AG Candidate Petsonk To Speak in Wheeling On Labor, Health Care
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WHEELING -- The issues of organized labor and maintaining their health care benefits is on the mind of Democratic West Virginia attorney general nominee Sam Petsonk this Labor Day.
Petsonk is scheduled to be in Wheeling today to meet with members of the Independent Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
After this, the public may witness him do some "honk and wave" campaigning in Wheeling communities.
The coronavirus pandemic has affected how politicians campaign this election season, he acknowledged.
"A lot of the traditional Labor Day rallies are canceled, but I want to be out with labor or Labor Day and do some socially distanced things," he said.
Petsonk won the Democratic primary election by the smallest of margins over his opponent, Delegate Isaac Sponaugle, D-Pendleton. Just 0.08 percent of the vote separated them in the final vote count.
"I think the reason for that is the public really cares about this election, and selecting a strong nominee," Petsonk said. "The stakes could not be higher in this race."
He is concerned by legal challenges to the Affordable Care Act filed by 18 attorneys general -- including West Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, his Republican opponent in the Nov. 3 general election.
"We've got billions of dollars in health care on the line," Petsonk said. "If my opponent wins this race and wins his lawsuit, that would eliminate health care for hundreds of thousands of West Virginians.
"We've really got to win. We can't afford four more years of Patrick Morrisey."
Arguments in the case are set to happen before the U.S. Supreme Court the week following the general election.
"I think the court is giving people the chance to vote on whether they want to lose health insurance benefits," Petsonk said. "If we lose access, many of us would go bankrupt. We would struggle for basic care.
"I think health care is on the ballot in a major way," he said.
Petsonk, 35, is an attorney now living in Beckley who focuses on cases pertaining to coal miners and mining issues.
The Morgantown native is a graduate of Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va.
His background includes a three-year stint working for the late U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, where he was charged with matters pertaining to labor and energy and workforce development.