Contact: 304-523-3345
paula4wvhouse@aol.com
Website:
| Name: | Paula Stewart |
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| Party: | Republican |
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| Home City: | Huntington |
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| Home County: | Cabell/Lincoln |
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Biography:
T.R.A.I.L.S. Early Childhhod Specialist for Link Child Care Resource ans Refferal Agency, River Valley Child Devlopment Services.
Married for 27 years , one son, one daughter and one granddaughter.
B.A. Marshal University Family & Consumer Sciences
Personal Statement:
As a state we must have the ability to provide quality education for our children from Early Childhood to Higher Education. West Virginia has the best work in the country. We export our fine workforce on a daily basis, I want to see our state do away with the antiquated tax system and really make “West Virginia open for business” and keep our citizens, especially our children and grand children home. As your delegate in the 15th District I promise to “harp for you”!
- 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?
- As a legislature I would want to change the tax structure so new out- of – state companies will come to our state. The new businesses that come to West Virginia will “create” jobs in my district. I would like to see small and medium size manufacture’s come to this area. Small business is the back bone of our economy.
- 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?
- West Virginia’s tax system must become competitive with our bordering states.
To quote from Russell S. Sobel’s Unleashing Capitalism West Virginia must make these three tax reforms to allow for economic growth:
1. Repeal the business franchise tax and personal property on inventory, machinery, and equipment.
2. Replace the high-rate profits tax on corporations with a low-rate profits tax on al business.
3. Repeal the future ise of all business tax credits.
- 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?
- Drug use and crime are symptoms of our stagnate economy. We need to get to the root of the problem and increase jobs in West Virginia. Our state also needs to continue working on our litigation system.
- Over the past 10 years the housing stock in several cities 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?
- Housing is a very local issue and should be handled locally.
- 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?
- All West Virginian’s deserve access to affordable healthcare. I would like to see individuals and families receive tax credits to help the buy health insurance. I would also like to see Small businesses be able to ban together to purchase lower cost insurance for their employees
- 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?
- As a Marshall graduate I do want to see Marshall prosper. Yes, Higher education is important to us all. I would like to see more collaboration between Marshall and local businesses to help bring more funding to the University. I would want to offer tax breaks to those who help fund Marshall. Incidentally I would offer the same tax breaks to businesses that would be willing to underwrite expenses of Early Childhood Education. Those first three years are the most crucial in a child’s development and is imperative they are in a quality care environment.
- 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?
- As West Virginia works to update our tax system we do need to improve our roads. I travel Route 10 and Route 52 on a regular basis. A good infrastructure is essential to recruiting new companies to West Virginia. I would oppose raising taxes for road improvement. However, a legislature that can find enough money in the coffers to give themselves a raise should be able to find monies for road improvement, an act that would make life easier for their constituents.
- 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?
- Infrastructure is an important piece to economic development. Roads such as Route 10 and Route 52 need improvement. I would also like to see a better connection between Logan and Cabell Counties.
- 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?
- West Virginia needs to develop a more equitable way to distribute funds to Park Districts.
I would like to see the bike trail plans revitalized. We live in a beautiful state let’s promote ourselves.
- What areas of interest do you plan on focusing on as a legislator? Have you planned any legislation to be introduced?
- Early Childhood Education is of utmost importance to our society and I am committed to children receiving quality care. We learn 50% of every thing we ever learn by the time we are 3 years old. By updating our antiquated tax system and improving our infrastructure we will improve our economy. A strong economy will allow the funding for quality child care and quality child care contributes to a strong economy. For every dollar invested in quality child care we save $7.00 per child in social services down the road.
- 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?
- I’d like to see more of West Virginias education dollars go into the class room. Merit pay is a way to increase the quality of our teachers and perhaps do away with some of the nepotism that is prevalent in many of our counties.
- 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 state should provide oversight and guidance for troubled municipalities. However, it is not the responsibility of taxpayers to foot the bill for a bail out.
- REPLY IN FEWER THAN 50 WORDS: What do you think the Legislature can do to improve work force development?
- The Apprenticeship for Child Development Services is a marvelous example of how entities of education can collaborate to improve the quality of our work force. http://www.wvacds.org. We must allow for business to collaborate with our education system so the workforce is trained to meet their needs.
