CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Kanawha Valley voters in the Democrat Primary will be deciding on a candidate for the 8th District State Senate Race. Former Delegate Mark Hunt and political newcomer Richard Lindsay are vying for the nomination. The winner will face one term incumbent Senator Ed Gaunch.
For Lindsay, it’s been a campaign of listening. He says what he has heard seems to be resonating in every corner of the snaking district.
“There’s a real current of people who are working hard, but feel they’re not receiving the pay they are working for,” he explained.
Lindsay said the West Virginia teacher and school service personnel work stoppage earlier this year was a watershed moment for many. Even those who are not teachers were able to identify and empathize with the educators and what they were trying to accomplish. For Lindsay, it was an important event.
“I was an early supporter of the teacher,” he said. “I think they learned some lessons about how the sausage is made there at the Capitol and they walked away feeling there is more work to be done.”
Lindsay said anybody who thinks the teachers movement demonstrated in February and March will fade, does so at their own peril.
Hunt has considerable name recognition and political experience in the Kanawha Valley. He’s a local attorney and serve two previous stings in the state House of Delegates. During the 2016 campaign Hunt was the Democrat nominee in the second congressional district and was defeated by Congressman Alex Mooney.