Question #1. Flooding is one of the most serious environmental issues facing West Virginians. In 2023, the Legislature created a Flood Resiliency Trust Fund to enhance flood prevention and protection, using primarily nature-based solutions and concentrating in low-income areas. For many years, this Trust Fund was unfunded. In 2026, the Legislature approved $5 million for the Trust Fund, which CWV believes is wholly inadequate. Will you support dedicated, ongoing state funding for flood resilience and oppose efforts to weaken or divert those funds?

Yes, I have advocated for legislation and study resolutions that would direct the state to fully fund the flood resiliency trust fund.

Question #2. During the 2026 session, legislation was introduced to establish a community solar pilot program (HB 4111). This legislation would have made it possible for low-income consumers, and people whose homes do not permit rooftop solar panels, to share in the reduced cost of electricity generated from a central, local solar facility. If similar legislation is proposed in 2027, will you support it?

Yes, I have advocated for this legislation to pass since the 2022 legislative session.

Question #3. Water quality is an issue that is of great concern to all West Virginia citizens. It has been reported that this state has some of the worst drinking water violation rates and the poorest drinking water quality in the United States. Will you support legislation that funds drinking water infrastructure improvement?

Yes, I have advocated for many pieces of legislation to address our water issues in WV. In 2023, I helped pass the PFAS Protection Act which directed the DEP, alongside industry, to identify and clean up PFAS pollution across WV.

Question #4. West Virginia has experienced major drinking water crises linked to above-ground storage tanks. Do you support maintaining or strengthening inspection and safety requirements for these tanks to protect public drinking water?

Yes, since 2022, I have helped defeat the AST bills that have been introduced each session, upholding protections for tanks location closest to our drinking water intakes.

Question #5. Methane is often leaked from improperly maintained, orphaned or abandoned gas wells. It is the most potent greenhouse gas known, can contaminate groundwater, and be hazardous to local residents. During the 2026 session, legislation was proposed (HB 5414, HB 5415) that would prevent future orphan gas and oil wells by requiring an operator to post a bond sufficient to cover the full cost of plugging, or to pay production-based amounts into an escrow fund sufficient to plug the well at the end of its useful life. If similar legislation is introduced in 2027, will you support it?

Yes, since 2022, I have advocated for the passage of the Orphan Well Prevention Act.

Question #6. Large solar generating arrays are often located on farmland. Will you support incentives and permitting reforms that encourage large solar to be sited on brownfields/degraded or previously mined/industrial lands, to help West Virginia protect prime farmland and intact forests?

Yes, we must find a balance between diversifying our energy economy and protecting our farmland and rural landscapes.

Question #7. Currently, West Virginians have no local control through their municipal or county governments over the siting, construction, operation, water use, or environmental compliance of micro-grids and data centers. Will you support legislation to restore local control over these factors?

Yes, since HB 2014’s passage, I have advocated against the bill for many reasons, including the loss of local control.

Question #8. During the 2026 session, legislation was introduced that would have protected private wells, and controlled groundwater and aquifer depletion by data centers and other industrial development (HB 4683). If similar legislation is introduced in 2027, will you support it?

Yes, since the HB 2014’s passage, I have worked on several pieces of legislation and amendments to required data center companies to disclose how much water they will use, where the water will come from, and whether or not it will impact existing users. There are no permits for water withdrawal in WV, so this is a huge concern especially considering our already strained water resources due to development and drought conditions.

Question #9. West Virginia leads the nation in deer/vehicle collisions, killing over 10,000 deer and creating property damage and risk to human life. Highway fencing and the construction of wildlife under- and overpasses dramatically reduce this needless damage and risk. If legislation is proposed in 2027 to study the feasibility of wildlife crossing corridors in high-risk areas, will you support it?

Yes.

Question #10. In the last several sessions, legislation has been introduced that would have opened West Virginia state parks and forests to development, thereby changing their character. This legislation included opening these protected areas to motorized vehicles and developing them for commercial use. If similar legislation is introduced in 2027, will you oppose it?

Yes, I have continuously advocated against legislation that seeks to allow motorized vehicle use in our state parks and forests.

Question #11. Why should West Virginia voters concerned about the effects of climate change, such as destructive storms that can cause flooding, and environmental pollution on their daily lives choose you over your opponent?

West Virginia voters concerned about climate change, flooding, and environmental pollution should choose me because I grew up here, I understand these challenges firsthand, and I have dedicated my career to addressing them. I have seen the impacts that flooding, poor water quality, and industrial pollution can have on our communities, families, and local economies. For the past five years, I have worked at the State Capitol as an environmental policy specialist, helping develop practical solutions that balance economic growth with environmental responsibility. I believe we can create good-paying jobs, attract new investment, and support responsible development while also protecting the clean air, clean water, and natural resources that West Virginians depend on. My campaign is focused on ensuring that growth in the Eastern Panhandle benefits local residents, preserving local control over major development decisions such as data center expansion.

Question #12. If the greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels by electric utilities must be reduced, what is the best way to do this while still supporting fossil-fuel workers and communities?

We must first and foremost continue to support fossil-fuel workers and the communities that have powered our economy for generations. I am proud to be endorsed by the United Mine Workers of America and fully support workforce development opportunities in areas of the state where jobs have left. That means investing in apprenticeship and skilled-trades training programs, expanding partnerships with community colleges and labor organizations, and providing incentives for new businesses and industries to locate in these regions to ensure we don’t leave these workers and communities behind.

Question #13. Suppose an industrial development is proposed for your district. Promises of jobs are made in support, but you have doubts about how many and what types of jobs would actually result. Environmentalists oppose the development, citing concerns about harm to water resources, but you have doubts about how serious the harm would really be. How would you resolve these doubts on both sides? To whom would you listen?

I have worked at the state capitol for the past 5 years, and have extensive experience in working in a bipartisan way to get things done. This includes working to bring diverse stakeholders to the table to find common ground and solutions to the issues at hand. This will always be my approach when working to solve complex issues that impact our community. In my time running for office in 2024 and 2026, responsible development has been a pillar of my campaign. And it’s a top concern I am hearing from voters as well. We must strike a balance between promoting economic development and protecting our rural landscape and resources. When elected, I will work across all levels of government to ensure that development in our region is compatible with the needs of our communities and protective of our resources.