In September, Mountain State Spotlight traveled to Upshur County to find out what challenges residents were facing and wanted to be addressed.
Based on those conversations, we asked incumbent Del. Carl Martin and challenger Matthew Kerner how they intend to address those concerns as they run for election.
Democratic challenger Kerner currently serves as Opportunity House Director in Buckhannon. The center helps those recovering from addiction find housing and supportive resources.
Republican Del. Carl Martin did not respond to emailed questions.
Here are Kerner’s responses to those questions edited for length and clarity:
In Upshur County, we spoke with those who work with people in poverty through the Parish House and local schools. They said there’s a growing need for their services and more hunger in the area. What will you do as a lawmaker to address this?
Kerner: I completely agree with that. I think it’s not just an institutional thing but a cultural one. We need to shift how we see education and how we value education.
I believe that education is the pathway to prosperity for West Virginia. I also think historically, it’s all poverty-related and is going to require a major paradigm shift.
Several residents said that schools in Upshur County are struggling with funding and resources, particularly after the levy failed in 2022 and the county schools had to make cuts. What do you believe should be done to address this?
Kerner: We need to look at making sure that all schools in West Virginia are equally funded. The quality of a kid’s education should not be dependent on his or her zip code.
I had some experience with taking custody of a couple of kids for a few months a few years ago, and education definitely changed from when I was a kid.
We need to make sure that every kid learns what they’re supposed to learn, and doesn’t get pushed through school without learning anything. Then culturally, we need to find a way to get more people to value education.
We spoke with college students at West Virginia Wesleyan. Some said they planned to stay in the state and want to improve it. Others said there are more opportunities elsewhere, and they might have to leave. How do we keep young people in West Virginia?
Kerner: There needs to be another cultural shift and an economic one as well. We need to reprioritize and put people first.
We underfunded certain things at the expense of our people so that we can give tax breaks to coal barons. We’re not going to improve the lives of the people in West Virginia if we don’t put them first. They need to be the center of the agenda.
Socially, if we want to turn the state into a tourist area and invite young people – which I’m sure economically, isn’t the best idea for everybody, because those are usually low-paying and seasonal jobs – we need to be more accepting.
Several students mentioned being frustrated with the extreme polarization of politics and the general state of the world. What is your vision for a hopeful future for West Virginia?
Kerner: It’s definitely an area where we need to come together. Nobody should have to worry about violence because of their political views. We need to quit seeing each other as the enemy.
Everything’s not that extreme, even when it comes to policy. You can make a bad policy, and people might suffer, but you can change that policy.
We need to take a deep breath and recognize that most people just want to get through life as well as they can and take care of their families to the best of their ability.