Democrats Owens Brown, Randy Swartzmiller Seek 1st District West Virginia Senate Nomination

Democratic candidates for West Virginia's 1st District Senate seat share one thing in common. They both have extensive experience as leaders representing people.

Former Delegate Randy Swartzmiller, D-Hancock, of Chester served in the House of Delegates first from 2004 to 2014, then again from 2018 to 2020.

Swartzmiller, 61, is challenging current Sen. Owens Brown, D-Ohio, of Wheeling, who was appointed to the 1st District seat last fall following the resignation of William Ihlenfeld.

Brown, 70,. is the former president of the West Virginia NAACP, where he lobbied in Charleston.

"My life experience is advocating for people, for over 40 years," Brown said. "Also, being state president of the NAACP going on seven years, I had responsibility for 16 chapters all over the state.

"So what I'm doing now is not much different than what I was doing prior. It's just on a state governmental level,"

Brown is retired as a developmental specialist with the West Virginia Education Association, and he said education will be a priority to him in his next term. He will also focus on health, mental health and drug addiction problems in the state.

"Basically I believe West Virginia needs to be more people friendly," he said. "The image in West Virginia has to be rehabilitated. Because we lead the nation in diabetes, we have health disparities such as being overweight. (We also) rank last in education, yet highest in drug overdose.

"We rank near the bottom in income. These things are human things that we need to take care of to make the state more people-friendly."

And it also is necessary for West Virginia to make certain residents are getting the best health care, according to Brown.

"For instance, just recently there was a bill out there to reduce the cost of insulin to $35 per month - which failed," Brown said. "I thought that would have been a tremendous savings for people. That really concerned me. Anything to really help people make their life easier. "

Brown has opposed Senate Bill 268, which permits the establishment of learning pods and micro pods in the state as an alternative to traditional in-person schooling.

"These particular schools have no particular rules or regulations," he explained. "A person with a GED could teach in these schools, which I think is a slap in the face to teachers who put four years or more into their education

"I can see in the future that it's going to be a problem with children in West Virginia. It seems like we're trying to go back to a 'Little House on the Prairie' days with these different schools."

He said the teaching of critical race theory isn't happening in public schools.

"The issue of Critical Race Theory came up during this past year, and the same people who introduced the bill for the pods and the mirco schools also introduced the bill (against) Critical Race Theory in the schools — which there is none," Brown continued. " I think the whole bill was really to denigrate the public school to try to push people into these pods or move people away from the public schools, the way it was done....

"It actually has created more problems than it has helped. We just need to leave kids alone, basically. We've told senators on the other side of the bill time and time again that Critical Race Theory is not taught in schools at all. These are well educated people on the other side, and they know it's not. But they're using it as a wedged issue in their campaign, many of them. That's what it's coming down to — to exploit this particular issue in this campaign. We have intelligent people on the other side — doctors, lawyers and well educated people. They know it's not being taught in schools, but they are using their vote on this bill as a wedge issue."

On the issue of cyber security, Brown said he would make certain the state has "the most updated equipment to be able to counter any type of cyber attack."

"We constantly have technicians vigilantly looking for any type of attack and making sure we are putting money into systems that would be sophisticated enough to spot and defend us against any kind of cyber attack," he explained.

He said those who know him know he "stands on the side of everyday people."

"I've always worked for a union," Brown continued. "I've always represented people, even when I didn't have this position. Even when I was working with the West Virginia Education Association, I did a lot of representation and also a lot of lobbying. I come from a line of educators — there are a number of educators in my family."

Brown was a care-giver for over 20 years for his late wife prior to her passing. He has two sons.

He is a graduate of the former West Liberty State College, where he played cornerback on the football team. He obtained a bachelors degree in psychology from WLSC, and later a masters degree in adult counseling from West Virginia University.

Additionally, he as a degree in electromechanical engineering from Belmont Technical College.

Swartzmiller also is a a graduate of West Liberty University, where he earned a Board of Regents degree. He also earned a master’s degree in strategic leadership from Mountain State University..

An employee for Weirton Steel for 20 years, he’s currently a senior regulatory specialist at Ergon- West Virginia Inc., where he also oversees security.

Swartzmiller said a lot of federal funding is anticipated to come locally for roadways, broadband, water and sewer. He said as a state legislator, he will work to inform county and local officials about avenues to obtain this money for their communities.

“This is a time-sensitive matter,” he said, noting officials who fail to meet deadlines for use of the funds must return it. “We don’t want to lose that opportunity,”

Swartzmiller said he will push for the expansion of high-speed Internet service, saying it has become nearly as important as electricity, especially for the operation of businesses; and improvements to secondary roads, which he feels have been neglected in recent years.

Swartzmiler said if elected, he will work with other legislators in a bipartisan effort to better the state.

“We don’t need 34 Democrats or 34 Republicans in the state Senate," he continued. "We need 34 common sense West Virginians who will put partisan politics aside and bring true representation in Charleston back to the people who sent them there.”

During his time in the House of Delegates, Swartzmiller rose to the position of Speaker Pro Tempore. He said the citizens of the 1stt District deserve a senator who understands the political process and the the budget of formulating a state budget.

Swartzmiller also promised to put partisan politics aside to move West Virginia forward.

"I am running to bring my experience to the State Senate, to ensure the people of the 1st District will have a Senator who will be able to provide them the representation they deserve....

"Far too often, the politicians in Charleston forget about us here in the Northern Panhandle. As your Senator, I'll make sure we get our fair share."

He believes all in the state should have a voice, and be be treated equally, fairly and with respect

"Over the last few months as I traveled the district, I heard every day from hard working people who want a leader that will give them hope and listen to their voice," Swartzmiller said. "They don't want the Washington style politics in Charleston. We are Americans and West Virginians first.

"I have always been a middle of the road guy and have always been willing to work with both sides of the aisle. My campaign won't be about a partisan political agenda; it will be about the citizens of Hancock, Brooke, Ohio and Marshall counties who deserve the best representation possible in Charleston."

Randy and his wife, the former Jeanmarie Skerbetz, have been married for 30-years. They reside in Chester and are the proud parents of two daughters, Taylor and Molly and two dogs.