West Virginia is on the move again, after many years of a stagnant economy. Give credit where it is due, to a shift in national and state policies.
In our region, give much of the credit to state Senate Majority Leader Ryan Ferns, R-Ohio.
We at the Wheeling News-Register endorse Ferns for re-election in balloting set for this Tuesday. He is the clear choice to represent the First Senatorial District, which includes Brooke, Hancock and Ohio counties and part of Marshall County.
Having a Senate majority leader from Ohio County -- something that has not occurred within the memory of most people -- is important. It ensures the Northern Panhandle has a strong voice in Charleston.
It is strange that some criticize Ferns for the very actions thoughtful Mountain State residents praise. Let us examine the facts:
Last spring, state employees, including those at public schools, were granted 5 percent pay raises -- the largest in history. Yet leaders of the unions that orchestrated a nine-day shutdown of schools have been critical of Ferns and other Republicans for how they handled the matter.
It seems lawmakers did not act quickly enough for the unions' liking. Why?
Because for five consecutive years, state revenue had lagged behind budgeted spending. That required midyear spending cuts. Some affected schools adversely. It also necessitated borrowing from the "Rainy Day" fund.
Ferns was among leaders who insisted on evidence there would be money available to pay for the raises. He also rejected a proposal that state employees other than those in schools be excluded from the 5 percent raises.
And now, with state finances improving, Ferns and other lawmakers are primed to grant another 5 percent raise. They also are prepared to provide a $100 million supplement to help the Public Employees Insurance Agency.
None of this would have been necessary had Democrats who controlled the Legislature for more than 80 years done right by state employees. It was left to Ferns and other Republicans to clean up the mess.
Many area residents have personal reasons to be grateful for reforms in which Ferns played a role. Unemployment rates in the First Senatorial District have declined by as much as 2 percentage points during the past two years.
Leadership benefiting our entire state is important. So is helping local residents -- and Ferns has an excellent record there, too, using his clout for the good of our counties.
Just a few days ago, Follansbee officials received nearly $400,000 in state funds to help defray costs of severe flooding in 2016. Thank Ferns for that.
Earlier this year, he introduced a bill that was enacted to increase the tax credit for historic buildings. Wheeling officials had wanted it for years.
And a measure sought by Wheeling firefighters, involving workers' compensation coverage for cancer as an occupational hazard, was introduced and shepherded to passage by Ferns.
From military veterans whose pensions were exempted from the state income tax to Mountain State residents gratified at new limits on opioid prescriptions, many people have benefited from Ferns' leadership.
It is no coincidence that on Ferns' watch, our state is better off -- and many residents are taking home better paychecks -- than in the past.
Let's keep the progress going, by keeping Ferns in the state Senate.