West Virginia

Chris Miller is making noise in the governor's race – WV MetroNews

Published

2 years ago

February 8, 2024

Chris Miller is emerging as a wild card in the race for the Republican nomination for Governor in West Virginia. An indicator of his building momentum came this week when the Club for Growth started running TV ads attacking Miller.

The Club for Growth is backing Attorney General Patrick Morrisey for Governor, and the PAC is paying for the ads. It wouldn’t be doing that if it was not worried about Miller becoming a factor.

Miller’s mother is 1st District Congresswoman Carol Miller, but until now, the younger Miller was best known for his hyper-energetic and creative TV ads for his family’s car businesses. Those ads have raised his profile in the tri-state region, but he is less well known in the northern and eastern parts of the state.

But here is why Miller is a legitimate contender:

Chris Miller

He has money. The most recent finance reports showed Miller with $3.7 million on hand, and the bulk of that came from a personal loan of $3 million he made to his campaign. Morrisey had $1.8 million, Moore Capito reported $1.2 million, while Secretary of State Mac Warner checked in at $165,000 in the bank.

Of course, having your own money and being willing to spend it can be two different things. So far, Miller has been willing to write a big check, but can he go back to the well, if necessary, if and when the race is tight?

But Miller has something else going for him—a big personality and a presence. I don’t know him that well so maybe that is his nature or maybe he perfected his presentation in all those TV commercials selling cars and trucks.

He has demonstrated an ability to crystallize a point into an understandable sound bite. No, sound bytes are not policy, and policy is important, but so is the ability to communicate with voters.

He is also quick on his feet. Miller had the best quip of Tuesday night’s debate among the four leading candidates in Raleigh County after Morrisey criticized a position taken by Capito’s mother, Senator Shelley Moore Capito.

Miller said to Morrisey, “You must not be from West Virginia because people from West Virginia know you don’t talk abut somebody’s momma.”

The crowd loved it, and when I quizzed about a dozen West Virginia Tech students who were serving as ushers at the debate, nearly all of them thought Miller had the best night.

But policy is important and here is where Miller runs into trouble. For example, he has said during two debates now that, if elected, he will immediately get rid of the state income tax.

First, that simply is not possible without legislative approval. Governor Jim Justice learned the hard way what happens when a bull tries to storm through the china shop that is the West Virginia Legislature. House and Senate members take seriously their position as the third branch of government and they are not inclined to acquiesce just because a Governor says so.

But in addition, the immediate elimination of the state income tax would reduce the General Revenue by at least two-billion dollars, or forty percent of the entire budget. That would require massive cuts in, well, everything. It won’t work.

When confronted with those facts, Miller is unperturbed. He counters with his pro-business positions and the benefits of unleashing capitalism. Hey, the guy has confidence.

The race for the Republican nomination for Governor is interesting. They are all toeing the conservative pro-Trump line and they agree on most issues. Yet they are four very different individuals. That means personality and presentation may matter more than usual.

The fact that there are already negative ads against Chris Miller shows that others in this race also know that.

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West Virginia

Justice firm’s delinquent DEP fines rise past $1.6M amid DOJ criminal liability relief

Published

4 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Press Room

Justice firm’s delinquent DEP fines rise past .6M amid DOJ criminal liability relief

One of the most prominent coal companies in the teetering business empire of United States Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., owes the state of West Virginia over $1.6 million in delinquent fines. Justice’s Bluestone Coal Corp. owes the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection roughly $1.61 million in delinquent fines issued for 214 violations across 44 DEP-issued mining permits spanning Sept. 2019 to March 2026, according to records the Gazette-Mail obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request. Bluestone Coal’s delinquent fine debt has grown 32.5% from the roughly $1.21 million it totaled in January 2026, according to records from a previous Gazette-Mail request, an indication that the long-running debt at the expense of Justice’s own constituents may not be going away anytime soon. But the companies’ long history of environmental failures was an issue that prompted a federal criminal investigation scuttled earlier in 2026 by Trump administration officials, according to a report published June 8 by ProPublica and Mountain State Spotlight.

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West Virginia

West Virginia First Foundation advances key initiatives at second quarterly board meeting

Published

15 hours ago

June 26, 2026

Press Room

West Virginia First Foundation advances key initiatives at second quarterly board meeting

Community Bulletin

A longtime State Farm agent on Buckhannon’s Main Street, Kelley Tierney offers home, auto, life and renters insurance — plus State Farm financial services — under the company’s “Here For What Matters” approach. Read more →

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia First Foundation (WVFF) convened its second quarterly board meeting of 2026 at Ascend West Virginia in Charleston, continuing its work to advance prevention, treatment and recovery efforts across West Virginia through responsible stewardship of opioid settlement funds.

The meeting provided board members with updates on several key initiatives and strategic priorities currently underway.

Expert panel appointments

A significant focus of the meeting was the appointment of several volunteer Expert Panel members following the conclusion of certain panel terms. Expert panelists serve in advisory roles and provide regional knowledge, professional expertise and community perspective to help inform WVFF’s work and funding priorities. To allow time for all appointees to complete the necessary confirmation and onboarding process, names will not be publicly released until all appointments have been finalized.

“Expert Panelists play an important role in helping us understand the needs, challenges, and opportunities facing our local communities,” said Jonathan Board, Executive Director of WVFF. “We are grateful for the individuals who volunteer their time and expertise to support this work and help guide thoughtful, informed decision-making.”

Local government reporting and best practices

Board members reviewed progress on the 2026 Local Government Expenditure Report, which compiles annual spending data submitted by local governments receiving opioid settlement funds. Staff reported that more than 65% of eligible local governments have submitted expenditure reports to date, with the statewide report expected to be released in mid-July.

The board also received an update on new resources being developed to help local governments identify promising practices and learn from successful approaches being implemented across West Virginia. While WVFF does not direct how local governments spend their allocated settlement funds, the Foundation remains committed to providing educational resources that highlight allowable uses, share examples from around the state and support informed local decision-making.

[CHAMBER] [2026-06-23] Hiring Executive Director

In the coming months, WVFF plans to host regional learning sessions that will bring local government representatives together to share experiences, discuss challenges and explore opportunities to maximize the impact of opioid settlement investments within their communities.

Strategic priorities

The board received updates on the Community Catalyst Grant (CCG) program, which opened for applications on June 1 and remains open through June 30. Designed as a three-year, outcomes-driven investment, the program will support projects focused on public safety response, day report centers and generational prevention efforts.

Board members also received updates on the West Virginia Wayfinder, the statewide needs assessment project led by the West Virginia University Health Affairs Institute, in partnership with the Institute for Policy Research and Public Affairs, and Data Driven WV. Meetings and engagement activities are underway with WVFF staff, expert panelists and community stakeholders across the state, with data, insights and priority areas currently being gathered and analyzed to help identify needs, gaps and opportunities related to substance use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery services in West Virginia.

“Our Board remains focused on ensuring these funds are invested responsibly and strategically for the benefit of West Virginia communities,” said Greg Duckworth, Chairman of the WVFF Board of Directors. “Each meeting provides an opportunity to review progress, strengthen accountability, and continue building on the work being done across the state.”

Direct funding request approved

The board also voted to approve a $4 million direct funding request submitted by the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) at West Virginia University. The project is focused on expanding access to innovative addiction treatment and recovery support tools while building the technology and infrastructure needed to support implementation across West Virginia.

Consistent with WVFF’s commitment to transparency and accountability, additional details regarding the project and funding agreement will be released in the coming weeks following the completion of final documentation. WVFF and RNI plan to issue a joint announcement once the agreement process has been finalized.

Hold the Line Tour stop at Rea of Hope

After the board meeting, WVFF board members and staff will visit Rea of Hope, an Initial Opportunity Grant awardee, as part of the Foundation’s Hold the Line Tour, which highlights organizations and programs working to make a difference in communities across West Virginia. The visit will provide an opportunity to hear directly from leadership about the impact of recovery-focused services and community support.

The next regular meeting of the Foundation’s board of directors is scheduled for September 17, 2026 (subject to change). Visit wvfirst.org to learn more.

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