Newsletter 2016-45 November 11, 2016 CAWV GENERAL ELECTION SUMMARY West Virginians went to the polls Tuesday in record numbers and elected Donald J. Trump president with nearly 68% of the vote. In his post-election speech, the president-elect said, “We are going to fix our inner cities and rebuild our highway, bridges, tunnels, airports, schools, hospitals. We’re going to rebuild our infrastructure, which will become, by the way, second to none. And we will put millions of our people to work as we rebuild it.” During the campaign, Trump called for infrastructure investments in the range of $1 trillion over 10 years and released a plan that calls for tax credits to spur private investment to finance the initiative. Congressional action will be needed to implement any infrastructure plan proposed by the new Administration. (For more on how Trump’s election will impact construction, see the article below regarding AGC of America’s November 10 Election Recap.) Jim Justice, a businessman and coal operator who owns the Greenbrier Resort, was elected governor. He defeated Senate President Bill Cole by a 49 to 42 percent margin. On MetroNews “Talkline” this week, the governor-elect said in his inaugural address he will detail a road plan for maintenance and construction funding. Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) and Treasurer John Perdue (D) both won re-election. Secretary Natalie Tennant (D) lost her re- election bid to businessman and military veteran Mac Warner (R), and Agriculture Commissioner Walt Helmick (D) lost his race to current State Senator Kent Leonhardt (R), J. B. McCuskey (R) was elected to the open seat of auditor. In U. S. House races, West Virginia’s congressional delegate all won reelection on Tuesday. Reps. David McKinley (R-WV1), Alex Mooney (R-WV2), and Evan Jenkins, (R-WV3) easily defeated their challengers to retain their seats in Congress. HUB / PAC ENDORSED CANDIDATES SUCCESSFUL ON ELECTION NIGHT The CAWV’s political action committee, HUB / PAC, endorsed candidates in 76 Senate and House races. Of those, 66 won, an 88 percent success rate. In the Senate, CAWV endorsed candidates were elected in 14 out of 17 races. The 2017 West Virginia Senate will consist of 22 Republican and 12 Democratic Senators, up from the current 18-16 Republican – Democrat ratio. Notable newcomers include CAWV members Glenn Jeffries, who defeated Sen. Chris Walters (R) to represent the 8th Senatorial District, and Chandler Swope who replaces the retiring State Senate President Bill Cole in the 6th District. HOUSE OF DELEGATES: HUB / PAC endorsed 59 candidates and 52 of them had successful races. While the Republican margin is 63-37, down one from the current 64-36 margin, there will be 33 new delegates – one third – when the legislative session starts next year. Notable changes in the House include the loss of David Evans (R) in the 4th District, Michael Ihle (R) in the 13th District, Phyliss White, (D) wife of former Majority Leader Harry Keith White, in the 21st District, and Tim Manchin (D) in the 50th District. Incumbent Brad White (R) edged out longtime 36th District incumbent Nancy Guthrie (D) by a four vote margin. Both candidates are waiting for results of the vote canvass. CAWV PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS: “The CAWV endorsed candidates based on their support to prioritize investment in the maintenance and modernization of West Virginia’s infrastructure of roads, bridges, water and sewer, schools, public buildings, dams and other public structures,” said CAWV President C. R. Neighborgall. “The association looks forward to working with Governor Justice’s new administration and legislators to create new infrastructure investment that will rebuild West Virginia’s infrastructure, promote economic development and create thousands of new jobs for all West Virginians,” he said. AGC ANALYZES POTENTIAL IMPACT OF TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ON CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY - WEBINAR RECORDING AVAILABLE AGC CEO Steve Sandherr and AGC’s Congressional Relations staff conducted a webinar this week that covered the election impact on the congressional and executive branch activities that impact the construction industry. Members can listen and view the webinar by going to http://files.agc.org/webinars/education/index.php?webinar=WB415. WEST VIRGINIA NAMES ACTING LABOR COMMISSIONER A longtime director in West Virginia’s Division of Labor has been named its acting commissioner. Mitch Woodrum’s appointment follows the retirement of former Commissioner John Junkins. The division is part of the state Department of Commerce. It oversees licensing and inspecting of businesses operating in West Virginia and enforces labor laws and workplace safety regulations. A 24-year employee of the division, Woodrum was named director of the manufactured housing program in 2002. He was appointed director of licensing in 2007 and has been a deputy commissioner since 2014. He also oversees the WW Contractors Licensing Board. LAST CALL TO REGISTER FOR YOUNG CONTRACTORS FORUM MEETING – NOVEMBER 16 It’s time once again to get together for the Young Contractors’ annual planning session. Chairman Josh Booth will hold the event on Wednesday, November 16, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Buffalo Wild Wings located at 2501 Mountaineer Boulevard at the Southridge Shopping Center in Charleston. The meeting will be held in the private room behind the bar area of the restaurant. The meeting will feature the presentation ”iOS: Hands on in Business for Contractors” presented by Jamie Summers-Brown, founder and president of Bricks Without Straw, a web-development and digital marketing firm in South Charleston, WV. Since 2004, the fifth-generation West Virginian has served a diverse clientele, including West Virginia Coal Association, West Virginia Trucking Association, West Virginia Manufacturers Association and the West Virginia Oil & Natural Gas Association. In 2014, he was an honoree of Generation Next: 40 Under 40, the State Journal’s annual award recognizing West Virginia’s leading professionals under the age of 40. This is a great time to bring new faces from your companies whom you see becoming more involved in the CAWV and the industry. Appetizers and drinks will be provided in exchange for your good ideas for this year’s social events, education training, and volunteer work. A registration form is attached to this week’s Newsletter. Please return the form via email to Pat McDonald at [email protected], or by fax to (304) 342-1074, if you plan to attend. CAWV PROGRAM COMMITTEE TO MEET - NOVEMBER 29 The CAWV Program Committee will meet on November 29th at 10:00 a.m. at the CAWV Headquarters in Charleston. The committee will discuss programs and activities for the CAWV Midyear Meeting which will be held January 26 – February 1, 2016. The CAWV has invited Stephen Sandherr, Chief Executive Officer of the Associated General Contractors of America to address the group on how the results of the election will affect the construction industry and AGC policy priorities, as well as W. Marston (Marty) Becker. Becker is Chairman of the Board of Directors of QBE Insurance Group, Limited (ASX: QBE), a top-20 global general insurer with assets of nearly $50 billion. Becker is also Chair and General Partner of West Virginia Media Holdings, which he co-founded in 2001. Mr. Becker will address the group on the West Virginia Change Agenda. Mr. Becker was a guest columnist for the September/October 2016 issue of West Virginia Construction News. To view the issue of WVCN, go to: http://www.cawv.org/site/publisher/files/WVCN%20Sept%20Oct%20%202016%20Web.pdf WEST VIRGINIA CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN EXPO 2017 – BOOTHS AND SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE The 38th Annual West Virginia Construction and Design EXPO is well underway. Members are encouraged to obtain a booth or take advantage of the sponsorship opportunities that are available. Contract documents for the March 22-23, 2017 event are available online by clicking here, or you may contact [email protected] for assistance. CAWV encourages all members to participate as an exhibitor, honor exhibitor (non-displaying participant), sponsor, advertiser, or attendee. The 2016 show attracted over 4,600 attendees. More information will be provided to members in future Newsletters. Visit the website at www.wvexpo.com or contact EXPO at (304) 342-3976 for additional information. *REMINDER: Save the dates! EXPO will be March 22 and 23, 2016 at the Charleston Civic Center. The ‘Early Payment Discount’ deadline is January 15, 2017. Reserve your booth today to get $50 off! CAWV THANKS MARSHALL TAILGATE SPONSORS A wonderful time was had by all at the Marshall Tailgate held on October 15, 2016. We would like to thank the following sponsors: FAMCO Mountain State Insurance Agency Neighborgall Construction Company Thornburg Insurance Agency Triton Construction West Virginia Paving, Inc. JOIN THE CAWV FOR A HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE DECEMBER 6 CAWV President C.R. Neighborgall invites all members and their employees to the association’s Holiday Open House on Tuesday, December 6, at CAWV Headquarters from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The CAWV will be collecting new, unwrapped toys to benefit Toys for Tots. Anyone wishing to donate should bring items to the reception. This is a great opportunity for members to get together and network, as a large number of members come to the association for the holiday festivities. For more information, contact Wendy Long at (304) 342-1166 or [email protected]. LAST CALL FOR PHOTOS FOR WVCN ANNUAL CONSTRUCTION FORECAST ISSUE The CAWV is calling all members to share their photos with the readers of West Virginia Construction News. The photos are to be included in the November/December annual construction forecast issue. It is requested that electronic images be at least 300 DPI and in tif, jpeg or pdf format. Hard copy photos should be 8 ½” by 11” and can be returned if requested.