Brent West, a member of the Executive Committee of the Libertarian Party of West Virginia and a former write-in candidate for Mayor of Vienna in 2012, announced his candidacy for State Treasurer on the Libertarian Party ticket. “Who better to entrust the careful investment and disbursement of taxpayer funds than a parsimonious Libertarian,” said West, a Wood County father of two with 10 years of business management experience. “The Libertarian Party is committed to sound fiscal economics,” he added, “and, since we have no special interests behind us, the public can be assured we’ll be vigilant in managing the public’s money.”
West becomes the third Libertarian to announce for statewide office this year, joining the Libertarian Party’s candidate for Governor, David D. Moran, whose candidacy in 2012 for Governor gained the party official recognition status, and its candidate for Secretary of State, John Buckley. The Libertarian Party of West Virginia is now the third-largest political party in the state in terms of registered voters.
A 2003 graduate of Parkersburg High School, West has more than 10 years’ experience in restaurant management, with a particular emphasis in budgetary streamlining. He and his wife, Holly, have two young children, the youngest less than a year old. He is an avid hunter, fisherman, and target shooter, and a member of Camden Avenue Church of Christ in Parkersburg. In 2012, he entered the race for Mayor of Vienna at the last minute as a write-in candidate. Although unsuccessful, his candidacy served to highlight a slew of issues of concern to voters in the Mid-Ohio Valley area.
“West Virginia voters are increasingly dissatisfied with politics as usual, as evidenced by the growing number of voters with no party affiliation,” said West. “Let the Republicans and Democrats battle it out for raw political power,” he offered. “We Libertarians are only interested in honest, frugal, and very small government.” Accordingly, West proposes to give back 20% of the Treasurer’s annual salary in recognition of the severe budget crisis confronting the state. “Elected officials themselves should share in the cutbacks that are proving necessary in government spending.” “Let’s cut spending,” he urges, “not raise taxes.”
The Libertarian Party supports free-market, limited government as well as personal liberties. The Libertarian Party of West Virginia (LPWV) will hold its state nominating convention on Saturday, May 7, at the Sutton Days Inn and Conference Center in Flatwoods. The LPWV anticipates nominating a full slate of candidates for the six statewide races in West Virginia this year as well as candidates for Congressional and state legislative office.
