By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
Ben “Travis” Hamrick has thrown his hat into the ring in Tucker County. Hamrick, a carpenter by trade, is running for Tucker County Commissioner against incumbent Fred Davis. Hamrick is a resident of Canaan Valley who describes himself as a conservative Democrat. “I’m a Democrat, but I feel that I am a Conservative Democrat.”
According to Hamrick, transparency and the inclusion of the community in decisions is an important component to the Commission. Among his proposals, Hamrick presented the idea of holding County Commission meetings in multiple locations such as in outlaying communities like Davis, Thomas and Canaan Valley. “I think transparency is important to the County residents,” Hamrick said. “I think (it is important) to be invited to be involved in the decisions that affect them.”
Another of Hamrick’s proposals includes the establishing of a quarterly Tucker County Roundtable. Hamrick said he felt the creation of the Roundtable would create another layer of transparency in local government. “This would be a good thing to create a Tucker County Roundtable where members of every County board, or example Planning Commission, Parks and Rec, Board of Education, Convention and Visitors, just a few to mention, can sit down together and discuss goals, achievements and current activities,” Hamrick said.
Hamrick said he felt he was a good listener and independent thinker. According to Hamrick, if elected, he would focus on protecting Tucker County identities and values. “If I was elected,” Hamrick said, “I would work with coming up with solutions to protect our Tucker County identities and values.”
Hamrick said he has been a carpenter since graduating high school in Tucker County in 1981. According to Hamrick, he has been employed by Miller Contracting for 27 years. Hamrick attributes his decision to become a carpenter to his carpentry teacher and mentor Jared Parsons. “He was my vocational teacher and a great mentor and the reason I became a carpenter,” Hamrick said.
Besides his work as a carpenter, Hamrick said he also obtained a permanent teaching certificate to teach vocational and carpentry and had previously taught at the Rubenstein Center School as a Carpentry Instructor for 16 years.
Hamrick said he has also volunteered as a coach of various sports in Tucker County over the years. According to Hamrick, he has been a coach for Junior High Boys and Girls Basketball, Little League Baseball, Babe Ruth, an Assistant High School Baseball Coach and Assistant Girls Basketball Coach. “Probably 16 years of coaching, at least,” Hamrick said.
Hamrick also said if elected, he would strive to manage the County budget and direct County funds to projects that benefit the whole of Tucker County. Hamrick said he would have the dates and times of Commission meetings posted in multiple places.
Hamrick said in his free time he enjoys such outdoor activities as hunting, fishing and golf. According to Hamrick, he is a member of the Holly Meadows Golf Course in Parsons.
Hamrick is a 1981 graduate of Tucker County and has resided in Tucker County since his family moved from Randolph County in 1970, according to Hamrick. Hamrick lives in Canaan Valley with his wife Kim and a Golden Retriever named Beau who accompanies him to work. Hamrick has two sons, two step-daughters and their families.
