CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Kanawha County Commission approved a resolution last week asking public officials to state their position on October’s road bond referendum while also coming out in support of the issue.
West Virginia voters will decide on Oct. 7 whether the state should support the $3-billion package to fund road construction across the state’s 55 counties. More than $270 million will go toward projects in Kanawha County.
Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper said the bond needs to be approved because the state’s roads are in terrible shape.
“People are busting their tires and their axles. There are buses and trucks that can’t go over bridges” he said. “No one disagrees that the roads need to be fixed. They just don’t want to pay for it, some people don’t.”
Carper said the resolution is aimed at public officials to make a statement on the issue, regardless of whether or not they support the bond. He added he’s not afraid to lose support with the board coming out in favor.
“People are getting hurt, and we are the ones that have the responsibility to see that and say something about it,” he said. “If that costs us politically, that’s OK. I’ll take that.”
Copies of the referendum were sent to Gov. Jim Justice, members of the West Virginia Legislature and every public office in West Virginia.
Early voting will take place from Sept. 22 to Oct. 4.