When speaking with West Virginia Secretary of State Joe Manchin III for the first time one is immediately struck by his energy. One must assume that if you could harness it you could run the lights in all of West Virginia. One is also quickly convinced that Manchin isn’t a molded, pliable, manufactured political talking head. His campaign purports to be for the grassroots people and values of West Virginia and it isn’t hard to believe after spending time in conversation and sensing his obvious sincerity.
Born and raised in the small community of Farmington, WV in Marion County, Manchin’s political career began in earnest when he served in the House of Delegates (1984 – 1986) followed by a stint in the State Senate (1986 – 1996). Manchin
was sworn in as West Virginia’s twenty-seventh Secretary of State on January 15, 2001 and is currently running a popular campaign for the governor’s office in Charleston.
The West Virginia University graduate is married to the former Gayle Conelly of Beckley and they are the parents of three children and have six grandchildren.
Manchin’s campaign and support has given him a healthy position in the polls and his high-energy, pro-active stance on solving economic problems and bringing a much needed influx of business to the state, along with his blue-collar appeal and sensibilities, may be the edge to assume of the Governorship of West Virginia.
One populist demographic that will surely be casting a multitude of votes to Manchin is racefans. Manchin is one of the few, if only, national public figures whom not only proclaims he is a race fan, but has participated himself.
“You have to understand that I started out in 1958 or 1959 racing go karts so I’ve been into it for a long time,” revealed Manchin. “My goodness, we went clear to the ‘Nationals’ in Dayton, Ohio with the Rupp factory. Anything that has an engine and makes noise I like. I ride motorcycles, I fly airplanes, I do it all. And I’ve gone to the Richard Petty (Driving) School for three days down in Orlando. If it’ll go 300 miles an hour and stay on the ground I’ll drive it.”
The Secretary of State was quizzed on whether or not he felt that motorsports in West Virginia offered a significant economic impact for the economy of West Virginia.
“I truly do and I think it can be a much bigger impact also but I think it has a tremendous economic impact,” stated Manchin. “The whole state of West Virginia is a big race fan and the whole state supports the industry and all the different variations. It can be bigger and can have even more economic boost from that, and I believe that wholeheartedly.”
And to that end Manchin was asked whether or not he supported the concept of the West Virginia Motorsports Council, a state sanctioned organization that exists to promote and support all types of motorsports activities in the State of West Virginia as both a venue for recreation and tourism and as a means for economic development.
“I don’t only support that I will support it and participate with them, prioritize that to get the most we can out of it,” offered Manchin decisively. “I don’t think we’re even touching the tip of the iceberg.”
“I don’t know of any other states that are as passionate as we are, everyone is involved. I find race fans all over West Virginia. It’s just something we can build an economy around. We have the Rails to Trails and people come from all over the country to ride ATV’s in West Virginia.”
Manchin is also keenly aware of how many out-of-state dollars flow into the West Virginia economy from large, high profile events, like the recent “Charter Communications Race Fest World Championship” at West Virginia Motor Speedway, to cite one example.
“Every tourism dollar will turn six times in the state so that’s a big boost for us and tourism is tremendous and that (racing) is part of the tourism package,” explained the candidate.
Manchin also feels that auto racing not only provides a significant economic impact to the state, but that it also serves as a marketing tool to attract tourism.
“I think when you have world class events, and I don’t care whether they’re hill climbs or oval races or flat races or stock car races or whatever they are, the state benefits from our visitors,” commented Manchin.
“We’ve had two quality track presentations made for this state (Thunder Ridge in Flatwoods and West Virginia Motorsports Park in Quincy). We’re going to have a quality NASCAR track here someplace and I hope to be a part of that but it is definitely going to happen. I think it’s just a matter of time.”
In speaking with the Secretary of State it was a pleasant surprise to discover how knowledgeable and well versed he is on auto racing and how apparently obvious it was that he is tuned in to the populace. One gets the impression that Manchin is equally comfortable and confident among either the captains of industry or the many blue collar workers who make up the state of West Virginia.
“My background, I come from a small coal mining town like most people in West Virginia and I feel very much in touch and I am in touch,” stated Manchin. “We’ve been involved forever, anyway we can we were there. The whole family, like most typical West Virginia families, we enjoy racing.”
“I just like people and I understand where they are coming from. I had the same likes and desires that they have. We grew up in these mountains and we love racing, we love cars, we love engines, we love all of these things. And now with women coming on so strong in the sport it just tremendously makes it lucrative to get involved.”
“And I think, Lord willing, I think we’re going to be governor and I think I’ll get elected. We’re working hard and people are supporting it and then we’ll be able to prioritize the things we think will give us a return and motorsports seems like one that will. Motorsports will give us a return on our dollar!”
For more information on Joe Manchin III’s campaign visit: http://www.manchin2004.com/
©2003-2008 Doc Lehman/Dirt America
Tags: dirt track racing, Joe Manchin, West Virginia, West Virginia racing
