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CHARLES SHEEDY

CAMERON — West Virginia House of Delegates District 7 incumbent Charles R. Sheedy Jr. wants to continue what he considers to be a “very successful” run in the House by introducing more legislation to benefit his constituents.

Sheedy, 66, is the Republican nominee for House of Delegates District 7 on the Nov. 5 general election ballot. He faces Devon Tennant, a Democrat.

Sheedy was elected to the House of Delegates in November 2022 and said over 14 bills with his name on them have passed since he entered office.

One piece of legislation Sheedy is particularly proud to have his name on is West Virginia House Bill 5213, the Gold Star License Plate Bill, which makes a special license plate available for a parent, spouse or relative of a deceased service member. He noted the bill went to Gov. Jim Justice’s office with over 134 “yay” signatures on it.

Sheedy has additional bills he wants to promote this year, including one that would prevent convicted sexual predators from attending public school functions in person.

Sheedy noted sexual predators currently cannot live within 1,000 feet of a public school but can still attend public school functions.

“If a school has a policy where they (convicted sexual predators) cannot attend a school function then it becomes liable for violating that person’s civil rights if they want to participate in their child’s school,” Sheedy said.

“There are provisions that are going to be put in this bill that would require the sexual predator to attend these functions at their local police station, the county sheriff’s office, at a courthouse or on a Zoom call. This would give them the ability to still function in their child’s own education but not have access to other children.”

Sheedy also has an eye on improving his constituents’ economic prospects, noting he wants to continue to bring jobs to the area and “add to the economic abilities in the area.” One action he believes will help improve economic prospects for residents is dissolving the West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency.

“Why this state ever got into the insurance ÀÏ˾»úÖ±²¥ in the first place is beyond anybody’s knowledge,” Sheedy said. “Now we’re kind of wrapped up with the PEIA to the point where in the last session we felt like we were lied to because the PEIA came to committee and said they needed ‘X’ amount of dollars to keep from raising premiums. We did that and voted to give them money in the House and Senate and then the following Monday they turned around and said they were raising premiums 15% anyway.”

Sheedy said he is considering proposing a bill to dissolve the PEIA and turn the state’s insurance system into a bid system for private enterprises to provide coverage.

“A lot of people are in favor of a bid system because privately, you can get better coverage at a lower rate through a group rate than what the PEIA currently offers,” Sheedy said. “I think it would be a win all the way around.”

Apart from proposing legislation that would affect all Mountain State residents, Sheedy noted he has a specific focus on residents in his district. He noted he had begun “several major” infrastructure improvements in his three major metropolitan areas of Littleton, New Martinsville and Cameron.

Sheedy added that mine subsidence issues in Marshall County and school consolidations in Wetzel County are other issues he wants to find a solution for in the House.

“Even though they are small towns, they’re my small towns,” Sheedy said. “I am a member of the majority, so I do have a voice for the local residents. I attend city council meetings, volunteer firefighters association meetings and senior citizen meetings. I’m totally immersed in all the communities in the surrounding areas.”

Sheedy, 66, and wife Debbie have five children and reside in Cameron.