January 21, 2005
 
EDITORIAL: An Open Letter to the Citizens of West Virginia
 
by Melody McPherson
Huntington News Network Contributing Columnist
 
Huntington (HNN) — As the quadrennial inaugurations are celebrated and bookmarked, it is time to reach across the party divides and get work done for the good of the people. An example of such action comes from notable former citizen of Huntington and Cabell County, Clyde B. Pinson.
 
In July of 1990, Mr. Pinson sent a letter to then-governor Gaston Caperton suggesting that the Route 2 North/South connector between Ohio/WV Route 35 and Cabell County be developed further because it is a “prime development area.” Mr. Pinson also noted that “the potential for rail and river traffic is already in place and gas and electric are readily available. Given the dire economic straits of the state it seems apparent that costly roads must be built where they will produce the greatest returns.” Mr. Pinson, as a citizen and a former Cabell County Republican Chairman, saw a need and an opportunity for his state to use tax dollars wisely, and was moved to contact Democratic Governor Caperton to further the common agenda of the community to which he belonged.
 
With the completion of the new Route 2 connector in Barboursville, I believe that the next logical step is to finally follow Mr. Pinson's suggestion, and use our tax dollars in a more beneficial way, by making Route 2 a four-lane highway. This improvement would take advantage of the solid opportunity before us to stimulate the economy of Huntington, Point Pleasant, up to the Ohio/WV Route 35 and all points in between, not to mention relieving the transportation bottle-neck along Route 2 that currently exists.
 
I urge our fellow citizens to work across party lines, to find middle ground in our beliefs with the well-being of all of our fellow communities in mind; we seek our elected representatives to further the needs of the state, not just the individual needs of their respective parties or special interest groups. Fellow citizens, contact your representatives with your own ideas for state and community improvement. West Virginia needs a collaborative effort of all of our citizens if we are going to make our state as great as it can be.
 
Full Text of Mr. Pinson's letter below.
 
Clyde B. Pinson
Huntington, WV
 
July 19, 1990
 
The Honorable Gaston Caperton
Governor of West Virginia
Charleston, WV 25305
 
Dear Governor Caperton,
 
West Virginia needs jobs and more jobs. Growth and expansion of job-producing industries in West Virginia were once heavily dependent upon land, labor and private capital as the source of economic development. While this is still true to a certain extent, another factor has become even more important in the opening up of job opportunities that is the wise use of the limited amount of tax revenue coming into the state. Thoughtful consideration must be given to the use of every tax dollar. This is not an easy matter for government leaders. It requires bold leadership to rise above the special interest pressures to make the most beneficial use of state revenues.
 
The starting point must be a determination to get the most “bucks” for every dollar spent inroad-building. I do not believe that we can any longer build roads to criss-cross the state as simple connector links between cities or state lines, without due consideration for economic development and jobs. In fact, it is both economically and politically unwise to ignore the economic impact of costly roads.
 
A North/South connector link from Ohio Route 35 along the Ohio River Route 2 to somewhere in Cabell County is well established as having the greatest economic and industrial growth potential of any part of West Virginia. Community leaders from Mason and adjacent counties have seen the wisdom of this Route 2 corridor grown and expand. The potential for rail and river traffic is already in place and gas and electric are readily available. Given the dire economic straits of the state it seems apparent that costly roads must be built where they will produce the greatest returns.
 
Governor Caperton, we urge you to use your considerable influence toward the development of this prime development area. It would fit perfectly with your “Partnership for Progress” approach.
 
Yours truly,
 
Clyde B. Pinson