FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 20, 2015

Contact: Brittni McGuire, [email protected]

Democratic Party Chair Responds to Cole and Requests Answers

Cole’s recent letter to the AFL-CIO president raises serious questions

CHARLESTON, WV— Today, the chairwoman of the Democratic Party of West Virginia responded to Bill Cole’s recent letter attacking Kenny Perdue with a series of import questions. See the full text of Belinda Biafore’s letter below.

Senator Cole:

The letter you sent yesterday to Kenny Perdue raises more questions than it answers. It’s very telling that when your anti-worker agenda is under the microscope you and your campaign resort to petty name calling and personal insults.

Kris Warner is one of your most prominent supporters and a key figure in the West Virginia Republican Party. In his capacity as a GOP insider and party strategist, Mr. Warner appeared on the Mike Queen radio show to discuss the Republican agenda for 2016— and your agenda in the state Senate.

Warner is a spokesman for your party and was clearly speaking to your priorities and the GOP legislative agenda. He said the following:

• Repeal the prevailing wage law
• Enact right to work
• Fire at least 15,000 state employees, and said that state workers are corrupt
  • Mr. Warner even claimed that, “[State workers] are sitting in their offices in Charleston, selling Tupperware and buying Avon at their desk.”

Which of these items do you have an issue with?

How many state workers do you want to fire? 20,000?

Will you pledge NOT to fire any public employees?

Do you agree with Kris Warner that state employees are corrupt? And, are you and Warner in agreement that the Attorney General of West Virginia was wrong to put a political consultant on the state payroll?

Should Warner apologize to state employees, since his was cited for sending improper campaign emails to state employees during his campaign for the state senate?

If Mr. Warner is wrong about your agenda, will you call on him to resign?

As a candidate for governor, you owe the people of this state answers—not political doublespeak. West Virginia families deserve more than cheap political insults and finger pointing. I look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

Belinda Biafore

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