West Virginia State Democratic Party

West Virginia Democratic Party Platform

Good Government

The Democratic Party stands for freedom, truth, honesty and the Democratic way for all citizens of West Virginia and the United States.

We deplore the distortions and deceptions of the present national Republican administration on nearly every subject, foreign and domestic. We intend to point out this terrible and frightening misuse of public trust in 2004.

Further, we demand elected officials in West Virginia correct an obvious lack of oversight in public interest areas, including non-profit organizational use of taxpayer money from state and federal funds. We insist on more input in distribution of grant money and other one time funding. We expect open and honest governmental responsibility shown for use of our tax money.

We demand honest and clean elections. Candidates should take great care in exercising fair campaign practices and refrain from intentionally distorting the truth or unfairly maligning their opponents.

Voting must be readily available to all citizens. No device is acceptable unless it leaves an accurate paper trail. While it is desirable for all eligible West Virginians to vote, it is equally important that citizens be educated about candidates for office and subjects at issue. When superior, effective Democratic candidates run for office, enthusiastic Democratic participation is sure to follow. When urgent issues appear on the ballot, West Virginia Democrats respond with support.

Realizing that the national election is the most important of our lifetime, we commit to leaving no stone unturned to replace George W. Bush with John Kerry.

We are equally determined to re-elect Nick Rahall and Alan Mollohan and to elect Eric Wells to Congress. We promise to put Joe Manchin in the West Virginia governor's mansion by a huge margin.

Warren McGraw is an excellent Supreme Court judge under shrill and hateful fire. We will see Judge McGraw returned to the bench with the largest victory of his career. We will support each candidate for the Board of Public Works successfully. Secretary of State, Ken Hechler; Attorney General, Darrell McGraw; Treasurer, John Perdue; Auditor, Glen Gainer; and Commissioner of Agriculture, Gus Douglass. Additionally, our legislature must remain Democratic. We will return our incumbents and elect our new candidates.

Each courthouse, magistrate court, even to county surveyor's office will be Democratic in 2004.

These things we commit to accomplish so help us GOD.