Councilman Miller speaking at Upward Bound graduation

 What an honor!

Charleston City Councilman and House of Delegates candidate John Miller, will be speaking this Saturday morning at 10 a.m. at West Virginia State University’s Upward Bound graduation cermonies.

John currently serves Kanawha City as a tireless member of Charleston City Council and is on the Kanawha County Republican Executive Committee.

Miller is seeking one of the seven Republican slots to challenge the silly SEVEN in the Democratic-controlled 30th District and presents a great opportunity to pick up one of those seats.

Greear picnic draws 250, contributions

Wow!

I’m not sure I’ve been a part of a better political event than the Greear family cookout at Coonskin Park.   On top of the large number of contributions that were received, the grassroots team of Greear for AG turned out a huge crowd as a kickoff to the final week of campaigning.

Of course, the hit of the picnic was the Jupiter Jump (for the kids, of course), the fact that it was Dan’s son Ben’s seventh birthday and the fact that such a large number of supporters and volunteers turned out for the event and contributed heavily to help the efforts in the last week.

Congrats to Dan and his family, as well as Ben and also a huge congrats to the campaign team for such a positive, uplifting event!

The last day for early voting is Saturday, but please be sure to get out there and support Dan on May 13th as the clear choice for the Republican nomination for Attorney General.

Greear cookout set for Monday, May 5th

The Greear for AG campaign is hosting a cookout on Monday, May 5th beginning at 5:30pm at the Gorman Shelter at Coonskin Park in Charleston.

All are welcome!!! 

Contributions are not required, but are always appreciated.

The cookout will be a chance for Dan and his family to help the volunteers who have been working so hard and to begin the push into the last week of the campaign to insure friends and supporters are getting out to the polls!

Come and enjoy the great food!

Daily Mail endorses Greear for AG

A strong endorsement from the Charleston Daily Mail that Dan is clearly the best shot we have at winning the AG’s race this year.  Read below.

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Attorney General
Dan Greear is the Republican who will restore the dignity of this office

ATTORNEY General Darrell V. McGraw Jr., has had a controversial tenure in that office, but he is unopposed in the May 13 Democratic primary election. Two men seek the GOP nomination.

The Daily Mail endorses Dan Greear, who most clearly articulates how McGraw has misused the office, is the strongest candidate, and who would take the office in a direction that better serves West Virginia.

Greear, a partner in Kesner, Kesner & Bramble, is a graduate of South Charleston High School, Liberty University and the West Virginia University College of Law.

He represented Kanawha County’s 30th District in the House of Delegates in 1995-96.

Greear is an effective candidate, and would have the backing necessary to tackle the durable McGraw, who has shamelessly used the assets of his office to enhance his name recognition among voters………….

As Greear put it, West Virginia now has “a mass tort trial lawyers firm in the attorney general’s office.”

That has hurt West Virginia’s reputation as a good place to do business.

The attorney general has hired campaign contributors as special deputy attorneys general, entitled them to 30 percent of the damages they win - and in too many cases, disbursed the rest to causes he chooses.

This is wrong. It’s the Legislature’s responsibility to allocate public funds.

After 16 years of McGraw, it’s time for a change.

Greear, who has plenty of trial experience, would run a responsible attorney general’s office - and is the candidate most likely to win that chance.

Huntington Herald-Dispatch strongly endorses Greear

The Greear for AG campaign today announced several key endorsements.  The Huntington Herald-Dispatch provided a strong endorsement and clearly showed they will most likely endorse Dan in the fall as well.  Also, the West Virginia Business Industry Council, West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, and two more of Eastern Panhandle key legislators, Walter Duke and Bob Schadler endorsed Dan as well.

See the Herald-Dispatch editorial below and the Greear press release below it.

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 From the Huntington Herald-Dispatch:Dan Greear of South Charleston knows how many West Virginians feel about the state attorney general’s office in the hands of incumbent Darrell McGraw. Greear says he will end McGraw’s practice of filing lawsuits in hopes of landing millions of dollars that he can dole out for his own promotion. He will not hire private lawyers to file lawsuits on behalf of the state and collect large fees for doing so. And he will stop using state money for trinkets that serve no purpose other than promoting McGraw. Greear offers the changes the attorney general’s office desperately needs.*****

From the Greear for AG campaign

Greear lands key endorsements from Eastern Panhandle legislators and Huntington Herald-Dispatch

Charleston, WV – With a wide lead in contributions, dozens of appearances across the state, and a growing grassroots campaign, Attorney General Candidate Dan Greear today announced additional support from a wide variety of groups, two additional Eastern Panhandle legislators and the first paper to endorse in the race, the Huntington Herald-Dispatch.

“Our large number of endorsements acknowledges I clearly present the best opportunity to defeat Darrell McGraw in the fall,” said Greear. “I am excited and humbled that so many people and groups are supporting my campaign to change the office of Attorney General. We have received endorsements today from diverse groups such as the Farm Bureau, the Medical Association, the WV Health Care Association, WV Business and Industry Council, WV Chamber of Commerce, and the Huntington Herald-Dispatch.”

 “Our first hurdle is to win the primary and we are honored to have received two key endorsements in the Eastern Panhandle from previously uncommitted Delegates Bob Schadler, R-Mineral and Walter Duke, R-Berkeley.  With the support of Republicans across the state and with the backing of our elected officials, we feel strongly we can carry this momentum into the primary election on May 13th.”

The Huntington Herald-Dispatch also endorsed Greear today and clearly stated who they would be leaning toward in the general election as well.

The following legislators have already expressed their commitment to Greear’s candidacy: House Minority Leader Del. Tim Armstead, Del. Jonathon Miller, Del. John Overington, Del. Craig Blair, Del. Daryl Cowles, Del. Bob Ashley, Del. Mitch Carmichael, Del. Bill Anderson, Del. Larry Border, Del. Allan Evans, Del Ron Walters, Del. Patrick Lane, Del. John Ellem, Del. Tom Azinger, Del. Kelli Sobonya, Del. Carol Miller Del. Ray Canterbury, and Del. Troy Andes. Greear’s Senate support includes Sen. Mike Hall, Sen. Vic Sprouse, Sen. Donna Boley and Sen. Frank Deem.

Former State Senators Sarah Minear, Steve Harrison and Delegate Ann Calvert are also among Greear’s supporters.

Greear is a lifelong resident of Kanawha County, graduating from South Charleston High School in 1986 as a National Merit Scholar. He graduated from the WVU School of Law in the spring of 1992 where he also served as associate manuscript editor for the West Virginia Law Review. He served in the West Virginia House of Delegates representing Kanawha County’s 30th District in 1995 and 1996.  Dan currently resides in South Charleston with his wife Amy, a social worker for Kanawha Hospice Care, and their two children, Joshua, 9 and Ben, 6.

Feelin’ a little bad

I feeling a little bad about a commentary I wrote earlier this week that totally offended Senate candidate Jim McNeely concerning his stance on abortion.

I read the West Virginians for Life questionairre and his response to it caught my eye.  Jim was the only person who responded who was marked as believing life began at birth.

At birth?  I went crazy.  So, I ripped him.

Mr. McNeely sent me a legalistic comment that was posted for a couple days asking for my comments to come down.  My response was also posted which basically said, “no.”

But, then Mr. McNeely sent me a regular email and we had some correspondence and, well, now I’m feeling a little bad that I said he was in favor of whacking babies a day before they are born (it was an exaggeration of course).

Anyway, the short story of it is that I came away from our emails with a feeling that Mr. McNeely is a decent guy who obviously seems to… well.. not want to kill babies a day before they are born.

And, while I hope that Senator Caruth beats him like a drum (figuratively, not literally) and I suspect should McNeely get through the primary, he will, I still feel bad that I ripped him like I did. 

I’ve offered a rebuttal response (as I do anyone who feels they were horribly offended).  He may or may not take me up on the offer.

Mr. McNeely’s response to the “life” question was legalistc.  But, one thing he will quickly learn, when he is asked whether he is pro-life or pro-choice, the minute you get to about five words on that answer, both sides quickly distrust you. 

So, while I didn’t take the comments down (I never do, unless I feel I was in complete factual error… right, never), I am feeling a little bad and thought I’d express it.

Greear endorsed by West Virginians for Life

Greear lands another big endorsement.

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Sorry, can’t help it!

I don’t normally talk about personal stuff on the blog…  so, I won’t…  but, I will show off Anthony’s photos (taken with my phone) recently after his six month birthday. 

Many of you will send me emails and ask how he is doing, I appreciate that, he is doing fantastic!  He is big and growing and changing by leaps and bounds every day and sorry, but I can’t help but show him off…  we have been on a run on 4:30am father-son bonding sessions, but outside of his propensity to awake his Dad in the middle of the night, he is an amazing kid!

Here’s a few photos, enjoy!

Greear blasts McGraw use of taxpayer dollars

The perpetual taxpayer funding of the McGraw campaign continues.  Dan Greear takes a swipe at the outrageousness of McGraw.

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Greear blasts McGraw use of taxpayer dollars

Charleston, WV - Republican Attorney General Candidate Dan Greear spoke to the Charleston Daily Mail on Tuesday, March 4 concerning mailings sent by the current Attorney General to recipients of concealed weapons permits.  Greear blasted the current Attorney General using taxpayer dollars to fund his reelection campaign. The Daily Mail article should appear on Wednesday, March 5 in the afternoon paper. ‘The practice is unnecessary and a continuation of the 15 year perpetual re-election campaign of Darrell McGraw,” Greear said.  “This is a campaign run directly out of the Attorney General’s office at taxpayer expense.”  Greear added that the information contained in the mailing was self-serving and was readily available from other sources. Greear noted his own support for reciprocal agreements with other states to allow West Virginians with valid permits to carry their weapons in those states.  However, he objected to Darrell McGraw attempting to use this situation for political gain by use of state funds.  “Once again McGraw puts himself above the people of the state.” More information on the Greear for AG campaign can be found on his new website, www.dangreear.com. Contact:
Suzette Raines, 304-437-1306

Greear unveils new website, www.dangreear.com

Attorney General candidate and Charleston attorney Dan Greear’s new look website is up and running.

The website’s address is: www.dangreear.com.  Check it out today!

As the campaign picks up steam more information will be added to the site and it will be used extensively for volunteer coordination, getting the Greear for AG message directly to the voters, and for quick response to any attacks by our opponents.

If you are interested in helping Dan’s campaign there is an area on the website for you to sign up as a volunteer or contributor.