During his first State of the State address Wednesday, Gov. Patrick Morrisey painted West Virginia as being at the start of a “comeback.” If that is the case, it is a resurgence long overdue.

Our challenge now is to engineer that comeback with a focus so strong it is not slowed by those elected officials whose mission extends no further than pushing the Mountain State backward at any chance presented.

To that end, Morrisey was right to understand our obligation to build a West Virginia in which young people want to stay, raise families and thrive.

In fact, Morrisey hit on several important points. He is prescient to understand we are in the midst of a “technological battle that will determine our national security.” How wonderful to know he wants West Virginia to be part of battling back against those who would seek control of our “computing power and intelligence.”

It is encouraging that Morrisey knows the importance of higher education in West Virginia, to the degree that he hopes to make it part of the partnership that will promote our energy sector. The resources upon which we can draw at our institutions of higher learning are world class. They can certainly bolster our all-of-the-above energy approach — provided policymakers are, indeed, determined to look at ALL our state’s energy options.

Because it is so important our young people receive a quality education that truly prepares them for the rest of their lives, Morrisey is to be commended for announcing his intention to try to work with the president to our benefit.

“West Virginia needs more flexibility from the federal government to administer its school aid monies and help our kids excel in math, science, reading, and other subjects,” he said. Morrisey understands better than most the dangers of executive orders that take a one-size-fits-all approach. That is to our advantage.

Socio-cultural issues will remain a challenge, if we are to retain intelligent, compassionate young people AND make those across the United States aware there is more to us than “Country Roads.”

Importantly, Morrisey presented to the state legislature a balanced general revenue budget that did not include a bunch of pie-in-the-sky promises. He was honest that no pay raises for public employees are contemplated for fiscal year 2026, and that “Our budget will not propose new ongoing programs without new ongoing revenue.”

Good.

Other projects, such as occupational licensing reciprocity and a one-stop-shop for permitting approval are also intriguing ideas for getting government out of the way of a comeback. As Morrisey seeks to weed out fraud, waste and abuse in our state government, he must do so thoughtfully and in a way that does not do more harm than good. Such change is needed, but it must be done correctly.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the Mountain State Comeback is here — and it starts right now,” Morrisey said.

If that was the starting gun, we must not stumble.