Meet the Candidate: Tony O. Martin for House of Delegates District 44

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your experience/accomplishments

My friends call me Tony O. I was born and raised in Beckley and grew up in the City’s East Park neighborhood with my brothers and sisters. I attended Woodrow Wilson High School and went to the College of West Virginia to pursue a degree in criminal justice. In my third year of college, I met my wife Jaymi. We’ve been married for 29 years and raised our three beautiful children here in the city we love. I live and breathe those true and faithful West Virginia values of hard work, caring for family, and looking out for your neighbors. As a business owner, job creator, husband, and father of three, I’ve experienced the issues our residents face firsthand. I’ve seen the same old attempts to address them fail repeatedly. I will work with residents and local leaders to strengthen our communities and create an environment that will attract jobs.

⁃ What motivated you to run for House of Delegates, or if you’re an incumbent, what made you seek reelection?

In short, my three children. I was born and raised in Beckley. My entire family lives here. I used to call myself one of the lucky ones, but now my luck is running out because my children are leaving, too. Not only are our young people, but our seniors are also leaving West Virginia for a better quality of life and less taxes on their retirement income. I’m running for office because I recognize the potential for economic growth in our region.

The big question is, how do we turn the tide, grow our economy, and keep our young people and seniors here? West Virginia is a beautiful place, and we, the people of West Virginia, are what make our State great. Common sense would dictate that our government needs to shift focus to the core needs of the people of West Virginia. It’s time for new ideas, new strategies, and, most importantly, better communication between those who lead us and those who live, work, and raise children here every day.

If elected as your representative for Beckley’s 44th House District, I will be dedicated to working with citizens to develop a plan to strengthen our communities, create an environment that will entice new businesses to come here, and provide new opportunities for young people that make our children want to stay here.

⁃ What are some issues affecting West Virginia currently that you would like to see addressed and fixed?

Over the past decade, I’ve been listening and learning about the issues the residents of District 44 tell me matter most to them. Top of the list: They want livable wages, more opportunities for our children to keep them in school and out of trouble, better roads, and lower taxes.

How would you fix those issues?

First, we must let our workers know they are valued. Let’s pay our state employees and educators a wage comparable to their counterparts in our surrounding states. How can we expect private employers to come to our State and pay our hard-working people a fair wage if our State doesn’t value its people enough to do the same?

Even though I never played sports myself, it didn’t stop me from coaching my son’s baseball team. I coached two teams over five years because investing in our children is important. If we don’t do it, we allow the wrong influences to lead them in the wrong direction. I support funding for neighborhood community centers and after-school programs that go beyond sports and focus on science, technology, and the arts.

The primary purpose of government is to maintain order and stability so that people can live safely, productively, and happily. Take a close look at the State’s most recent tax cut, and you’ll see that the lion’s share of this tax cut went to the wealthy and big corporations. When we cut taxes on our seniors and the hard-working people of West Virginia, that money stays in our communities and supports our small businesses. We, the citizens of West Virginia, have been neglected for far too long, and I intend to be the change we need. We will build a more vibrant and safer West Virginia by building stronger communities.

⁃ What makes you stand out from the rest of the candidates? What do you bring to the table that they don’t?

I’m an accountant, husband, father, small business owner, and active in the community. I understand the importance of family values, education, hard work, and taking care of the place where we live and our children. My personal experiences, education, drive, and passion for Southern West Virginia make me the best candidate for the House of Delegates representing Beckley’s 44th District. Stand with me, and I will stand with you. I promise.

⁃ Is there anything else voters should know about you and your campaign?

Please visit my website at tonyomartin.com to learn more about me, ask questions, or join the campaign.