38th House district candidate Q&A: Joe Ellington and Randa Faulkner respond to Mercer County resident’s questions

When we visited Mercer County, we saw local residents working on economic and community development. But we also heard that they could use more help from the state on these efforts. We saw some residents who were experiencing homelessness. We heard from major employers that they need more state support, especially in funding benefits for public employees at local hospitals and schools.

As part of Mountain State Spotlight’s “Citizens Agenda” approach to covering this year’s elections, we asked candidates for the area’s 38th House of Delegates District questions about these issues. Republican Dr. Joe Ellington, a Princeton gynecologist, is seeking his 8th term in the House. He faces a challenge from Democrat Randa Faulkner, who owns a small ATV dealership chain.

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These interviews have been edited for clarity and length.

We asked: There are downtown redevelopment efforts in both Bluefield and Princeton. What would you do as a legislator to ensure the state is supporting those efforts?

Ellington: We do have economic development programs that we’re trying to implement, and funding for different projects for industry to come in the different areas. I know Bluefield is already doing some demolition. We’ve also been looking at how downtown Princeton has been revitalizing Mercer Street. They’ve done a very good job over the past several years.

So we always try to help with that. There was some monies as far as community projects that we are allocated as senators and delegates that we also appropriate for different programs. Usually local things like libraries, school, and firefighters, emergency medicine, things like that. So we do help out in those areas as far as directly.

But as far as general policy from the legislature, we do appropriate different projects. I believe one of the recent things we just did was allowing the TIF program for the sports complex in Princeton.

Context: Lawmakers  are allocated money each year through the Governor’s Civil Contingent Fund for small projects in their area. That fund is largely discretionary .

During the special session in August 2023, the legislature passed a law to allow Mercer County to establish a tax increment financing district. TIF districts are designations of an area for economic development that allow any raise in the value of the property that is taxed can go back into the district to pay for projects. In this case, the TIF district is being used to finance a  stadium outside of Princeton.

Faulkner: I would advocate for sustainable community grants, encourage and apply for programs promoting female and minority owned businesses, with incentives for younger entrepreneurs.  Reinventing our community to be more inclusive and progress forward, while promoting sustainability, business incubators, and cultural centers.  With a slate of 4 Democratic representatives, Mercer County would have a strong voice for revitalization and change.

We asked: I interviewed the heads of two of the larger employers in the area – Concord University and WVU Medicine. Over at Concord, there is concern among faculty and staff regarding raises in the cost of PEIA. Over at WVU Medicine, they are happy with the rise in the reimbursement rate from PEIA. What would you do to help support employees who are covered  and providers who rely on it as revenue?

Ellington: Oh, that’s a very complex question that comes in a number of parts.

For the higher education part, there is a certain amount that is allocated to each of the schools based on their performance. They have to work with the PEIA part that they supplement. We haven’t given them extra money for that. But that is something that we are looking at.

As far as WVU Medicine, there was an increase in reimbursements for the hospitals and providers for PEIA.

Stabilizing PEIA has been the biggest issue, trying to keep it solvent. We have, when they had the 80-20 formula for premiums.

One of the issues there was that if we raise the premium, there would be a corresponding raise with the individuals.

We’ve been backfilling in the past some of the administrative duties to cut down on the cost. But that had to be revised, revamped. That’s why they saw increases just recently.

That’s going to be an ongoing problem. And that’s a very tough one to control,  because the cost of medical care has been going up tremendously over the years with recent inflation over the past several years, nationally, and internationally. You’re going to see the cost of doing business increase which is probably going to translate into more premium increases.

Trying to stabilize that is going to be a big issue. And I wish I had the answer to that. But we are working on that.

Context: PEIA, the health insurance for state employees such as troopers, teachers and caseworkers, is a recurring issue in state politics. Here’s more background on the latest changes to the program.

Faulkner: There is a critical need for universal, affordable healthcare in this state, as well as across the country.  This is a complicated issue,  how to make medical costs affordable for patients, while ensuring reimbursements to providers.  Without payments to providers, services would not be available when needed.  I would rely on data from the PEIA finance board, regarding the necessity of the premium increases, assess the reimbursement rates and communicate with both parties.  Without being informed  today, I would suggest that the state’s PEIA funding be increased, using some of the   surplus of around $800 million currently in the budget.

We asked: One thing I noticed, particularly in downtown Bluefield, was a number of people who were either homeless or on the edge of being homeless. A recent state report noted this problem is getting worse statewide, and more funding is needed to help communities and individuals. What would you do about this?

Ellington: I don’t have a great answer for you right off the top of my head, other than allowing the communities more flexibility in how they utilize their funds.

From a state standpoint, there are grants that can be given out that may help them with funding. We have helped as far as with substance abuse programs, things like that, to local communities, to help cut down on the homeless part. But there’s a lot more obviously to do. The governor does have some funds that he’s allowed to utilize that we fund him so much each year that he can use for certain projects in local communities.

Faulkner: Homelessness due to mental health issues and drug or alcohol addictions could be positively impacted with state and federally supported  programs. It is no secret, we have a big drug problem.  Sadly, where there is no proper accountability of funds, the money, designated for such treatment, often doesn’t make it to the community.  Recently, West Virginia was found to be non- compliant in reporting and tracking funding from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, regarding the Opioid grant Opioid State Targeted Response (STR) and the State Opioid Response (SOR) grants.  This funding was to promote access to treatment and to increase treatment options for those in need, and reduce deaths due to overdoses.  In addition, the “working poor” are among the homeless in our state, making increases in the livable wage critical.   Capping rental increases, as President Biden has recently addressed, would be another step in the right direction.   When discussing revitalization plans, we should consider converting unused and abandoned buildings into affordable, long term rentals, offering permanent housing for those who seek emergency shelter.

Context: Faulkner is referring to a report  by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that found between 2017 and 2021 , federal dollars sent to the state for the Opioid State Targeted Response and State Opioid Response grants were not properly monitored. The audit, released in April 2024, found payments were made to grant recipients from the state without proper follow up. The audit says the state agreed with the findings and is actively remedying the situation.

We asked: Is there anything else you would like to add we haven’t touched on?

Ellington : Well, we’re always trying to improve the manufacturing base in our state, because that’ll add to solving the problems that we just discussed.

If you look at health care, bringing more private industry that’s going to have more private insurance helps with the competition, and costs for medical care.

Having those jobs available for manufacturing is going to help employ more people, keep them from being either on welfare rolls or unemployed and maybe being homeless.

It’s raising the base so that everyone can be working and be productive.

Faulkner declined to answer this question.

38th House district candidate Q&A: Joe Ellington and Randa Faulkner respond to Mercer County resident’s questions appeared first on Mountain State Spotlight , West Virginia's civic newsroom.