.
The agriculture commissioner race is not one of the most publicized. But it is an extremely important one for many of the state’s people.
The Times West Virginian wholeheartedly endorses Republican Mike Teets — who wants things to be better in your life.
Opinion
Teets wants to do more as agriculture commissioner
- Opinion
-
-
Quit playing games; ‘do what is right’ in renewing extension of the payroll tax cut
Once again, lawmakers in Washington, D.C., are working on a deal to extend a payroll tax cut for 160 million Americans beyond the end of the month.
And once again, debate has ensued. -
Superintendent, BOE must find accord if schools are to progress
We’re a little confused.
In October, an item appeared on the agenda of a Marion County Board of Education meeting to hire an administrative assistant of Human Resources and Student Support Services. But the item was pulled from the agenda with no public discussion about why, and the position was not filled. -
George Esper: Outstanding man as correspondent and WVU professor
Many West Virginians would no doubt be shocked to learn that the outstanding correspondent from the Vietnam War was a West Virginia University graduate from Uniontown, Pa.
His name was George Esper, one familiar for many years around the WVU School of Journalism for his tenacious coverage of the Vietnam War that established him as a highly revered print reporter of the 20th century. -
Hiding state records has no place in a democracy
In private business and personal life, people may hide some activities, exercising their right of privacy. But government is different.
-
Results about Twitter, free from censorship
So Twitter announces that it will allow country-specific censorship. What followed was #outrage, #disbelief, #protest, #RighteousIndignation, #TwitterBlackout and #rage.
-
West Virginia must develop plan to fulfill highway needs
There is no dispute that improving West Virginia’s roads is one of the state’s biggest needs.
We use them daily — out of necessity and for pleasure.
They’re also vital to West Virginia’s economic health. -
Best interests would be served if FGH and city both move on
In December, Marion County Circuit Court Judge David Janes ruled that the Fairmont General Hospital Board of Directors can appoint its own members and that the City of Fairmont’s charter no longer applies to the hospital.
-
Educational partnership a step in the right direction
Officials involved in a new educational partnership between Pierpont Community & Technical College and FirstEnergy Corp. call the endeavor a “great opportunity.”
We think it’s even more than that. -
Meth causes senseless waste, terrible damage in West Virginia
Terrible damage is inflicted on West Virginia — and upon abusers and their families — because dopeheads feel compelled to blank out their minds with drugs of many sorts. We can’t understand the sad need that impels them. It causes a senseless loss to society and individuals, filling prisons and wrecking jobs.
-
Limited funds for workforce training can’t be wasted through drug abuse
There’s only so much money to go around when it comes to workforce training. And with the national economy still in a bit of a slump, there’s even less money to go around and even more of a reason to make the money invested in these programs count.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Quit playing games; ‘do what is right’ in renewing extension of the payroll tax cut
