Stephen Noble Smith in 2020 WV Governor's race
On Corporations:
Help shift who has wealth and political power in our state
Q: What about using the line-item veto as power over the budget?
A: We will use whatever power we have, including the line-item veto, in our to shift wealth and political power towards working class people.
Q: Which gubernatorial power do you personally consider the most important?
A: The two main responsibilities of West Virginia's governor should be to help shift who has wealth and political power in our state.
For too long, Governors have served as the agents of out-of-state land companies and CEO's. It's time for our state to be put in the hands of the people.
Source: Ballotpedia.org on 2020 West Virginia gubernatorial race
Apr 4, 2020
On Drugs:
Rapidly expand access to drug treatment services
Stephen Smith, a community organizer running as a Democrat, proposes on his website to rapidly expand access to drug treatment services and to focus on providing better access to jobs, housing and food for those facing addiction.
"We are the state that started the American revolution and powered the industrial revolution--we can lead our nation in showing how to solve the opioid and addiction epidemic too," Smith states on his website.
Source: W.V. MetroNews on 2020 West Virginia Gubernatorial race
Oct 24, 2019
On Principles & Values:
We get what we want when we unite, build power to take it
His first organizing experience came [at] Harvard. In 1998, he joined in a fight to raise wages for the school's janitors, cooks, and security guards. They planned a sit-in [at] the building housing the president's office. Within a year, the university
increased wages and improved benefits. The experience taught him a powerful lesson: "You don't get what you want in politics by being smart or making good arguments," he said. "We get what we want when we unite and build enough power to take it."
Source: The Intercept on 2020 West Virginia Gubernatorial race
May 18, 2019
On Principles & Values:
Wants to be an ally, not the face of any movement
Smith wants to be an ally, using his skills and influence to support the work of others. He does not want to become the face of any movement, because that usually doesn't work very well in the long term. "You don't get a Civil Rights movement led by
white folks. You don't get a women's movement led by men. You don't get an LGBT movement run by straight folks," Smith says. "The people who are hurting the most are best equipped to heal their own pain."
Source: WVLiving.com on 2020 West Virginia Gubernatorial race
Oct 9, 2018
On Welfare & Poverty:
Try This: individual communities decide what they need
In September 2012, Smith became executive director of the West Virginia Healthy Kids and Families Coalition. Under Smith's leadership, the coalition launched several initiatives aimed at making West Virginia a healthier place. The Try This
campaign debuted in 2014 with a goal of improving the state's economy by improving public health. Instead of running a broad-brush statewide campaign, Try This gave individual communities the power to decide what they need most.
Source: WVLiving.com on 2020 West Virginia Gubernatorial race
Oct 9, 2018
Page last updated: Dec 19, 2020