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|Photo by Joselyn King| Democratic West Virginia gubernatorial candidate Steve Williams addresses those attending a town hall event Wednesday at West Virginia Independence Hall in Wheeling.

WHEELING – Democratic West Virginia gubernatorial candidate Steve Williams says teachers need more than just an increase in pay. They also need additional tools to help them deal with behavioral problems in the classroom.

Williams spoke on the issue of mental health among school students during a town hall meeting Thursday at West Virginia Independence Hall sponsored by the West Virginia Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers. The event brought out school employees and supporters, as well as other Democratic candidates for office.

“It’s not enough to just get teachers raises,” Williams said after speaking. “What we have to do is provide them with every resource that is necessary for them to effectively be able to educate our children.”

There are also many things happening in society that are negatively affecting youths, and teachers find themselves on the front lines in trying to combat these, according to Williams.

“We need to be able to help them with handling behavioral health issues,” he continued. “We need to have a behavioral specialist in every school.”

Often students witness family members overdose or get arrested, then they come to school the next day. The state needs to provide the tools and support to teachers so that they can assist those students needing help, Williams said.

During his speech to supporters, he talked about what he learned from his parents, who were both teachers.

He spoke of his father, W. Don Williams, who also was a football coach at the former Concord College. One day his father saw one of his athletes walking across campus on a freezing cold day without a coat, and he took his off and gave it to the athlete.

Likewise, his mother, Clara Williams, looked out for her students. She noticed one of the young girls in her class coming to school in shabby clothes. She bought the girl some clothes and took them to school for her.

But she later noticed the child was not wearing the clothes and she asked her why. She found out the girl’s parents had sold them, Williams said.

He noted he learned empathy from his parents, as well as to take pride in where you come from.

“You’re West Virginians,” Williams said. “Stand tall. Square your shoulders, and hold your head high. Nobody is better than us, and frankly we can compete with anybody in the world.

“We have the capacity to create innovative solutions that will change the world. What we have to decide is what we are going to do.”

He added that West Virginia “is destined to set standards that the rest of the nation will seek to emulate.”

Williams during his speech also referenced his opponent, Republican West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, who is a native of New Jersey.

“We want more people from New Jersey and elsewhere to move to West Virginia – but not to the governor’s mansion,” he said.

Other Democratic candidates speaking at the town hall were U.S. Senate candidate Glenn Elliott; and West Virginia House of Delegates candidates Oliva Dowler in District 2; Delegate Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, in District 5; Cody Cumpston in District 6; and Devon Tennant in District 7.

Wheeling Councilwoman Connie Cain asked to speak and encouraged those present to get out and vote in the Nov. 5 general election. She reminded them that earlier this year she won her seat by just a three-vote margin after the voter canvass.