Former Marshall County Commissioner Jake Padlow Running for House of Delegates
WHEELING -- Former Marshall County Commissioner Jason "Jake" Padlow is re-entering politics to run for House of Delegates and take on West Virginia's issues with opioid addiction.
Padlow, now 53, was first elected commissioner as a Democrat when he was 28. He served from 2001 through 2012.
Twelve years later, he is a Republican candidate for the District 6 seat in the House representing Marshall County.
"I am excited to get back into it," he said. "I've had frustrations about the lack of leadership, and their lack of not getting things done."
Padlow acknowledges the state has made strides with its revenue and budget surpluses, and has embraced a pro-life stance.
"But one thing this state has never faced is opioids," he said. "West Virginia is first in overdose deaths, and in children being born addicted. These numbers have increased under Attorney General (Patrick) Morrisey and Gov. (Jim) Justice.
"The governor has done absolutely nothing to curb the opioid epidemic. If anything, he has made it worse. It is definitely the worst issue facing the state."
Padlow takes exception with many of the programs meant to curb opioid addiction.
"We are just enabling all these users," he said. "You have the needle exchange program where you just give them needles. And the treatment is crazy. They just treat the problem with another opioid -- Suboxone. They can't get out of it."
He said many users are also making money from Suboxone by selling what they receive on the streets.
Padlow also takes issue with how settlement money from drug companies to the state is being distributed.
"The families of the people who died aren't getting a penny," he said. "The families I've talked to are frustrated they are just handing the money out to counties.
"They tell me, 'My son died, and I get nothing out it.'"
Padlow said if he were elected to the Legislature he would put a moratorium on spending of drug settlement money "until there is a plan." In addition, he would propose a bill to "put the opioids back in hospitals and out of control of doctors."
"The hospitals are doing it right," he said. "If you go in for traumatic injury, they give you 5 to 6 pills. They don't give you anymore.
"Now we have people go to their doctors just so they just write them a script."
Padlow - a life-long resident of McMechen - graduated from the former Bishop-Donahue High School in 1989.
He went on to work in the family business, and operates Jerry's Bar, a mini-mart, a sub-shop and a gathering room. Padlow was widowed in 2004, leaving him a single father to three children then ages 7, 5 and 2.
In recent years, he has been in Charleston, meeting with lawmakers, and observing how bills there will affect small business owners. He has pushed for allowing small bars like his own to have sports betting, and not to permit just the tracks and casinos in the state that privilege.
His concerns for his business led him to become a Republican "four to five years ago," he said. Padlow is a member of the Marshall County Republican Executive Committee.