Elections in Wood County belong to the people of the county. National and statewide elections have a way of becoming a vast roil of negative advertisements and personal attacks.
However, local politics concern themselves primarily with policy and issues. This is due to local politics having a direct, measurable influence in peoples lives. Therefore it was not a great surprise the citizens of Wood County saw through the latest round of negatively in the commission race and re-elected the incumbent over the challenger. An example of this negativity was the sign placed outside of the Wood County Democratic headquarters. Things such as this served little purpose beside motivating Republicans to work harder for our candidate.
We welcome debate and spirited discourse on issues. We welcome hard work on behalf of our candidates. We strive to do our best and win for our side. There is a reasonable expectation by the electorate to present facts and a workable plan for the good of the county should a candidate become elected. This is all lost if the message becomes muddied with personal attacks. I feel that we owe the citizens our best effort. This is one reason the Republican Party consistently wins in Wood County.
Rocky Peck
Parkersburg
EDITOR'S NOTE: Rocky Peck is vice chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party.
