MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Incumbent Democrat Tom Bloom is asking for your vote in November to serve another term on the Monongalia County Commission.
On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Bloom has been a Morgantown resident since 1971, a West Virginia University graduate, and a more than 30-year employee of Monongalia County Schools. Bloom has served as guidance counselor at Morgantown and University High Schools and also coached boys and girls tennis for 22 years. Some of his work includes establishing the nationally acclaimed Pantry Plus More program with Morgantown High School senior Roark Sizemore in 2014.
“I believe I’ve developed a bond and core principles I hold dearly for the last 12 years, and they are trust, collaboration, compromise, and accessibility,” Bloom said.
When the Mylan Pharmaceuticals Morgantown manufacturing facility closed in 2021, there was a great deal of economic uncertainty, and many in the area felt a complete recovery could be decades away. Since that time, the former Mylan Pharmaceuticals is now the WVU Innovation Corporation, occupied primarily by Hope Gas and their new statewide headquarters, and the county has added Mountaintop Beverage at the Morgantown Industrial Park.
A new bridge will be built in the next three years across the Monongahela River to the Morgantown Industrial Park, and a second access is planned in the future off I-79 at Harmony Grove. The county is also participating in a project valued at about $14 million to extend water and sewer west on I-79 to facilitate continued commercial, residential, and recreational growth.
“I’m hoping to continue the economic growth that has made us #1 in the state,” Bloom said. “From the exceptional growth at Mylan Park to the Morgantown Industrial Park and the WestRidge Development, I think it’s important to be focused on the economic vitality of our region.”
Bloom said property taxes have been lowered by the commission for seven of the last eight years. Keeping the tax burden low helps residents maintain their quality of life while still being attractive to businesses looking to relocate.
“We rank 54th out of 55 in the lowest property tax rate in the state,” Bloom said. “However, we continue to grow, and that’s what I think is really important.”
The county continues to address poorly planned developments from the past through the Orphan Road Program and works with the four county planning agencies. Bloom said some guidelines for construction could be added to the Build WV program, which incentivizes developers with a 10-year property value adjustment refundable tax credit to offset building costs.
“Now we have the new Build West Virignia Act we’re working on with the Morgantown Area Partnership,” Bloom said. “We’re going to make sure that if we use this, we’re going to add criteria about the rivers and water runoff.”
Efforts to help the homeless and provide opportunities for people to get treatment will also be a priority. Bloom backs efforts to clean up encampments and work with those that need help and services well-funded by the county.
“The county continues to offer funding—over $1 million every year over the past six years—to provide for the non-profits that help these individuals,” Bloom said. “Most recently, we provided $525,000 for more counselors, therapy, and wraparound services.”