Issues That Matter to Everyone in West Virginia

As of this month, West Virginia has accumulated a tax revenue surplus of more than $108 million. We’ve seen continued tax revenue growth in the first half of the 2026 fiscal year with employment growth of almost 3% since 2022 in Berkeley County alone, thanks to the expansion in manufacturing. We have a profitable tax base with even more potential in the future, so it is time to provide some relief to the taxpayers of West Virginia. 

I support Governor Morrisey’s proposal to cut personal income taxes for our families by 10% this session, along with the Governor’s plan to reduce and even possibly ELIMINATE personal income tax ENTIRELY in our lifetimes.    

As the wife of a career firefighter, I understand and care deeply about the issues affecting first responders living in the eastern panhandle.  We are honored to have many first responders who live here, whether they work in the WV panhandle or travel to work in surrounding areas. These are the people who keep both our community, as well as the surrounding communities, safe for all of us. Our region has seen tremendous growth in residency in recent years with regard to public safety employees from surrounding areas. 

We will most likely see massive tax increases in the years to come in neighboring states, which could push many families to finally decide to look for a new home elsewhere. Many of them will most likely choose to move to the eastern panhandle. While we will be honored to welcome even more first responders as new residents in our area in the future, we need to ensure a favorable tax and economic climate to retain them as long term residents. Most state employees do not receive competitive wages based upon the locations in which they serve. 

I strongly support locality pay for our state employees, which includes teachers, first responders and law enforcement. This will enable them to have a competitive wage in our state. 

Support School Choice:

One of America’s most important founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, was homeschooled and well known as an insatiable reader who was mostly self-taught.  There are many variables regarding how the human brain absorbs and processes new information. The current education system does not allow for a variety of learning methods. Homeschoolers are afforded many opportunities to learn in a host of ever-evolving methods. Parents should be afforded the opportunity to find and utilize the best ways to provide a well-rounded education for their children. I have met so many moms over the years who wish that they could provide such opportunities for their children.  However, for various reasons, they could not take advantage of homeschooling as an option for their children. This is why I support the HOPE Scholarship, which provides for those of us (who still pay taxes to our county school systems) the opportunity to use our own tax money to support our own decisions in schooling our own children.  

Support Our Teachers:

West Virginia is facing a teacher shortage, which, in large part, has to do with strict regulatory requirements on certification and professional development.  Further, teachers do not currently receive competitive wages.

I support relief from overly burdensome regulatory requirements on teachers and locality pay for all state teachers.

Support Medical Competition

Recently, we have seen things change regarding hospitals and doctors that are able to care for patients.  West Virginia has seen a steady decline in private clinics willing to open doors in our state, due to the huge financial burden of applying to operate here.  The application costs are thousands to tens of thousands.  Furthermore, the fees are non-refundable.  Smaller clinics cannot afford to even apply.  If they were to apply, the chances of them being approved are slim to none, since the medical conglomerates who have taken over many smaller operations are the very decision makers.  I support reform in the West Virginia Health Care Authority to allow for more options and quality health care in our state.   

Reduce Patient Wait Time

West Virginia is facing a growing healthcare access crisis driven by severe provider shortages, excessive wait times, and restrictive systems that prevent qualified professionals from caring for patients. In many areas of our state, healthcare is no longer merely limited, it is functionally inaccessible.

If we want better outcomes, shorter wait times, and healthier communities, we must build a system that prioritizes patient access over institutional control. West Virginians deserve timely care, real choice, and a healthcare system that works—especially in a state where the need has never been greater.

Support Alternative Medicine Options

Not unlike western medicine, holistic medicine is also necessary for many patients. Holistic treatment options have helped countless patients recover from a multitude of medical conditions, diseases and illnesses.  West Virginians deserve these types of alternative treatment options in our state. However, opening holistic and functional medicine practices in West Virginia is challenging due to strict state-specific corporate licensing and liability regulations. For so many reasons, West Virginia should support holistic and functional medicine practices and afford these types of medicine to be part of our ever-growing community.   

Concerns with Data Center Development

One of the most concerning issues we are facing in the state is the development of data centers, including one in Berkeley County and one in Jefferson County.  Recent social media and media attention has demonstrated seemingly devastating impacts for residents in other cities and states, including, but not limited to Loudoun County, Virginia.  This is a situation I take very seriously for our residents in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia.  

Data Center Cooling Methods Matter

I appreciate Governor Morrisey’s 2025 legislation, with regard to incentivizing the creation microgrids for electricity usage by data centers.  However, we need to consider the type of cooling systems which these data centers use carefully.  According to Darin Bishop, of the Florida Water & Pollution Control Operators Association, in an article entitled, “Myths vs. Reality: Data Centers and Water Usage”, published January 23, 2026, there are four main types of cooling methods. 

1.       Air-cooling method uses Air Conditioning and requires more electricity, but no water. (Most older data centers utilize this method.)

2.       Evaporative cooling (open-loop) method uses the most water and most of the water evaporates.  Thus, we will see a loss of 70 to 80% of the water consumed by this type of cooling method.

3.       The closed-loop method reduces water usage by up to 70% because water does not evaporate.  It is run through a system of coils.  Most of the water used will be retained and rerun through the coil system. 

4.       Free-cooling method uses naturally cold air from the environment and would not be sustainable in most seasons in our geographical location. 

Issue of Water Consumption is not Addressed

Berkeley County Commission President, Eddie Gochenour, is championing the Penzance Management (Bedington Campus) high impact AI data center build in Berkeley County. He specifically highlighted the potential use of reclaimed water in their cooling system.  However, from my research, and according to Jon Gorey of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy in his October 17th, 2025 article entitled, “Data Drain: The Land and Water Impacts of the AI Boom”, reclaimed water usage still affects the water table and surrounding water resources.  Assuming an open-loop cooling method is used, most of the water used would still evaporate. Further, according to KPTV FOX 12 Local news out of Portland, Oregon, the remaining waste can cause contamination struggles for communities if the waste is not dealt with properly.

Reclaimed water is usually treated wastewater that would otherwise flow into rivers and streams, contributing to the natural replenishment of the surrounding environment. When a data center consumes this water, it removes it from this natural cycle. If data centers are using reclaimed water instead of returning it to local ecosystems, it is no longer available to recharge surface water.  This can affect the overall watershed in the region. Data centers often use evaporative cooling, which evaporates the water but leaves behind high concentrations of contaminants. If the remaining "blowdown" water is not managed properly and is discharged onto land, these concentrated pollutants can seep into the groundwater, impacting water quality (i.e.), increased nitrate levels in wells. The sheer volume of water needed for cooling—even if it is non-potable—can stress local water treatment facilities.

My Current Opposition to Data Center Development

Our state representatives have a responsibility to address the concerns of our residents. While data centers could help us to accomplish the goal of reducing taxes on the residents, they need to be implemented with careful consideration of the environmental impacts that affect our local community. There is a win-win opportunity if we put the proper protections in place. It is short-sighted to put the cart before the horse and welcome data centers without understanding the potential long run risks associated with their development and demand protections for all of us. It is short-sighted to put the cart before the horse and welcome data centers without understanding the potential long run risks associated with their development. 

Traditional Businesses Matter

There are so many other options for welcoming traditional businesses into the state.  We can start with reducing restrictions on the state alcohol laws to encourage wineries and distilleries to open doors here.  This would bode well for tourism in a state that historically has a marketable advantage as a tourist attraction. Let’s keep West Virginia “Wild and Wonderful” and open doors to traditional business opportunities.      

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References

Bishop, D. (2026, January 23). Myths vs. Reality: Data Centers And Water Usage. Fwpcoa.org. Retrieved March 3, 2026, from https://www.fwpcoa.org/content.aspx?page_id=5&club_id=859275&item_id=130961

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Gorey, J. (2025, October 17). Data Drain: The Land and Water Impacts of the AI Boom. Lincolninst.edu. Retrieved March 3, 2026, from https://www.lincolninst.edu/publications/land-lines-magazine/articles/land-water-impacts-data-centers/

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[KPTV FOX 12 | Local News, Weather Portland, Oregon]. (2025, December 22). Data centers’ water usage is creating problems for communities struggling with contamination. [Video]. Kptv.com. https://www.youtube.com/@Fox12oregon/shorts

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