Candidate Snapshot
50 years old; Resident of Jefferson County (Charles Town) since 2003; Republican candidate
Community Service Experience — Leader of our local First Tee program, a youth development organization that enables kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges.
Work Experience & Education — Owner / General Manage of Locust Hill Golf Course. AA Degree from Baltimore Community College.
The candidate’s responses below were edited only for clarity & spelling.
What made you decide to run for Delegate?
I wanted to improve the quality and options of education to our students in West Virginia, and I feel we have done some of that and are continuously working on more options. I want to improve the business climate of the state and help grow our overall population. Finally I wanted to see drastic changes in our ABC (alcoholic beverage control) laws.
What should local residents expect from a state Delegate?
Residents of Jefferson County should expect their Delegate to be available and willing to listen to their concerns. Their Delegate should be in public and open to be approached at any time to listen or offer solutions to the citizens. Residents should expect their Delegate to vote on items that directly improve their way of life.
What priorities would you advocate for in the legislature?
We need to look for solutions to help our kids, to protect our kids and to give our kids a better future. We need to look at things that are negatively influencing kids today, such as the internet, drugs, and social agendas that are confusing our children. The social impacts of things such as CRT and Transgenderism are confusing the children in schools to thinking they are no good or inadequate. We need to stop these things from happening and go back to basics.
I will be re-introducing my COPPA bill from last year. COPPA (Child Online Privacy Protection Act) is a federal law that states that children under the age of 13 must have parent permission to have their data on the web, or be members of social media platforms. My bill raises this age minimum to 18 in our state. This will help parents to know what their kids are doing online and on their phones.
What legislation enacted during the previous term would you consider the most important?
The legislature passed both the HOPE scholarship and public charter schools for the state. Both of these programs provide parents and students a choice in their education and to seek out the educational program that best suits the student’s learning needs. I also supported the legislation that will now appear on the November ballot. If voters approved this constitutional amendment in November, it would provide greater oversight of the state’s public education system by the legislature which in turn will provide greater oversight and transparency to taxpayers. I also supported pay increases for teachers.
COVID-19 forced all of us to rethink how we do things. We got to try new ways of living our lives, conducting our businesses, educating our children – not because we necessarily wanted to, but because we had to. Among many things, HB2025 lowered the barrier to entry for craft beer and distilleries to open in our state and to allow restaurants to sell their craft cocktails “to go.” It allows restaurant ABC permit holders to extend their license to sidewalk or outdoor dining – beyond their four walls and allows restaurant owners to provide alcohol service when catering events away from their brick-and-mortar location. These are just a few of the elements contained in this modernization of our state’s ABC laws. I sponsored and passed Meghan’s Law – a law that requires teachers and other education professionals to receive training that better helps them identify students who may suffer from eating disorders and other self-harm practices and to assist them in getting the necessary treatment.
I supported the pay increases for teachers, all state employees and the additional monies for our law enforcement officers.
The legislature is likely to take up debate on several issues affected by recent court decisions or left unresolved from prior sessions. What thoughts can you share with voters?
West Virginians deserve to keep more of their hard-earned dollars in their pockets. I support tax reform that will help us do just that. I supported the gradual phase-out of the state’s personal income tax – a plan that I believed to be a responsible approach to reforming the state’s tax system. Reducing or eliminating personal property taxes – whether on businesses or individuals – is also important, especially in these inflationary times. The people getting hit hardest by this economy are the ones who are showing up to work every day – they are paying more for gas, more for their daily life’s essentials like groceries – they shouldn’t have to pay more for the very things they need to make a living.
The third question on this year’s ballot will ask voters to approve a constitutional amendment that will authorize state lawmakers to exempt personal property taxes on things like machinery, equipment and inventory used by businesses (small and large). It will also give lawmakers the authority to reduce or eliminate the taxes we as individuals pay on our cars.
I am pro-life and supported the most recent WV House bill that allowed for exceptions in the case or rape or incest.
Why should voters elect you?
When I look at who I want to represent me in Charleston, I want someone who’s going to go down there and work and get things done. I have a track record of getting things done, sponsoring good quality bills, and maintaining a solid conservative voting record. I’m always available via email or phone and am always out in the community helping others. I want to make sure someone who mirrors my values, my work ethic, and is willing to go the extra mile to get things done represents us in Charleston. I’m proud to be your representative for Charles Town and Jefferson county.
Wayne Clark – West Virginia Delegate District 99
Web: ClarkforWV.com; Facebook: Wayne Clark For Delegate; Email: ClarkForDelegateWV65@gmail.com;
Tel: 304-724-0360
Experience & Education — Owner / General Manage of Locust Hill Golf Course. Previously served on Charles Town City Council. AA Degree from Baltimore Community College.
About West Virginia House of Delegates District 99
The 100 members of West Virginia’s House of Delegates are elected every two years. The 99th Delegate District includes the City of Charles Town, the subdivisions around Huntfield, Tuscawilla, Locust Hill, and Mechanicstown, as well as the subdivisions off of Flowings Springs Road and Old Country Club Road
In the 2022 general election, there are two candidates running in Delegate District 99:
Wayne Clark (currently serving as a Delegate) is the Republican Party candidate.
Debra Cornwell is the Democratic Party candidate.
Read More: The Observer’s Guide to the 2022 Election
By Staff Contributor