Commentary

New Year Brings Commitment For Change

By:  Steve Roberts, President, W.Va. Chamber
        Paul Arbogast, President, W.Va. Roundtable

The State Journal, January 21, 2005

As we start a new year, many people take a moment to look back not only on past accomplishments but also to look forward to plan strategies and outline objectives for the coming 12 months.  Both of our organizations are doing the same. Business leaders are focusing on the core issues that will help to create new jobs in our state, foster greater business investment, improve education and enhance the well being of our communities.

West Virginians have a renewed sense of hope and optimism due to the significant accomplishments achieved in 2004, particularly those that are helping to improve the state’s business climate. The accomplishments continue a positive trend that has been ongoing for several years now.  More importantly, 2004 will go down as a year of significant political change in our state; the outcome of which may yet to be realized.

2004 was the start of “restoring balance” to our great state….balance in the Supreme Court, balance in the Legislature, balance in the governor’s office and greater balance across the state’s entire political spectrum.  When we say balance, we are not talking about this from a political or partisan perspective.  Balance, in this case, refers to the sense that West Virginians are seeking progressive change, sensible programs, pragmatic results, and, yes, ethical public officials.  There is a new sense that West Virginians want real leadership, real solutions and real progress.

As we turn out attention to 2005, we should keep this in mind as we develop our plans for success and achievement in 2005.  To do this, it will be incumbent among all of us – government officials, employers, labor representatives, educators, non-profit executives, employees, retirees – to focus on how best to tackle the tough issues facing us and to promote the positive aspects and great values of our state.  We must come together with a common mission, a common purpose and a common fellowship.  We must have the courage and faith to unite and work toward making West Virginia a better place to live, work, invest, recreate, raise a family and retire.

As part of this, we must work to help achieve fundamental measures of progress throughout our state.  These include:

•          Increasing the state’s per capita income and employment opportunities

•          Improving health habits and conditions

•          Improving educational achievement and facilitating life-long learning

•          Reversing and diversifying the state’s demographic trends

We must focus on creating progressive and visionary ideas for our state, which will be in line with sentiments being expressed by our new Governor and by legislative leaders, particularly Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin. Referring to the 2004 election results, President Tomlin made these remarks during an interview with a southern West Virginia newspaper:

"I embrace these changes, not just because it is what our constituents voted for, but because it underscores the need to consider new approaches, entertain new ideas and be willing to take some risks, if necessary, to do what is best for our state," he said. "We must be willing to lay aside personal interests, personal ambition and personal quests to achieve the dreams of as many 
West Virginians
 as we can."

We couldn’t agree more.  It is time for leadership and change for the good of West Virginians .

Nevertheless, we will continue to focus on specific issues that are important to the employer community and business climate. But, we also will not let ourselves get sidetracked from the ultimate goal – presenting solutions and programs that will help to achieve economic, health and educational parity for West Virginia with our region and the nation. 

This, the state’s business community believes, is the paramount mission for all of us to achieve.  This is how we all should define success in our collective mission to make West Virginia a better place.