Black Caucus Quizzes West Virginia Democratic Party Chair Hopefuls Staton and Pushkin | News, Sports, Jobs

WHEELING – Members of the Black Caucus in West Virginia Sunday night quizzed the men who want to be the next chairman of the State Democratic Party.

The caucus hosted a virtual forum to better get to know current Delegate Mike Pushkin and former Delegate Rick Staton, both of Kanawha County. As many as 56 people logged in to watch the on-line discussion, with some submitting questions to moderators.

The West Virginia Democratic Party executive committee will meet Saturday at the Bridgeport Conference Center in Bridgeport to select its next chairman and other officers. Current chairwoman Belinda Biafore is not seeking re-election.

Staton is an attorney living in Charleston. He previously served as majority leader in the West Virginia House of Delegates, and as deputy cabinet secretary for the State Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.

Staton noted it was appropriate to speak before the Black Caucus on “Loving Day,” he anniversary of a historic court decision that affirmed interracial marriage.

“Because of that decision, my daughter would not have met her husband of 17 years, and I wouldn’t have the cutest grandson in the world,” he said.

Staton suggested committee members next week can also make history by electing a chair who can devote all of his time to his position.

“We are in a kind of straits where we need to hit the ground running — not just in November, but beyond,” he said.

Staton said because he is now a retired state official, he is in a unique position to spend time on the road and bring the Democratic message to the people.

He wants to build “rapid response teams” throughout the state who can respond when a Democratic candidate needs a hand. He also wants to make connections with county officials.

“I am willing to be a full-time chair in an unpaid position,” Staton said. “I’m retired. I teach one class a week and I have a dog at home that doesn’t care what time he gets fed….

“I’m able to go to Wheeling tomorrow, and to Martinsburg the day after.”

In addition to his role in the House of Delegates, Pushkin is a taxi driver and musician who presently serves as vice chairman of the party.

He said he has already been making phone calls, raising funds and working for the party.

If elected, he said he would first set sites on November elections, but then look to helping Democrats win elections in the often forgotten 2023 municipal elections across the state.

“We have great candidates up and down the ballot, and we have to make certain those candidates have all the resources at their disposal so we can pick up seats this year.”

He said many of the issues important to the Black Caucus are important to him, and this includes making the party inclusive to everyone.

“I know how important Black voters are to our party and to our state. If it had not been for Black voters coming out in Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania we would be living in a much different country today. I for one will never forget that….

“This is not about me or anybody else. It is about the issues… I’ve been elected four times to represent an area with a large African-American community. I understand the responsibility that comes with that role.”

He said as an elected official his emphasis has always been on criminal justice reform, re-entry issues, access to health care, education and civil rights.

Both candidates agreed the Democratic party needs to work at being more inclusive and bringing all perspectives “to the table” of building a party platform.

They also agreed Democrat losses and the rise of the Republican party in the state were due not just to the “Trump phenomenon” brought about by former President Donald Trump, but by the party’s own ability to set forth a message that resonated with voters.