FAIRMONT, W.Va. — After serving four years as a member of the House of Delegates representing District 76, Democrat Joey Garcia is running for the state senate seat in the 13th District, covering portions of Monongalia and Marion Counties. The seat is currently held by Democrat Mike Caputo, who is not running for reelection.

As a member of the House of Delegates, Garcia said common-sense policies that grow the economy, create good-paying jobs, improve education, and make West Virginia a place young people want to make home have been his priorities.

“Getting good-paying jobs for north central West Virginia, having a first-class healthcare system, having a first-class public education system, and I said public education because we have funding going to all other types of schools, even out-of-state, and it’s hurting our system,” Garcia said. And the infrastructure that we need.”

Garcia said when the state was awash in surplus cash, more should have been to stabilize the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA). The practice of giving state employees raises to offset PEIA increases is not sustainable for the state, doesn’t solve the problem, and doesn’t help those who need it most. Designating a permanent funding source for PEIA could restore it to the benefit it was meant to be for state workers and address recruitment problems.

“I know educators are feeling disrespected in general, and our public education system is losing money, and on top of that, we’re having increases in PEIA,” Garcia said. “That’s not to mention retirees who are on a fixed income; even when they’re getting raises, they’re not getting raises.”

He said the child care tax credit that was recently passed will put a few hundred dollars into the hands of parents struggling with child care costs is a start, but more has to be done. Noting the number of childcare businesses that are closing, he called for changes in state policy that encourage more childcare centers to open.

“If we don’t have access to childcare, then we don’t have the workforce we need. If we don’t have the workforce we need, we can’t get the companies to come here and provide jobs,” Garcia said. “It’s a chicken and the egg issue, and we have to do more to give a better foundation to these childcare agencies.”

As a member of the Senate, Garcia wants to focus on issues that improve the quality of life and enhance economic development opportunities. He said too much time is devoted to issues that please the base but have little impact on improving the condition of the state.

“Divisive concepts in schools, and you had things regarding vaccines,” Garcia said. “All these things that seem counterintuitive, and we’re not focusing on the basics.”

Garcia said his campaign is about listening and developing ideas to create opportunities to grow the state economy and add good-paying jobs. Those policies can help keep our young people in the state and even inspire those who have left to return.

“I stand up for people every time I can, not for what’s best for Charleston and the Capitol but for what’s best for people here in north central West Virginia, and I’d be honored to have everyone’s vote.”

Garcia is running against Republican Rebecca Polis.

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