Beth Hinebaugh is a candidate in the Republican Primary for the 5th District of the House of Delegates, and she’s listed her “Top Issues” as Small Business Growth, Childcare, Community Investment, Seniors, and Bipartisan Problem Solving.
Below, Hinebaugh answers specific questions concerning each of those issues.
SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH – What amendments to the state’s tax code could attract and retain entrepreneurs to West Virginia?
To make West Virginia a magnet for entrepreneurs, we have to stop penalizing people for simply trying to get a business off the ground. Our tax code should reward growth instead of taxing the tools you need to do the job.
We need to phase out the Business & Occupation (B&O) Tax and the Business Inventory Tax. These are startup killers because they tax your equipment and your gross sales before you’ve even made a dime in profit. Along with this, we should continue the push to eliminate the state income tax. This keeps more money in the pockets of workers and makes West Virginia an immediate front-runner for any entrepreneur looking for a place to build a business.
We should make tax credits for job creation easier for small startups to use, not just the large corporations. We also need a redevelopment credit that helps developers fix up old buildings in our downtowns. It should be cheaper to rehab a historic storefront than to let it sit empty.
Treating childcare and housing like the business issues they are; giving tax breaks to companies that help their workers afford childcare would solve two problems at once: it helps parents get back to work and makes our state a place where young families want to move. West Virginia should be a state that removes obstacles and makes it easier for people to do business and succeed.
CHILDCARE – As the owner of a childcare facility, what are three realities about the industry that all state lawmakers need to learn as soon as possible?
Childcare is not merely a service, and it certainly isn’t babysitting; it is essential workforce infrastructure. Without stable, accessible care, the labor market stalls, employee retention drops, and our state’s economic output suffers.
Lawmakers must recognize three critical realities: We are witnessing a systemic market failure when the average monthly cost of $800 per child is pushing families into a crisis. West Virginia has lost 200 childcare providers in the last two years alone, leaving over 26,000 children without access to a single licensed slot. The industry faces an unsustainable funding gap; while the true cost to care for an infant is over $25,000 per year, current state subsidy rates often cover less than half that amount.
While House Bill 4191 is a milestone toward stabilizing enrollment-based funding, it does not yet solve the staffing shortage. If we don’t close the gap between operating costs and reimbursement, West Virginia’s workforce participation rate will continue to rank among the lowest in the nation.
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT – What “community investments” have you seen state government make in District 5 before, and what would you like to help make happen in the future?
Across District 5 and all of Ohio County, we’ve seen the positive impact of state investments in our roads, bridges, and local economic projects. But we need to do more. One critical unmet need is building a new bridge for Wheeling Island now that the Suspension Bridge closed. This is vital to the safety and security of Island residents.
I also want to champion the kind of investments that help families plant roots here. That means focusing on workforce training that matches today’s jobs and expanding childcare so parents can get to work.
We also need to get serious about our housing crisis; it isn’t just about building new houses, but about revitalizing our existing neighborhoods and making sure there are quality, affordable options for young families and seniors alike. Without a real plan for housing redevelopment, we can’t expect to grow.
SENIORS – What ideas do you have now to improve the quality of life for senior citizens in West Virginia?
Our seniors have worked hard to build our communities, and they deserve to age with both dignity and financial security. Right now, too many are being squeezed by rising costs that make it harder to stay in their own homes.
We need to focus on practical steps that provide real relief. This means looking at property tax caps for those on fixed incomes and expanding services that help seniors stay independent and active for as long as possible. We also have to ensure that long-term care and healthcare aren’t just available, but actually affordable.
Seniors also need protection from utility rate hikes. Despite our state’s vast energy resources, West Virginia has seen some of the fastest-rising residential electricity rates in the country—increasing by roughly 34% between 2019 and 2024. This creates a massive burden on seniors and families.
I believe we should explore stronger consumer protections like a Ratepayers’ Bill of Rights that specifically shields seniors on fixed incomes from aggressive price spikes. By combining stronger oversight at the Public Service Commission with targeted tax relief for energy costs, we can ensure our older residents aren’t forced to choose between keeping the lights on and buying groceries.
BIPARTISAN PROBLEM SOLVING – What are some of the state’s issues that you believe are in need of bipartisan cooperation to solve?
West Virginia faces a critical set of challenges that are simply too consequential to be tainted by politics. Issues like fostering sustainable economic development, expanding access to childcare, tackling the addiction crisis, and upgrading our infrastructure are critical to the future of our communities.
They aren’t Republican issues or Democrat issues—they are “people” issues that affect our families, our seniors, and our communities.
Real progress requires moving beyond partisan political games to find common ground on practical solutions. Whether it’s building a stronger workforce or retaining our young people, I am committed to working with anyone, regardless of party, who is serious about delivering results. The people we serve deserve nothing less.
