BLUEFIELD — Two candidates are vying Nov. 4 for the 24th District House of Delegates seat in Mercer County.

Democrat Mike Vinciguerra Jr. and Republican John H. Shott are competing for the seat currently held by Delegate Eustace Frederick, D-Mercer. Frederick didn’t seek re-election.

Vinciguerra and Shott were interviewed by the Daily Telegraph editorial board last week on a variety of questions ranging from how to promote new economic development and growth in Bluefield to the impact of the national financial bailout on West Virginia and Mercer County.

“I think our state has come a long way in the last three years,” Vinciguerra said.

Vinciguerra said West Virginia and Mercer County will weather the current financial storm sweeping across the nation. Vinciguerra said the $2.5 billion budget shortfall currently faced by neighboring Virginia could lead to higher taxes in the Commonwealth, which could lead to renewed opportunities for neighboring West Virginia.

Shott said he is running for the House of Delegates because the region is failing to embrace its potential.

“I just love this area, and I’m tired of us quite frankly not seeing the potential that exists here,” Shott said.

Shott said state government is continuing to take more and more decisions away from local governments. Shott said tax relief will be key, adding he hopes to eliminate the food tax except on harmful foods; repeal the business franchise tax; reduce or eliminate personal property tax on inventory, machinery and equipment; reduce the gasoline tax; reduce the corporate income tax to 6 percent; increase the homestead exemption; and repeal all 19 business tax credits.

Vinciguerra said he too supports the elimination of many of the state taxes, but is calling for those taxes to be phased out over a period of time.

“I just don’t think we can take it all off at once,” Vinciguerra said. “With the food tax we are down to 3 percent now. I think Virginia is 2 percent.”

Shott said a history one-party control in West Virginia has led to troubling statistics for the Mountain State.

“I think that government — just like the economy — naturally need some type of balance,” Shott said. “We’ve had one attitude and one party in control for 75 years.”

Both candidates admit they will have to work to establish a voice in Charleston as first-term lawmakers.

“The main thing I would do is I’m already aquatinted in the House with eight or 10 delegates already, Vinciguerra said. “I think I’ll be able to work with them and try to help southern West Virginia. Plus, I do know a lot of people on the governor’s administration.”

Shott said it is important for a new lawmaker to build a coalition among existing lawmakers — Democrats and Republicans

“I think anything you do you need to build a coalition of people to get things accomplished,” Shott said. “I do know a number of people up there. I don’t know if they are the same people Mike knows, but I do know a number of people up there. I do know it will be a challenge and will take a lot of effort, but I’m committed to it.”

Shott it will take help from Charleston, including new statewide initiatives and tax relief, to help promote growth in Bluefield. Shott said he is working with a local technology committee to insure high speed telecommunications in Bluefield with ample redundancy, and is working to try to bring a veterans outpatient clinic and long-term housing project to Bluefield. Shott said lawmakers also need to look at prevailing wages, and the structure of the West Virginia Public Service Commission, and how it determines utility rate increases.

“I really think one thing we need to do is make sure the purpose of the Public Service Commission is clearly defined in code,” Shott said.

Vinciguerra said West Virginia and Virginia can still work together to help promote new business growth in border communities.

“I think we need to get economic development on board on West Virginia and Virginia so we can work to try to get some business in Bluefield,” Vinciguerra said. “We are doing really well in Princeton, but we need to get some industry in Mercer County. Like the governors said, we can work together.”

Both candidates also appeared to agree on the potential benefits of having a full-time grant writer or county administrator for Mercer County to help coordinate local economic development efforts. Vinciguerra said the loss of the Pepsi plant in Princeton several years ago was an example of where local officials didn’t act quickly enough to keep a local business from leaving the area.

Both candidates also expressed support for the King Coal Highway, the multi-purpose equestrian park project and the restoration of air-service to the Mercer County Airport. Both Vinciguerra and Shott also questioned why the King Coal Highway construction project wasn’t continued east toward the Mercer Mall as opposed to the current bridge construction project in Bluefield.

“We could have went east of the Mercer Mall and we could have already reached the airport by now,” Vinciguerra said. “If you talk to (state Highway Commissioner) Paul Mattox, he says it will take 75 years to complete it. But I know Nicky Joe Rahall is working on trying to get us some more federal money.”

Vinciguerra said the project construction could be expedited by allowing private coal companies to create the roadbed by mining — similar to how the Coalfields Expressway is proposed to be developed in Southwest Virginia.

“I have the same concerns Mike expressed about the bridge when you could have gone a mile or two instead down the road,” Shott said. “We’ve got several problems. One we’ve not always had a will to match money that is available. We’ve got to make sure we’ve got enough people to understand the merits of the highway.”

Shott said a toll system may be necessary if officials are going to get the King Coal Highway completed in our lifetime.

Both Vinciguerra and Shott said it will take continued cooperation between Bluefield, Princeton and the Mercer County Commission to make the proposed multi-purpose equestrian park a reality for Mercer County.

Vinciguerra said the state may have to subsidize a small carrier in order to restore full-time commercial air service back at the Mercer County Airport.

“My concern has always been with the airport that the service that was there was neither affordable or reliable,” Shott said. “We are going to have to find some way to make the service more affordable and reliable.”

Shott said solutions toward the restoration of commercial air service could rest with charter or private carrier services.

Both candidates also support tougher ATV regulations, and both cited occasions of coming upon ATVs on a primary roadway while driving through McDowell County.

“I’ve been driving through McDowell County a time or two when you come across a curve and there is an ATV doing 25 — and you are doing 45 or 55,” Shott said.

While local counties should be allowed to maintain a level of control when it comes to where such off-road vehicles are allowed to operate, Shott said the off-road vehicles shouldn’t be operated on paved primary roadways. Shott said designated areas like the Hatfield-McCoy Recreation Trail in McDowell County would be appropriate.

“I’ve come across the ATVs in McDowell County as well,” Vinciguerra said. “Northfork, Keystone and Kimball has passed an ordinance where they can come into the towns. I think we need to enforce the manufactures suggestions on the age limits and the number of passengers on them.”

Both candidates agree West Virginia should attempt to recoup losses from the state’s gigantic loss in the stock market. During the fiscal year that ended June 30, the state’s investment pool lost $643 million.

“I would support a lawsuit against them,” Vinciguerra said.

Vinciguerra added that local banks are still strong and shouldn’t be impacted by the national financial crisis.

Shott said the attorney general’s office is likely to join in on additional lawsuits stemming from the stock market losses.

“I think there are a lot of things that are uncertain, but one thing that is certain is a multitude of class-action lawsuits,” Shott said. “The question is what is the most effective way for West Virginia to participate.”

Shott also agreed that local banks are still strong, and should weather the financial storm.

“I think the most obvious effect will be the psychological effect of it,” Shott said of the national financial crisis. “People are afraid and scared. They are likely to cut back on spending. I think it will have a bigger psychological impact than it will economically.”

Both candidates said they would cautiously be willing to explore the metro government concept The metro government proposal would allow municipalities to consolidate services and operations.

“I can say I favor the concept,” Vinciguerra said. “But we need to first look at what the bill is. I wouldn’t want Raleigh County to rule over Mercer County.”

Vinciguerra said some school systems in different parts of the state are an example of government agencies that could be considered for possible consolidation under the metro government concept.

“My biggest concerns about school boards is I see those as the purest accountability system there is,” Shott, a former member of the Mercer County Board of Education, said. “I say that because I got those midnight calls and people stopping me in the mall and saying — what were you thinking. I would be opposed to Mercer and Raleigh consolidating their school boards. In Mercer County, I think we have a very effective school system. I think you would create more problems trying to take in McDowell or Summers counties.”

Vinciguerra, a graduate of Bramwell High School, has lived in Bluefield for 29 years. He worked for Paper Supply Company (now Jan-Pac) for 37 years, and currently serves on the West Virginia Parkways, Economic Development and Tourism Authority, and is a member of the Mercer County Building Commission, Bluefield Zoning Board of Appeals and the Mercer County Solid Waste Authority.

Shott, an attorney since 1975, also is a former assistant prosecuting attorney; a member of the West Virginia State Bar; member and former president of the Mercer County Bar Association; a member of the board of governors of Bluefield State College; a member of the board of directors of the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce; a member of the board of directors of the Mercer County Building Commission; a member of the board of directors of the Hugh I. Shott Jr. Foundation; a member of the board of directors of Pocahontas Bankshares, Inc.; and a member of the Rotary Club of Bluefield; served as a member of the Mercer County Board of Education from 1986 to 2004, including as the board president from 1994 to 2004; among numerous other professional and community activities.

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com