This time, however, Charles Sheedy is the lone Republican running for a delegate seat in the newly formed District 7. In November, Sheedy will square against incumbent Del. Lisa Zukoff, a Democrat who resides in Moundsville near Grand Vue Park, and Mountain Party candidate Dylan Parsons from New Martinsville.
The last time his name appeared on the ballot, he was one of a few Republicans challenging W.Va. Gov. Jim Justice in what turned out to be a lopsided gubernatorial race.,
Sheedy is retired from W.Va. Division of Highways after 30 years, lives in the Cameron area, and wishes to join the supermajority of Republicans to help continue the policy reform that has taken place over the past decade.
“Something is guiding me while I am doing this, and that something is saying that I fit in with these Republican folks because we’re all there for the same reasons. We all just want to try to help so our quality of life improves instead of getting worse,” Sheedy insisted. “I was telling the good folks in Hundred just the other evening that no matter how hard you try, it’s impossible to make everyone happy. The key to it all, though, is reminding yourself that you are there just trying to make things better.
“I do have to give the mayors and their staffs in Cameron, Hundred, and New Martinsville a lot of credit because they spend a lot of time researching what grants their communities might be eligible for so they can move forward with very important projects,” he said. “Their efforts are very impressive, and if I get elected, I plan to help them find even more grants so they can as much money as possible.”
Although District 7 now is a new, single-delegate district following the 2020 U.S. Census count, Sheedy has had little trouble finding his way around to attend community meetings in Marshall and Wetzel counties.
“District 7 covers the urban areas of Cameron, Hundred, and New Martinsville areas, and the rest of it is about two-thirds of northern Marshall County,” Sheedy explained. “I am very familiar with all of those areas because when I was working for the Division of Highways, we did a ton of work in the entire area.
“I have made it very clear in the New Martinsville and Hundred areas that I will visit those communities often if I am elected to this position, and I really do mean that because I believe it’s the best way to represent the people,” he said. “When I started visiting those areas, it was obvious to me how much those people care about the residents. Those folks definitely are not in it for the money just like I’m not in this for the money.”
Mile After Mile
He, his wife, Debbie, and their pet, Susie, did travel the Mountain State before the Republican primary in May 2020, and he told everyone who would listen that he was the only true Republican in the gubernatorial race. Pro-God, Pro-Life, Pro-Gun, lower taxes, smaller government, and Sheedy has promoted term limits, too.
He served more than 37 years with the United State Army Cavalry Reserves and National Guard, and Sheedy believes his military service has prepared him to cooperate with just about everyone, even Democrats.
“Well, you just never know,” the candidate said with a smile. “I have learned in my life that you have to be willing to listen to everyone.”
That is why, a little more than seven months before Election Day, Sheedy has gone to work.
“The people in the seventh district want their fair share of the money that’s going to Charleston for distribution around the state, and if we can get something of a Republican powerhouse going here in the Northern Panhandle, we can make a positive difference; that’s for sure,” the 64-year-old insisted. “I want to go to Charleston for the people so we can all make a very big, positive difference right here where we live. And it’s all about the people; it really is, because I have grown tired of watching the games they play in Charleston.
“The people here in the Northern Panhandle have long believed we are ignored by the leadership in Charleston, and I tend to believe it, too. Working for the DOH for so long, I would see the allocations for the communities in the Northern Panhandle, and I would see the allocations for the Charleston area, too, and trust me; there is a notable difference,” Sheedy explained. “I just want to make it fair for everyone because I don’t believe that is the case these days.”
Appalachian Challenges
Above- and below-ground infrastructure. Broadband. Dilapidation.
In every holler, valley, village, town, and city in West Virginia and beyond, those are the three items on each community’s wish list because once whatever industry closed down, tax dollars vanished. In most cases in the Wheeling area, not only was the rotting corpse of a mill or factory left behind along the Ohio River but councils were forced to adopt a status-quo, can-kicking mentality when it came to service-related upgrades.
“The three things most people want to talk about include the infrastructure, expansion of broadband, and abandoned buildings. There is a need for more money in District 7 to bring those structures down,” Sheedy said. “They say they are trying to help as much as they can, and maybe the people in Charleston believe that to be true. But I can tell you that it takes more money than what leadership is willing to give them.
“If those three things can take place, then we have more areas that become more appealing to the people who are looking to move into this area,” he said. “That’s the bottom line. If there are a bunch of abandoned buildings, inadequate broadband, and outdated infrastructure, those folks are going to keep looking for their new area to live.”
Sheedy would like to avoid those worst-case scenarios as often as possible, and that is why he’s instigated conversations throughout District 7.
“I am a big believer that if I can learn as much as I can about the areas in the district, then I will be ready to go to Charleston and get the job done. That’s why I am already out there,” he said. “If we can get what we need the most in this Northern Panhandle, then I see us really taking off with a lot of good things taking place. But we have to have the right people down there working toward the same goals.
“The future has to be about growth, and if that’s the case, then I believe we will finally see new development in this area,” Sheedy added. “We have great people living in a beautiful place, so if we can improve what needs it the most, then good things definitely should follow.”
