Ignoring the fact that Governor Manchin refused to put the issue of eminent domain on September special session’s call and that any resolution introduced by Republicans on the issue were summarily voted down my Democrats, the Monongalia County Democratic Executive Committee published an full-color ad in the Monongalia Times, misrepresenting the Democrat’s true record.

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Published prominently on the back of the “A Section,” the full-page ad praises Governor Joe Manchin, State Senators Roman Prezioso (D-Marion) and Mike Oliverio (D-Monongalia), and Delegates Marshall (D-Monongalia), Beach (D-Monongalia), and Houston (D-Monongalia). “Our team is working for you in Charleston,” the ad proudly declares. “We supported the 1% reduction in the tax on food. We supported protecting property owner’s rights.”

While the first claim is accurate, the second is a blatant deception.

Leading up to the Special Session, the Republicans had no less than 3 press conferences urging the Governor to put the issue of eminent domain on the call. Various Republican legislators also wrote letters to the Governor, pointing out the jeopardy of the West Virginian homeowner. Sadly, legislation concerning dog tracks and removing the Lincoln holiday trumped eminent domain and it was not placed on the call. Governor Manchin did nothing to protect property owner’s rights.

During the session, Senator Clark Barnes (R-Randolph) tried to introduce a resolution (SCR 402) that promised the Senate would look into the issue in the next session. Knowing the President would rule a bill resolving eminent domain as not germane to the call, he introduced a resolution that was germane to at least give the people of West Virginia a hope we would resolve the matter at the first available opportunity. The President ruled the resolution as not germane and all the Democrats agreed. Senators Roman Prezioso and Mike Oliverio did nothing to protect property owner’s rights.

In the House, Delegate Cindy Frich (R-Monongalia) had the exact same resolution as Senator Barnes. The House did not even bring it up for consideration. While Delegates Marshall, Beach and Houston did nothing against the resolution as Democrat Senators did, they did not – as the advertisement asserts – protect property owner’s rights either.

The ad leads me to wonder why they would pick this issue to promote when the Democrats did absolutely nothing. Perhaps they are feeling the heat from the Republicans to act. This ad is a good sign for the people of West Virginia. For the issue of eminent domain, it means homeowners will not be left vulnerable, for everyone else in our state, it means the Democrats are finally listening to Republican reason.