Meet the Candidate: Mike Harvey for Fayette County Commission

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

My Values & Beliefs.

I consider myself a Christian and do my very best to express those values daily in all my actions.

I feel strongly that the closer to home we govern, the better the outcome. I think government gets in the way more often than it helps. I firmly believe the government’s only true role is to protect its constituents. I also believe the smallest minority is the individual. I also believe the best social program is a job, which is why economic development is so important to me.

My personal life.

I have been a resident of Fayette County since 1988. I am now 55 years old, semi-retired and living in Fayetteville. Sadly, I am a recent widower having lost my wife in Sept of 2021 to cancer (after a 15-year battle) and COVID.

My professional life.

Since 1988, I’ve worked for some of the largest healthcare corporations in the country. Now, as a Partner with Specialized Respiratory Services (a healthcare consulting and staffing business), I help provide respiratory therapy services in 26 states. With one other partner, I’ve supported and grown this company to a level of annual earnings of around one million per year. In the last 15 years, I’ve also developed a recruiting business providing professional and executive-level candidates to healthcare organizations.

Locally, I am currently in the process of building a new business known as “The 304” which is based in Fayetteville. Through this venture, I intend to bring at least ten new full-time jobs with benefits to our region.

What made you run for county commission, or if you’re an incumbent, what made you seek reelection?

Why I am running.

In September 2017, I suffered two consecutive strokes which left me paralyzed on the entire left side of my body. After coming out of a coma, I decided to change the course of my life and take a more active role in giving back. Wanting to do less traveling for work, I chose to dedicate the remainder of my life to public service. I am running for office because I want to leave a lasting legacy of economic prosperity here in Fayette County. To that end, as county commissioner I will uphold the public’s trust by working impartially and diligently to improve the welfare of our community.

Fayette County’s median household income ranks 35th in West Virginia. For a county with as much potential as ours, I know we can do better. In fact, we have the playbook to follow in the Fayette County 2023 Comprehensive Plan. Decade after decade, strategies have been laid out for our county government to follow in these plans, but the recommendations just keep getting kicked down the road, particularly when it comes to infrastructure improvements. I have read these plans cover to cover and if elected I will use them as Fayette County Commission’s compass to set us on a course of greater prosperity. I will also hold myself directly accountable to our citizens by using this document as the tool to set proprieties when it comes to county spending.

What are some issues facing Fayette County right now that you would like to see addressed and fixed? How would you fix those issues?

Because I believe a strong economy strengthens our social bonds, I would push for this county to lay the groundwork for growth.

The largest issue facing our county is the need for infrastructure improvements. Large portions of land in Fayette County still do not have access to water or sewer. We certainly cannot grow without addressing this. Having the proper infrastructure in place is critical to being able to attract light manufacturing and production jobs to grow the income base of the county.

Another concern I have is around flooding. During rain events, our county’s terrain prompts stormwater to head for low lying areas and communities located along streams and creeks suffer the consequences. If elected as your County Commissioner, I will make infrastructure upkeep a priority. I will make sure debris removal happens in a timely fashion and that the county adheres to the proper permit process when dredging creeks.

Another issue that must be addressed is broadband. Too much of our county suffers from a lack of broadband access. In this day and age, the ability to conduct business is reliant on high-speed internet. Again, a plan has already been written, the 2018 Fayette County Broadband Plan, that makes recommendations to tackle this. Simply put, we just need to continue to look for federal and state sources of funding and set timelines and metrics to ensure progress in this area.

My platform.

Growing our local economy

I can’t accept that Fayette County’s median household income ranks 35th in West Virginia. Therefore, I will work to invest in our dying communities, partner directly with mayors, forge

partnerships with our Federal delegation, and secure grant funding for projects at the local level.

Creating jobs

I can’t accept that the unemployment rate in Fayette County is higher than the state average and higher than the national average. I will promote current tax incentives that encourage manufacturers to locate here and leverage my personal business relationships in the long-term care industry to bring in more jobs.

Enhancing our prosperity and quality of life

I can’t accept that the number of overdose deaths in Fayette County is higher than the state average and higher than the national average. Our communities are being ravaged by despair. This is no way to live.

Knowing that prosperity begets further prosperity, I will work to create an environment that puts Fayette County on the map as a business destination.

Improving infrastructure

It truly disturbs me to know that there are portions of Fayette County that do not have adequate infrastructure to meet the needs of its taxpaying citizens. The most recent comprehensive plan prepared for Fayette County lays out our pressing issues. I will make it a priority to allocate funds to see these projects across the finish line.

Increasing affordable housing

More can be done to encourage the development of long-term housing options. I will work to make it a priority that development at Wolf Creek Park includes housing, revisit tax incentives, and address the oversaturation of the market by vacation rentals.

Addressing food insecurity

I can’t accept that the number of children going hungry in Fayette County is higher than the state average and higher than the national average. It troubles me greatly that food insecurity is so prevalent. I will work to prioritize the issues facing our county so that funding is allocated appropriately.

Fostering entrepreneurial development

With the amount of talent we have in Fayette County, I find it concerning that when we speak of economic development, we very rarely discuss how to nurture and encourage entrepreneurial development of new businesses and encourage the expansion of existing businesses. I will work to implement a mentorship program and find a way to crowdsource funding for budding entrepreneurs.

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

I doubt that any other candidate has spent as much time as I have meeting with municipal leaders and citizens to gain a full understanding of the issues facing Fayette County. To that end, I will make decisions that align with the best interests of the public and, ideally, work to reach consensus around the solutions that are required to solve our complex problems.

I am used to working with diverse groups of professionals at the national level on projects of every possible size and from that experience I have learned how to compromise when necessary to get a job done. If something is difficult in this county, we have got to stop ignoring it and get to work to reach the best possible outcome for all parties involved.

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

Because I believe that words and actions matter, I think that it is important for the voters to know that regardless of the outcome of this election I am forming Making a Difference in Service to Fayette County, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering positive change by providing financial support through grant-making initiatives. This entity will focus on finding grant opportunities to fund impactful projects that foster economic development within Fayette County. By strategically distributing grants, its aim is to catalyze innovation and enhance the well-being of our communities.

I would encourage you to stay tuned by following along on my website votemikeharvey.com and on social media. I’d also ask you to consider what you can do to become involved in giving back.

https://www.facebook.com/votemikeharvey

https://www.instagram.com/votemikeharvey

https://www.youtube.com/@votemikeharvey

We’re all in this together. Let’s make Fayette County thrive!