By Betty Gandee
We have all seen candidates attend an event or two in Clay county and disappear, along with their promises to help our town.
One woman is showing that her heart is in Clay County and in the surrounding rural counties. Talley Sergent, along with newly appointed campaign manager, Amanda Shelton, held a meeting Tuesday evening at Gino’s to pick the brains of community members. Some of the issues that were addressed were the rising drug epidemic, our lack of public transportation, and lack of jobs available.
Mayor Jason Hubbard and wife Melody, school teacher for Clay County High School, realize first-hand how the overwhelming drug problem is affecting the community and our children. Steps need to be taken to combat this epidemic and help is needed from a higher level to accomplish this, and nothing is being done at any level. Federal help is available and ideas were tossed around for treatment programs, day reporting centers, and so on for the county. Paul Hopkins with Bethel United Methodist Church was present to inform Talley on the Addiction Awareness program that the church has recently founded.
As for public transit, the route stops at the Clay/Kanawha County line and picks back up on the other side of the county. Mayor Hubbard believes that if Clay had proper public transportation more citizens would travel to work in surrounding areas and be a benefit to the community. This would give them a better opportunity to find work and be independent.
Talley Sergent was there to answer any questions and discuss the concerns of the public, as well as what she believed could be done to help with these issues. Coming from a family that knows firsthand how drug addiction affects everyone involved, she was open to discussing what her family had been through personally. She believes that Clay County and other rural counties should not be swept under the rug and forgotten about. This won’t be the last time you see Talley in town, she will be back on August 6 for a town hall meeting, open to anyone who wishes to attend. For more information on her views and what she stands for visit talleysergent.com
