By Beth Christian
Broschart
The Parsons Advocate
DAVIS – More than a dozen Tucker County residents stopped by Little Andi’s in Parsons and Canaan Valley Resort to share their concerns with a representative from U.S. Senator Joe Manchin’s Office Thursday. Manchin’s goal was to give residents in each county to share and bring back information and concerns during the week long meetings across the Mountain State.
Manchin said he is pleased his staff launched its seventh “Commonsense Connections” Week, which began May 18. His staff made more than 80 stops across the state bringing the federal government to West Virginians, hearing their commonsense priorities and concerns, and bringing this information back to him.
“I believe in retail government – bringing the government directly to our citizens, hearing their concerns and finding the best possible commonsense solutions to the issues that matter to them,” Manchin said. “The customer comes first in business, just as the citizens should come first in government. That is what ‘Commonsense Connections’ is all about – my staff travels to every corner of the state and meets with our constituents to hear about their personal challenges and concerns, and then delivers those thoughts and suggestions to Washington.”
Tucker County residents shared concerns with area roads, cuts to the Title 19 waiver, public lands and continued public access to hunting and fishing. Ben Herrick, president of the Tucker County Planning Commission, said he was concerned about how prepared Tucker County is for Corridor H to be completed into Davis. He expressed concern about that traffic traveling from the Corridor and through the town of Thomas, with its one-lane road. Those expressing concerns hope to hear back from Manchin’s Office about how their concerns will be addressed.
Manchin launched his “Commonsense Connections” Week in Feb. 2011, when representatives traveled to all 55 counties in the state. This is the seventh time his staff will visit every county in just one week.
Those unable to contact Manchin during this week can call his home office in W.Va. at 304-342-5855 or the D.C. office at 202-224-3954, or by email at www.manchin.senate.gov.
