Contact: 703 Fifth Ave.
Huntington, W.V. 25701
522-9200
Website: reynoldsforhouse.com
| Name: | Doug Reynolds |
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| Party: | Democrat |
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| Home City: | Huntington |
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| Home County: | Cabell |
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Biography:
House of Delegates 2006-Present
Proesssion: Attorney
Education
Wayne High School Class of 1995
Duke University, BA 1999
WVU College of Law, JD 2002
Married to Maria Reynolds, two sons Marshall & Grant
Personal Statement:
The opportuntiy to serve is a tremendous blessing and responsibility. I believe the legislature must continue to focus its energies on imporving the business climate and improved workforce development through education. Finally, an aging population requires us to insure that our seniors can have dignified golden years; in this vein we need to reform the Medicare Advantage Programs and insure our pensions obligatons our responsibly funded.
- What are your plans to create jobs in your district? Are there any particular industries you would like to bring into your district? What kind of legislation would you create in order to bring in out-of-state companies into the district?
- Government is ill-suited to create jobs. Our citizens will be best served by investing in the Marshall University Research Programs, HADCO and other institutions with a good track record of creating jobs. I believe that if we create the best environment for businesses in general, then out-of-state businesses will want to locate here.
- With less tax revenue expected to come in to the state, what should be done with the state tax system? What are your thoughts on state taxes and do you have any plans to increase/decrease taxes in your represented district?
- The citizens and businesses of our state our burdened with too many taxes. I believe we should continue phasing out the business franchise and food taxes. I also hope the voters will support the Constitutional Amendment to do away with the inventory tax on manufacturers.
- With crime, especially drug abuse, becoming a bigger problem in the area, what do you think should be done to cut down on drug activity in the district? Are there any pieces of legislation you would like to create to combat the rising local drug epidemic?
- First, we have to insure that local law enforcement has the most up to date equipment to fight the well financed dealers. Second, we need more community corrections solutions so that non-violent criminals are not taking up space that hardened criminals should be utilizing. Finally, curtailing supply only addresses half the problem. We need to dedicate more resouces to Drug Treament though programs at Prestera and the Healing Place.
- Over the past 10 years the housing stock in several citites has been slowly declining. What could you do, as a legislator, to create/improve housing in the area? Should the problem be solved locally or on the state level?
- Localities need more options on how to handle properties with dellinquent taxes and fees; such as through a land bank.
The State can provide resoureces and expertise but localities are better positioned to deploy these in the best manner.
- What type of health care initiatives are you interested in introducing as a legislator? Do you believe the system is being utilized to its full potential, or can improvements be made? If improvements could be made, what are they?
- Last session I supported a tax credit equall to the insurance premiums paid for new manufacturing jobs. I was also the lead sponsor of HB 4595 which would have given a tax-credit equall to $2,000.00 per employee for a companies first 15 employees. In order for the system to work better we must reduce the number of uninsured as well as reduce the cost shift that increases the burden on private insurers.
- Marshall University regularly has to compete with other colleges in the state for research funding dollars. Do you believe research and the furtherance of higher education in your district is important? Why? What do you plan to do to bring more funding dollars to MU? What would you do to ensure that MU would have the opportunity to continue its research initiatives?
- I believe that reseach and its funding is one of most promising paths to spuring job growth and innovation in our community. I support President Kopp and the "Bucks for Jobs" inititive which could bring as much as 30 million dollars to support research positions. These programs have been sucessful in other states in generating economic activity and succeessfull businesses.
- What are the conditions of the roadways in your district? Are there any pieces of legislation you are interested in introducing to improve local roads?
- In our district the North-South roads, particulalry Routes 2 & 10 are underdevloped resulting in congested traffic and retardation of commerical opportunities. I suppoprted SB 72 which added Cabell County to the Route 2 Authority; this will make funds available for the expansion of Cabell County portions of Route 2.
- How do you plan to work with the state's Division of Highways to improve roadways in your district? What road and bridge improvements need to be made?
- We need to expand Routes 2 & 10 as well as finish with the Bridge repairs on 5th Ave. going into Guyandotte.
- How do you plan to improve recreational activities in the area? Are there any parks, trails or playground projects you would like to focus on? How would these new recreational activities benefit the communities?
- We need to continue to look at developing walking and bike trails that would connect downtown to the Westmoreland area. This would greatly help the underserved Westend of Huntington. I also strongly support the new play ground facilities at Ritter-Park.
- What areas of interest do you plan on focusing on as a legislator? Have you planned any legislation to be introduced?
- I currently serve on Banking & Insurance, Political Subdivisions and Finance. I look forward to working on improving out tax structure as well as working on incentives to reduce the number of West Virginian's wihthout access to Health Care.
- REPLY IN FEWER THAN 50 WORDS: Students in West Virginia generally lag behind other countries in education. Do you favor more instruction days, adding merit pay for teachers, improving math and science instruction or some other option to improve education?
- The achievement gap, particularly in math & science, between our students and many others is unacceptable. I favor adding instruction days for our students and increasing training programs for our teachers. While grading merit is difficult in a statewide system, I believe teachers should be compensated fairly for their training.
- REPLY IN FEWER THAN 50 WORDS: Many West Virginia cities are struggling with their long-term municipal pension obligations. What do you think the state should do to help cities deal with municipal pensions?
- The only fair way to meet our obligations is to require mutual sacrifice. We need to continue to pursue a permanent fix such as was proposed last session when we had a bill before us that required greater contributions from employers as well as future pensioners.
- REPLY IN FEWER THAN 50 WORDS: What do you think the Legislature can do to improve work force development?
- The best thing we can is to continue to support our universities and community Colleges through increasing local governance as we did beginning with SB 603. These institutions have done a much better job in addressing the needs of local employers and training our citizens then the bureaucrats in Charleston.
