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MIKE FERRO

McMECHEN — Marshall County Commissioner Mike Ferro served 10 years in the West Virginia House of Delegates, and he said his experience in Charleston has kept some recent bills from getting passed and harming Marshall County.

Ferro, a Democrat, is seeking reelection for a second six-year term on the commission. He will face Republican Dave McLauglin in the Nov. 5 general election.

“I basically handle legislative duties,” he said. “We take a look at all the legislative bills that come out, and obviously we support the ones that help Marshall County. For the others, we either have to work very hard to defeat the bills that hurt us or at least lessen the (financial) damage.”

Recent sessions have featured oil and gas and coal severance tax bills that would have cost the county “a lot of money” had they not been pushed back, Ferro continued.

He added that his knowledge of the workings of the Legislature, its membership and leadership has been helpful in stopping such bills, as has working across party lines with fellow commissioners from around the state.

“I think that’s very important,” he said of bipartisan efforts. “There are commissioners who also live in oil and gas areas who are primarily Republican. … (In doing this) I have been able to save Marshall County somewhere around $25 million.

“As you know, 70% of that money goes to schools. If we lose that type of money, it obviously would affect services in Marshall County and those we give money to – the libraries, the senior centers, the animal shelter and others.”

Ferro, 73, served in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 2009 to 2019. Before entering politics, he taught in Marshall County Schools for 35 years, and he has been a substitute teacher for the past 16 years.

For 40 years, he also coached basketball, football and track at either Sherrard Middle School or John Marshall High School.

Ferro has been married for 50 years to his wife Roseanne, who works as a field representative to U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, I-West Virginia. They have three grown sons.

Ferro spoke of a couple of challenges facing the county.

“We have the potential to have a bit of a housing shortage. With some of the industries coming in, we’re going to need housing,” Ferro said. “And with (WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital) expanding as it has, we have some of the professional people actually driving from as far away as Washington, Pennsylvania, and other places.”

Marshall County commissioners are planning to soon do a feasibility study regarding housing options, he continued.

The need for infrastructure also continues to be an issue, according to Ferro.

“With regard to people moving in, once we know where they would locate, we could work on water and sewer,” he said. “The process is very expensive and very slow moving.”

In short, he says “experience matters” in county government.

“Qualifications matter. Dedication matters,” Ferro added. “Integrity matters, and also understanding the legislative process matters. That is critical.”