GOP hosts Meet the Candidates picnic

HUNTINGTON -- Republican candidates from the state, county and city levels attended the Cabell County Republican Committee's meet-the-candidates picnic Friday at the 12th Street Picnic Shelter at Ritter Park to give GOP faithful an opportunity to speak with their representatives.

Committee Chairman John Morris said the picnic gave party advocates an opportunity to mix and mingle with fellow Republicans and hear what the candidates had to say about themselves and their Democratic opponents. The variety of positions represented at the picnic included Cabell County Board of Education, House of Delegates, governor and the U.S. Senate.

Russ Weeks of Beckley is the Republican candidate running against incumbent Governor Joe Manchin. Small, grassroots events like the one at Ritter Park, Weeks said, are a crucial resource to building support for his campaign.

"I do not have the resources Gov. Joe Manchin has, so it's important for me to use the executive committee like ground troops," Weeks said. "I don't want anybody's blind support. I want them to understand who and what I am."

Weeks said he is relying on the friendships he's made over the years in the area and the strong Republican supporters and volunteers in Cabell County to make him victorious over Manchin in November.

Also in attendance was U.S. Senate candidate Jay Wolfe, Commissioner of Agriculture candidate J. Michael Teets, Secretary of State candidate Charles Minimah and Attorney General candidate Dan Greear.

The purpose of the picnic was also to determine the local representatives for the state Republican Party's summer convention in June. Morris said more time would be needed to decide on a final list of representatives.