MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Harrison County educator is again throwing his hat in the political arena to run for a spot on the West Virginia House of Delegates.
President of the Harrison County chapter of the National Education Association Ryan Deems, looks to continue to push for education and social reforms as he looks to represent the Democratic ticket for the newly established 70th District in the House of Delegates. Deems, who previously ran for a spot in the House of Delegates in 2020, wants to try and bring his approach as an “outsider” to Charleston.
“I understand and experience the struggle that people face each day,” said Deems. “That’s why I’m running, it’s because I think people that are closest to the problem, should be the ones making the law,” he said.
Deems wants to focus on several social issues that would expand outside of education. One area of focus he mentioned on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” was the state’s opioid epidemic. He hopes to look into state programs to help those affected.
“We need to make sure that people can receive treatment in their communities,” said Deems. “We need to make sure that once people are in treatment and they’re in the recovery process, that they’re not stigmatized, that they can find work, which is why I would sponsor a bill to make that happen,” he said.
While he mentioned a need for the state to focus on the opioid crisis, Deems re-emphasized the need for West Virginia to continue to address concerns of the state’s educational community. Despite multiple agreements made with the West Virginia Teacher’s Association back in 2018, Deems stated that several conditions have changed for teachers since the agreement was made, and with the COVID-19 pandemic as well as recent political discussions over curriculum, state-level involvement in education might be needed.
“These teachers don’t have a minute in their day to breathe, it’s from this thing, to this thing, to this thing,” he said. “And when all of these outside factors are compiled on top of it, it’s just unsustainable,” he said.
In the new 70th District of the West Virginia House of Delegates, Deems will face off against longtime Democratic legislature Ron Fragale, in the 2022 Primary Election. On the Republican ticket, Tyler Hart, Paul Howe, Bryan Payne and Mickey Pettito will face off in the primary.
“Politics isn’t a game to me, I know that the decisions made in Charleston affect us each and every day,” he said. “Our general election will be tough, but I have the volunteer support that it takes to win this race,” he said.
Early voting for the 2022 Primary Election begins on April 27. Election Day is May 10.