Perdue Says He Will Lead on Shale April 17, 2011 By JOSELYN KING Political Writer , The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
WHEELING - West Virginia's next governor must take the lead in making certain the state and its residents reap the benefits of Marcellus Shale drilling, State Treasurer John Perdue said in Wheeling on Saturday.
Perdue, a current Democratic candidate for governor, addressed a town hall meeting at the Stone Church Volunteer Fire Department, where nearby roads show the negative effects of trucks transporting natural gas from drilling sites.
He criticized three other candidates in the race - present acting governor Earl Ray Tomblin; acting Senate President Jeff Kessler, D-Marshall; and House Speaker Richard Thompson, D-Wayne - for the failure of legislation to regulate Marcellus Shale drilling to pass into law at this year's regular legislative session.
Perdue, 60, a native of Boone County, said he comes from coal country and the state's first "gold mine" of coal.
"Coal is important to West Virginia," he said. "I'm you're treasurer. I would never deny that. But what do we have left of coal today? Thirty to 35 years? It doesn't take long for that to go. When it comes to Marcellus Shale - the next 'gold mine' that God has blessed us with - we're putting the cart before the horse."
He noted it was "arguably the most important issue in the state" that the West Virginia Legislature address the issue of Marcellus Shale when members met earlier this year.
"At the end, when the bell rang, they weren't there for you," Perdue said. "They walked away. If I'm governor, I'm going to say, 'We're going to stay here until we get those checks and balances in place. We're going to stay here until we protect the people and their rights.'"
He said if he had similarly failed to do his job as treasurer, "You would be running me out of office."
"Leadership comes from experience," Perdue said. "It comes from someone who understands how to put the checks and balances in place ... and solve the problems for the people of this state.
"We have to make sure we do this one right. Big Daddy (the late U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va.) is no longer here to bring millions and millions of dollars from the federal government to help us with our infrastructure and the future of this state. The federal government is broke, bankrupt."
West Virginia needs a long-term plan to maintain and improve its infrastructure - including roads, water and sewer lines, and broadband Internet access, Perdue said. And to pay for this, he proposes the state set aside some tax revenues resulting from Marcellus Shale. Addressing other issues, Perdue called for a moratorium on utility rates. He noted "people are struggling to pay utility bills bigger than their car payments."
He also suggests a change in the composition of the state Public Utilities Commission. Currently the commission's three members are all Kanawha County residents, Perdue said, and he would like to instead see members representing each of the state's three Congressional districts.
Democrats seeking the governor's office in the May 14 special primary election are Perdue, Tomblin, Kessler and Thompson, as well as Secretary of State Natalie Tennant and Charleston resident Arne Moltis. Republicans in the race are former Secretary of State Betty Ireland, current state Sen. Clark Barnes of Randolph County; Delegate Mitch Carmichael, of Jackson County; former Delegate Larry Faircloth of Berkeley County; Putnam County Prosecutor Mark Sorsaia; and businessmen Bill Maloney and Ralph William Clark and Cliff Ellis, all of Monongalia County.