HUNTINGTON -- Several of the candidates running for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Robert C. Byrd agreed that more jobs are what West Virginia and the United States need and that the country has worn out its welcome in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Seven of the thirteen candidates were present or represented during a Meet the Candidates Dinner held by the Wayne County Republican Executive Committee.

The GOP candidates in attendance were Thomas Ressler of Berkley County, Lynette Kennedy McQuain of Marion County, Scott H. Williams of Upshur County, Kenneth A. Culp of Nicholas County and Harry C. Bruner Jr. of Kanawha County. David Tyson, a Wayne County attorney, spoke on behalf of John Raese. GOP candidates Daniel Scott Rebich, Albert Howard, Frank T. Kubic and Mac Warner were unable to attend the event.

Mike Harmon of St. Albans spoke on behalf of Democratic candidate Ken Hechler, while Democtratic candidates Joe Manchin and Sheril Fletcher were unable to attend.

Manchin's absence at the event and presence in the polls was a hot topic during the evening. One candidate even went as far as to say Manchin was a "political no-show."

The candidates who did show agreed the economy and lack of jobs are the most pressing issues our country faces today.

"Everything I say about how it was when I was growing up is gone now," Ressler said. "We need to get back to that by adding more jobs and providing more tax cuts to the working class."

Williams said, "We need to bring more business into West Virginia. We need to invest more of our money and businesses for a bigger return for our state and nation."

Another candidate said government intervention has done little to add new jobs.

"Businesses create jobs, not the government," Culp said. "The government is the problem, and more government is not the solution."

Bruner said, "Jobs will solve every problem we have. We don't want jobless benefits, we want jobs with benefits."

Other candidates tied the jobs discussion in with mountaintop removal, which remains a pressing issue.

"Ken Hechler believes mountaintop removal has ruined the state," Harmon said. "It destroys communities where the mining takes place, and it hurts our economy."

Other candidates said mountaintop removal provides much-needed economic stimulation and jobs to the state.

"Silence is the voice of injustice," McQuain said. "I'm pro-coal and all of the jobs that are provided to the state from it from the miners to the truck drivers to the electricians. Industry is what we need."

Tyson said Raese thinks the state needs to invest more in its workers to create more jobs.

Tyson said, "John Raese believes in less taxes, and he believes in the coal industry."

Polls open for the special primary election will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

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