Dolph Santorine believes he is fully prepared to become a member of the state’s House of Delegates thanks to his career in the business world and creating jobs, and because he’s ready to help change the mindset in the state capital.
Santorine is a candidate in the Republican primary in House District 4, and he brings with him over 40 years of experience in a number of different business areas, including manufacturing, online digital, entrepreneurial startups, and real estate. He and his wife, Lora Kaye, reside in Ohio County, and the couple has four adult children and two grandchildren.
“In West Virginia, we’ve had too many years of government trying to pick winners and losers, which never, ever works,” Santorine said. “Instead of encouraging private investment, government was too involved. Instead of investment coming to the valley, it went elsewhere or didn’t happen, but I think we’re ready for that change in mindset.
“We need to attract motivated young people to build their dream in Wheeling or doing it in the Northern Panhandle,” he said. “And I think about this – could you imagine what could happen if we have no income tax? That’s where I would like to help take the state.”
One significant accomplishment during the state Legislature’s 60-day regular session was providing approximately $230 million in tax relief by reducing the state income tax by 5 percent, and Santorine is hopeful he can assist with orchestrating additional reductions in the future.
“I believe people will flock to West Virginia if we’re successful with getting rid of our income tax because that’s what we’ve seen take place in other states like Florida and Tennessee,” Santorine said. “We’ll become the place to be, especially with the taxes in the northeast that are getting out of hand. If we’re the state that’s making more economic sense, you can have a much better quality of life here.
“So many of today’s jobs are not place-specific because many people can do their jobs almost anywhere,” he said. “So, why not Wheeling?”
A Keen Observer
Santorine has served as a political pundit on local radio and as an online columnist, too, and he’s been a member of the Ohio County Republican Executive Committee for a number of years.
He’s also campaigned for state office before, and his reasons for running today remain the same.
“I believe my motivations now are what they’ve always been, and that’s because I haven’t changed that much.” Santorine said. “I do have more experience with the issues that are very important to people here in Ohio County, and I’ve spoken with the voters about those topics.
“My dad was a coach and I feel you have to pick up part of that (as a son), and I’ve always known that I can’t be a one-man band. One man can add tremendously to a baseball team, but he can’t win the game,” he said. “I’ve always been able to get my point across, and turn great ideas into results.”
As a keen observer of West Virginia politics, Santorine was pleased with the cut to the income tax, but he believes that even more time should be spent on economic issues.
“Our legislators have lost that focus and they’ve become distracted by things that are not as important to the constituents,” Santorine said. “Like jobs. All of a sudden, we’re talking about all kinds of social legislation, and granted, they are issues that matter, but it’s not moving us to where we need to be economically. Where we need to be is having a net gain in population in West Virginia.”
“All my years of being in the corner office, of building businesses and adding strategic value are reflected in being part of the community. I’ve been showing up,” he said. “I’ve got the skills to navigate the legislative process, which is not for the faint of heart, and I can get results. And the other thing is, I listen and move forward on what’s important to the voters.”
Job creation, rightsizing taxes, educator compensation, the state’s seniors, and tourism are his top issues, and that’s why the Republican candidate is anxious to add value as a leader while representing his friends, family, and neighbors.
“I think every action we take today should reflect the future which we wish to create,” Santorine said. “Legislation is both short-term and long-term, and sometimes we need to realize that things that get legislated didn’t work. And that’s okay, but what’s happened before is so many of these bills get watered down with trying to make them perfect. And it’s never going to be perfect.
“Legislation must be good enough to get us to the starting line so we can come back and polish it later to make it even better,” he said. “That’s why I’m going to consider anything and everything because when I get elected, I won’t be representing the Republicans, Democrats or the unaffiliated. I will represent everyone.”
