Mike Ferro is running for re-election and Mike Ferro knows he’s running for re-election.
He’s good at it, too, and that’s because the Marshall County Commissioner knows the people he serves. He attends all the functions, shakes each and every extended hand, and he will talk with a voter for as long as necessary because it’s an important part of a politician’s job.
Ferro, of course, has his own opinions, but adequately representing the people living within 312 square miles of the largest county in the northern panhandle is a difficult task. But see, Mike Ferro is a nice man, and people like him because he has answers, and if not, he promises – and most often delivers – the answers whether or not the information is what his constituent want to hear.
And that’s because politics, at the core, concerns reality, and that’s what Ferro handled as a delegate in Charleston until opting to run instead for a commissioner’s seat in 2018. According to Mountain State code, a commissioner serves a six-year term once elected and that is why he’s now running hard to continue in one of three of the people’s Commission chairs.
He is Mike Ferro, a McMechen man who is a retired teacher that continues to offer his services as a substitute educator, and the rest of his resume remains as it was when he defeated Republican Bob Miller five years ago. What’s he accomplished? He tells you below? Why does he crave even more public service? Again, read below.
Ferro has never been afraid to explain why he believes voters should choose him over any opponents he’s faced since he successfully ran for a seat in the state House of Delegates in 2010, and that is still true today.
Again, just see below.
What do you miss most about serving as a lawmaker in West Virginia?
Earning the trust and respect of the voters in Marshall County has always been and will always be one of the major highlights in my life. Being elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates and now the Marshall County Commission has given me the opportunity to meet many wonderful people and help people in many ways.
As for what I miss the most in the house, I miss the relationships that I built with other legislators, staffers, Governors, cabinet secretaries, commissioners, and visitors to the Capitol. I promised I would always take the time to listen, respond to calls or emails, be active and represent Marshall County with dignity and professionalism. I believe I did that as a Delegate and continue to do the same as a Commissioner.
I have been told by many of my former colleagues and staff how much they appreciate the respect and care I gave to them, not only as legislators or staff, but as human beings. As the legislative chair of both the County Commissioners Association of West Virginia and the West Virginia Association of Counties, I still attend sessions, watch introduced legislation that effects counties, both positionally and financially, and use my experience as a delegate to articulate my support or reasons why it would be detrimental to counties.
I still know quite a few staffers and I always greet them with a smile and “I miss you”. One compelling story is on my last day in the House, when I reached my office, two of the maintenance workers, Darrell and Cliff, we’re waiting on me and said, “Delegate, we are going to miss you. You are a good guy.” I will cherish those words forever.
What is your favorite area of Marshall County?
The districts in Marshall County are diverse in many ways. From the smaller, older cities in the valley, to our county seat, to our beautiful rolling hills in the rural areas, each district has its own story and appeal.
Going back “several” years, I have fond memories of the area in Marshall County where I grew up, South Benwood, which, at that time, was perceived to start at Union High School and end at Hitchman Row (bordering McMechen). After my dad was killed in a car/train accident in 1955, my mom and I moved to Benwood with her mother and stepfather. We actually lived in the house that current mayor Walter Yates lives in now.
We then moved to Ashland Avenue where I lived in my formative years. At that time, South Benwood was filled with kids of all ages who were always playing, choosing sides, creating games and being active from morning until night. Before the four-lane highway, we had a big playground, basketball court – which we shoveled in the winter – two baseball fields – the Black Diamond and Hitchman – and a cinder running track that Union High School installed before the football field was built in McMechen.
The older kids and star athletes like Dave Cisar, Frank Gongola, and others would always choose me in the games and would take the time to just pass the ball and offer suggestions to teach proper techniques on how to throw a curve ball or a knuckleball. A lot of lifelong friends, who are now gone like Bob Bautista, Iggy Kalcum, and Elijah Hill will also be in my memory forever. The adults on Ashland Avenue were also wonderful. Knowing my dad was gone and my mom was a young, grieving widow, they were especially kind of both of us.
The men would look after me, take me to their son’s games, buy me a pop and chips and treat me like I was one of their own. There was always a fresh cookie baked by the ladies and a watchful eye if I misbehaved or was doing something where I could hurt myself.
All of Marshall County means something to me and I hate to pick but growing up without a dad and with an absolutely wonderful, devoted mother in South Benwood, that’s the place that remains deeply ingrained in my memories.
How have your students changed through your years as an educator in Marshall County?
There is no doubt that students have changed somewhat throughout my years in education, mostly because times have changed. Dramatic changes in technology and what “sites” kids are playing on has a big part in students becoming more introverted and less involved in education and extracurriculars.
Kids, however, can still be reached. Personal attention to them, calling them by their first name and showing an interest in them can change their attitudes drastically. As a teacher, you have to look for certain cues for when and how to engage with them. Some are communication apprehensive, so you don’t force yourself upon them and go overboard with trying to make them speak. It takes a lot of effort and patience to make inroads sometimes.
When I taught, I would tell students the first week of school that there are two reasons I expect respect. I would have them guess and they would come up with 1) respect your elders and 2) respect the person in authority – I would tell them that’s correct but notice I haven’t asked you to respect Mike Ferro the person. I would then tell them that my goal is to earn their respect and that I would work hard to do that. Usually, that would take place and their self-respect and their respect for others would increase. The same holds true in my political career. Earning respect is paramount to success.
One troubling issue seems to be an increase in the use of profanity without much remorse. Another trend is the pervasive use of vapes by younger people in schools and at home. As I said, when change occurs over the course of time, kids have changed with it.
Using the A-to-F grading scale with an A the highest score possible, what grade would you give West Virginia’s Republican Party?
Neither I, nor my fellow Commissioners, will grade any political party. Local government, including Commissioners, try to work with whichever party is in charge. As the chairman of the Legislative Committee for both the County Commissioners Association and the West Virginia Association of Counties, my job and the job of other members of the committee, is to continually monitor legislation that affects Counties in a positive manner and also those that could adversely affect County finances or take away local control.
Every group of elected officials including County Clerks, Circuit Clerks, Assessor’s, Prosecutors, Sheriffs and County Commissioners keep an eye out for legislation that affects their office. When the introduced bills help, we encourage passage; however, when bills negatively affect counties in any way, we try to explain our concerns and seek changes to amend or push to vote against passage. We always strive to work with the party in charge, rather than denounce them. We look at bills, not political parties.
In fact, local government should focus on taking care of the people in any way possible. When we all hit the courthouse door, we don’t have party agendas. We have a citizen agendas. Any bill that would result in loss of local control or loss of finances can severely limit or change the way we fund much-needed services including, but not limited to, senior center, libraries, health department, animal shelter, equipment for first responders, etc.
Why did you believe the time arrived for you to become a Marshall County Commissioner?
After being elected to the House for five terms (10 years) by the voters of Marshall County, I had the opportunity to run for an office that focuses entirely on our county and not the entire state. I believe that I have earned the respect and trust of the voters and was fortunate to become a Marshall County Commissioner.
There are similarities between state office and local government, but there was a learning curve associated with both. There are 100 members in the House of Delegates. Every bill and every vote is important to those sponsoring it, but every bill does not affect Marshall County. Every vote I take as a Commissioner, affects the people in Marshall County.
I also felt like I accomplished all I could at the state level. I took my position very seriously, making constituent work a top priority in Charleston and in my district. I earned the respect of my fellow delegates and staffers, and I was always available when constituents came to Charleston. I would carve out as much personal time as I could. I wanted people to have a good time and go home with a positive image of the Legislature. I was in a leadership role as both a majority whip and a minority whip. I also served as minority chair of the Government Organization Committee.
In terms of my time as a Commissioner, where I am currently the president, I have worked tirelessly for our people, our elected officials and our employees to give them the best possible representation. We as a Commission are very fiscally conservative. We do not spend money frivolously, and now have several capital improvement projects, costing millions of dollars which will benefit our residents and agencies for years, that we have not had to borrow money or float bonds to complete. The members of our Commission and other Marshall County elected officials have been very active in state organizations.
We are held in very high esteem and get our voice heard. Scott Varner is on the Board of Directors of the CCAWV, John Gruzinskas was a former president of the West Virginia Association of Counties, Joe Rucki was named Circuit Clerk of the year, Betsy Frohnapfel was voted Shining Star as the top administrator in West Virginia, and I was just voted in as vice president of the CCAWV, Board of Directors member for the WVACo and the Legislative Chair for both organizations. I was also just chosen as one of three commissioners, statewide, to serve on the Public Health Advisory Committee. Rest assured, we all take our roles seriously in trying to protect the interest of the Northern Panhandle and specifically in Marshall County.
I am extremely proud and honored to be held in such a high esteem by my colleagues and by the voters of Marshall County. Some of the projects I’m especially proud of include:
· Upgrades to Courthouse HVAC/electric/permanent security measures
· New Marshall County EMS Moundsville Base Station.
· New Health Department
· County-wide Housing Study which includes all municipalities
· Four-phase county-wide fire hydrant study which includes all municipalities
· Purchase new Motorola digital radios for ALL officers in each municipal law enforcement department (SIRN compatible)
· Worked to maintain communication with our Federal Legislators, AEP Management and local leaders while working to save operations at the Mitchell Plant
· Continue to enhance MCEMS’s training and capabilities
§ We respond to all areas of the county and in every municipality. From January 1 – August 31 of this calendar year MC EMS has responded to 2774 calls
