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Photo courtesy of WV Legislative Photography House of Delegates Minority Whip Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, said this legislative session is one of the slowest he has been part of.

WHEELING – West Virginia House of Delegates member Shawn Fluharty is one of only 11 Democrats in the 100-member House, and he wants to go back for a fourth term.

Fluharty, 40, sees a challenge from Republican Tom Salkovick in the Nov. 5 general election during a year that’s expected to prove challenging for Democrats.

“Regardless of party, my advice to anyone seeking office is simple – be you,” he said. “Voters are smart. They want authenticity. They want someone real who is not afraid to make policy decisions and defend their positions whether or not it is politically expedient. You are never going to agree with someone 100% of the time.

“I have garnered bipartisan support through the years because I am not afraid to stand up

to Charleston on behalf of all of us in the Northern Panhandle. Hard work is rewarded and people see the work I have put in through the years.”

Fluharty was first elected to the House in 2014. An attorney, he graduated from the West Virginia University College of Law in 2009.

Fluharty serves as minority whip in the House, and is the minority vice chair for both the House Rules Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. Outside the legislature, he was selected president of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States.

“Anytime there is a presidential election it tends to take up all the oxygen in the room,” he said. is important to remind voters about what happens in Charleston and why it deserves their attention even more so than Washington, D.C.

“I have taken our Northern Panhandle values to Charleston as your legislator. We stand up for what we believe in and we care about our neighbors. We work together, so should our representatives. I am vocal in defending our people and effective in bringing results home.”

There is one bill Fluharty desperately wants to get over the finish line.

“I have passionately been pursuing Raylee’s Law. I was successful in getting it through the House last session,” he said. “The childcare issue is multi-faceted and also includes this important aspect – protecting our children. We have a loophole in our law which allows child abusers to remove kids from public schools even if they have pending abuse investigations.

“This happened to Raylee Browning. We have read about numerous other examples. It has made national news. It is time we make national news for the right reasons by passing this law next session.”

West Virginia is constantly competing against its neighboring states, according to Fluharty.

“We have to stay ahead of the curve on so many issues. We have made strides, but one issue that stands out is childcare,” he said. “I have met with local childcare providers. I have spoken to families struggling to keep up with costs.

“In West Virginia, the median cost (of childcare) is upwards to 40% of annual income. That is higher than our neighboring states and not a sustainable model. We want families to remain

here to help us rebuild and succeed for generations to come.”

He wants to continue his work in Charleston.

“I am not just asking for your vote. I want you to be proud to make it,” Fluharty said. “I have proven that I will serve with the determination that embodies our community.”