Tammy Tincher talks about environmental issues in WV

Tammy Tincher: We’ve had to transition and we’ve.

Had to look at other ways to be able to utilize the beautiful land.

That West Virginia has. And in Greenbrier County, we’ve been able to do.

That by looking at the outdoor recreation and the Tourism. Your local government, you are with your people.

And that Is the case for your for your State and federal Representatives.

But you’re on the ground. If you’re a Local, you’re the closest that you can be to your people that you represent. Good government, I believe, is Being Respectful, I believe is Being financially Conservative And listening to Your people.

I think you Have to work hard at it. You have to Put the time in. And if You are a Local government Official.

You have to have boots on the ground.

David Martin: We’re about to travel back to my new favorite state, and that’s West Virginia. So thanks for joining me here on The Good Government show. I’m Dave Martin. And you’re about to hear my conversation with Tammy Tincture of Greenbrier County, West Virginia. If you’ve been listening, you already know I’ve been talking to people in West Virginia about the state’s changeover from sort of a coal dependent state to a more diverse state with more industry and jobs beyond coal.

One of the things we talked about was the Greenbrier. This is a resort established in 1778 and has hosted more than half of America’s president. And part of this conversation we had is about shifting to promote tourism in the state. And we talked about some of the efforts being made to modernize the county and the state. And we talked about some of the environmental progress being made to lure people to the natural beauty of West Virginia.

As you will hear, Tammy has sort of two parts of her county and you’ll hear how she works on issues on both sides of the county. And we have a Brooklyn connection to this year. Tammy was named president of the Greenbrier County Commission here in Naco. She’s on the board of directors. She’s also vice chair of the Agricultural and Rural Development Committee, vice chair of the membership committee and a member of Healthy Counties, the Arts and Culture Commission.

And she’s on the Resilient Counties Advisory Board. She also serves on the County Commissioners Association of West Virginia Board of Directors. So this is someone who stays busy. After the break, join me for my conversation with Tammy Tincture of Greenbrier County, West Virginia.

The Good Government show is sponsored by NACO. That’s the National Association of Counties County Government. It’s actually the oldest form of government in the United States, and it touches more people directly. Roads, highways, hospitals, schools, recycling law enforcement, water and sewers in most of the country, those services are maintained by the county that’s county government. Naco is a nationwide organization that represents all 3069 counties across the U.S. Naco helps county government work better together through things like sharing best practices.

Because when county government works well, well, that’s just good government.

Welcome to the Good Government Show and our conversation with Tammy Hinshaw. Welcome to the show. Thanks for your thanks for joining us.

Tammy Tincher: Thank you. It’s a pleasure to be able to join you.

David Martin: So if you would, just introduce yourself, tell us where you’re from and what your title is, where you are.

Sure. My name is Tammy Tincture. I am a county commissioner from Greenbrier County, West Virginia, and I live in right now, which is on the western end of Greenbrier County and have been a commissioner.

For four years.

David Martin: All right. For years.

Tammy Tincher: Absolutely.

David Martin: All right. How’s it going? Are you glad you did it?

Tammy Tincher: I am glad I did it. I have good days and bad days, of course. But there. Are many. More good days than there are bad. And I am extremely involved and truly. Enjoy the work. That. I do.

David Martin: So one of the reasons why I was excited to speak with you is because I went to West Virginia last year for the first time. I am fascinated by all things West Virginia. I had a an incredible week there. I saw a lot of the state and there’s a lot more to see.

Tammy Tincher: Absolutely. Yes, there is a lot.

To see in West.

David Martin: There’s a lot to see. And one of the things that brings people to West Virginia is right in your county. Yes. A huge resort.

Tammy Tincher: Yes. We have the Greenbrier Resort. It is the largest employer of Greenbrier County. But it is a historic, historic structure. A great part of history. It has the bunker that was utilized by the federal Government.

Tammy Tincher: For. Protection of our. Congress people. When if there. Was ever to be. A nuclear. National emergency.

David Martin: Is it still.

Tammy Tincher: There? The bunker is still there. It is an. Active the secret. The secret was released years ago and so it.

David Martin: Is into.

Tammy Tincher: The bunker. I have been to the bunker. It is it is a tremendous, unbelievable facility.

And it is original that they’ve.

Kept it original. They do great tours at the resort for the bunker and it’s a great part of history.

David Martin: A lot of people wouldn’t think of vacationing in West Virginia who aren’t from the area or the region. Give us your your your elevator pitch for why stayed green? Why come to Greenbrier Hotel.

Tammy Tincher: And to come. To the Greenbrier? You. Of course you have to go to the Greenbrier Resort if you’re. Coming to visit Greenbrier County. The history, the beautiful structures that. Are on the. Property. The view, the golf courses, all the outdoor recreation that that is there on the property. But you’ve got to see the rest of Greenbrier County.

I mean, we have. The Greenbrier River Trail. We have. Wonderful. The Greenbrier River, our great art. Community in downtown. Lewisburg, which is our. County. Seat. We have wonderful. Restaurants. And. Musical venues. And then just the beauty of.

Tammy Tincher: Our county as far. As the rolling hills we have, the eastern. Part of the county is farmland and beautiful. Historic homes. The western part. Of the county is. Where our. Coal mines are. And we had. The largest hardwood. Lumber mill in Greenbrier County. And right now. In the world, that was the largest hardwood. Lumber mill in the world. And it was active. For many. Years. It was a huge part of our economy. And then the blight. Came through.

In the fifties and. Sixties. And wiped. Out all of the hardwood. And so that decimated an economy that. Was there that we have truly on the western end of the. County have never, never regained.

David Martin: So one of the things I learned when I was in West Virginia was the, I guess, pervasiveness of the coal industry and all facets of it, not just the mining gold, the support services and the support workers. And even if you weren’t in the mine, it seemed like everybody was in some way, shape or another associated with coal mining.

How has this transition been going? Coal’s not coming back. My understanding is that the coal they’re pulling out of the ground is far less than it was, and there’s less mines. All true?

Tammy Tincher: Yes, there. Are less mines. We have less mines in Greenbrier County than what we once did. We do still. Have some active mines. We do still have some employment, but it is not anything like what it was in. Years past. And.

David Martin: The severance fee that the coal mines pay to the counties. Absolutely. Money that they made off the coal they took out of the ground. That has to be greatly reduced.

Tammy Tincher: That has been reduced. You know, right now. The cost. And of. The price of coal is very, very. High. And that has been beneficial. To the state. In West Virginia. Overall, because there are other parts of the state that are. Much more have more mines and more coal mining. But the loss of the. Revenue from the overall number of coal mines has been a huge impact on West Virginia. And I remember.

David Martin: From that.

Tammy Tincher: Well, you know, we have had. To transition. I think. All parts of the state have had to. Transition from that. Loss. And. Whether it be focusing. More on outdoor. Recreation, water trails, rails to trails. We are. In the. Midst of.

David Martin: When I was there, I saw signs everywhere for the Hatfield and McCoy ATV trail.

Tammy Tincher: Yeah, yeah. ATV trails, the. Southern. Coalfields have. Been able. To redevelop much of the much of the areas. Of the coal mines. To ATV trails to be used by people. From all. Over the East Coast. And the country. I mean, it’s and huge number of people who come every week.

David Martin: When was the last time you were on an ATV?

Tammy Tincher: Oh, well, we have an ATV, of course, and of course, and we do.

David Martin: We did not know, but I assume.

Tammy Tincher: Yes, we do have my family has ATVs and we ride. And. Outdoors while we have we we each have our. Own. So we have three. Okay. So but we are able to.

David Martin: Who’s got the coolest one?

Tammy Tincher: Well, I’m not me.

David Martin: I have to ask what’s there are there are differences.

Tammy Tincher: Oh, yeah, there’s there are definite differences. Oh yeah. There’s there’s ones that you can get that.  Go fast. And and that are only to. Be you don’t utilize as a something to ride. In. And then. There’s others that you can use on your property. And that are. Considerably slower but.

David Martin: Which when you have.

Tammy Tincher: The. Considerably slower one.

David Martin: Generally slower.

Tammy Tincher: But but we’ve had to transition. And we’ve had. To look at other ways to be able to utilize the beautiful lands that. West Virginia has. And in Greenbrier County, we’ve been able. To do that. By looking at the. Outdoor. Recreation and kind of. The tourism.

David Martin: Cannot replace the coal industry.

Tammy Tincher: You know, it’ll never replace the coal industry because what the coal and.

David Martin: Jobs of money and jobs and.

Tammy Tincher: Well, they’re determined there. You know, tourism is a tremendous driver. But it. It is hard for I.

David Martin: Think resort is the biggest employer you said.

Tammy Tincher: Clearly. But I think it is hard for people who were paid how to. Had a coal miner’s.  Salary. I mean, those were huge, huge salaries for people. And their families.

David Martin: I think I remember talking to somebody that said out of high school, he started at $30 an hour.

Tammy Tincher: Absolutely. And so when you when that’s the only. Thing you. Know. And you’ve done. That your whole life and your.

David Martin: Father.

Tammy Tincher: And.

David Martin: Grandfather.

Tammy Tincher: Generations.

David Martin: And your other uncle and your.

Tammy Tincher: Generation, mom’s.

David Martin: Father.

Tammy Tincher: Absolutely. And and it is hard to. Recognize that. There’s other ways to to be able to survive. And to. Feed your family. But people have had to do that because it’s it’s. Just not available anymore.

David Martin: Do you think you’ve turned a corner in West Virginia with people whose automatic expectation is going into the coal mines?

Tammy Tincher: Yes. Yes. And I think that. That has. Changed from our our government, you know. Our local businesses. Everyone has. Had to try to look at other ways of. Doing things and to. Pivot. And so. You know, we are. It is originally it was originally very hard to look at those other. Options. But I think over time, and. Especially as our legislature. And our state government recognizes. The. Importance of the. Outdoor. Recreation industry. The fact that we. Have the New River. Gorge. National. Park that was just started here in the last year. And developed in.

David Martin: The nation’s newest national.

Tammy Tincher: Park, the nation’s. Newest national park. That is in an adjoining county from Greenbrier and our neighboring county. And it’s been. Huge. Just people who come. To national parks. I mean, there’s there’s people who just make trips. Around the country to go into national parks. And we have seen we have seen that. And they not only. Come for a day to. Spend at the national park. But then if they’re interested. In that, then they’re going to come. To our and stop at all the places along the way. And when your focus is on that outdoor recreation. And that. Tourism, then they’re going to make that stop and they make that stop in. Greenbrier County.

David Martin: And they stop. The Greenbrier Hotel is.

Tammy Tincher: Absolutely.

David Martin: The round of golf ed and all that stuff. Yeah, yeah. You got involved. You were telling me earlier, I’m sort of in a classic way. One of the things I’ve, you know, heard from from various political leaders like yourself is people should get involved and people got you involved. Is that how it all started?

Tammy Tincher: Yes, I had. I have never had any interest in being involved in any government. Activity. And I’m not I’m not a political animal at all. But I have always. Been involved in volunteering, always been involved. In community activities. And our county. Experi ence 2000 year flood. In 2016 and. Devastated both. Ends of Greenbrier County. We are. Still recovering from that today.

And. I was directly involved. In. The recovery part of that. Flood in my community. And you did the job. Well, you know. It was it was the fact that we just our people. In our community and on our. Side of the county just didn’t have the. Representation that we needed. And it was mentioned to me that I needed to consider it. And at first I did consider. It and I said no. And then I. Thought some more about it. And I jumped in.

David Martin: There were people talking to you the whole time saying, you got to you got here.

Tammy Tincher: There are people after they realized that. I might even might. Consider doing it, they really. Pushed me. And it’s been a great it was a great decision.

And I feel. Like. That I. Truly I. Try my hardest. To do the right thing for our. People and our community. I work. Very hard. At in my position I’m involved in.

David Martin: So you said.

Tammy Tincher: For all aspects, you.

David Martin: Said for years you’ve served so far.

Tammy Tincher: Yes, we have a six year term. I’m in my fourth. Year of that. Term. Right.

David Martin: And I’m planning on running for another six.

Tammy Tincher: Some days. I say yes. And some days I’ll say no. But but there’s probably more days where I say yes. Okay, Yeah. I definitely I definitely. Still have some work to do. You know, I do not want to be governor. So local. Government is. I believe, totally. Different than state government housing and federal government. You’re local government, you are with your people. And that. Is the case for your for your. State and federal. Representatives. But you’re on the ground. If you’re a.

Local, you’re the closest that you can be to your people. That. You. Represent. And you see the day to day everyday issues that they experience. So when you’re fighting for. Them and you’re trying to. Get policy passed or you’re trying to get. Projects done. You know, the issues that they that are are being dealt with. Because. You’re part of that, too. And so. Local government. I. Believe, truly is the place where you. Can make the biggest difference.

David Martin: Does that mean you can’t walk out at a baseball hat and sweat pants? Would you just run it out of the store?

Tammy Tincher: I try not to. But. But I am very comfortable. In my community. So I. Feel like my. Constituents and. Anyone could talk. To me any any way they need to at any. Time. And they do. They do. You know, there’s lots of times I don’t necessarily want to get into deep. Conversation and things, but I do. I just like to be available here. This.

David Martin: So there’s a difference is really what you are what you’re dressed in. Jessica Hill at the Greenbrier. A pretty good.

Tammy Tincher: Yes. Oh, yeah.

David Martin: So what are the issues that are sort of on your hot plate right now in Greenbrier?

Tammy Tincher: Well, right now we are trying. To focus. On utilizing the federal money. That has been provided to us. In the ARPA money and all the money that is coming from. The bipartisan infrastructure law. Right. And the Inflation Reduction Act. There’s spending a tremendous amount of money coming down. And right now we. Are utilizing it. In. Projects for water, a water. Line to bring more. Water or.

Water. To residents on the. Western side of our county. And then our. Goal is to be able to. Connect. The water. Lines from the. Western end to the eastern end. So if there is ever a need for. An. Emergency situation. Where one water.

System has to be. Turned off. There will be able to be water. From the. Other system to be able to make sure that. Everyone has water.

David Martin: Is that is that to provide water or is it a runoff? So there’s not a flood situation? Well.

Tammy Tincher: Not necessarily related to flooding, but we’ve had. Situations where because right. Now we have a water. System for the eastern side of the county and a separate. Water system for the west side of. Town. And we had a situation. Where. There was. An accident and. Diesel fuel was. In in the. Water in the river. And so we had to that whole system had to be shut down. And the whole eastern side of the county did not have water. For several days. So our goal is to be able to have. That system connected. Those two systems. Connected. To be able to. Not necessarily. Have it four. Times when all the time, but in case of emergencies. So we can guarantee that water is available.

David Martin: And any other big projects you’re working.

Tammy Tincher: On, we are going to. Enlarge and add on to our. Health department. We recognize during COVID. That our health. Department facility. For the. County is not large enough. And it was absolutely. Maxed out, maxed. Out for our employees. During the. COVID. Pandemic. And we recognized that. Those funds are various central to that facility. So that’s what we’re. Going to try to. Do.

David Martin: You read nationally about the opioid problem in Appalachia. Is that a problem in your county?

Tammy Tincher: It is a. Problem in our county.

David Martin: And the beefed up health department.

Tammy Tincher: Yes. I mean, you know, the. Opioid epidemic is is a part of West. Virginia. It is. It is just a part of our history now. And every county has. Had to grow. From it. Every county has. Had to work through it. And in all honesty. Where.

We’re in a fentanyl epidemic now, so we’re going from one to another. But we are experi and seeing the issues that have been created from the opioid. Epidemic and. Hopefully in West Virginia. And other counties. Across the country with opioid. Funds that are going to be coming from the settlements that. Are taking place. Funding can be put. Towards projects. And programs to be. Able to try to. Change. The issues that we have. And to. Try. To. Decrease drug use, to try to solve our problems with our workforce. And. Recovery. And just try to. Make better communities. In West Virginia.

David Martin: There’s a lot to do in West Virginia.

Tammy Tincher: There is an. Absolute lot to do. In West Virginia, but. We are we are West Virginians. And we. We are very strong. And that’s all we know how to do. Is to work for the board. Very independent. Yes. Yes.

David Martin: Despite West Virginia, we also we have we have a Brooklyn correction.

Tammy Tincher: Yes, we have. A Brooklyn connection. We do have my my husband and. I, we have two boys that were. Born in Brooklyn and in the. Foster system, and they grew up in West Virginia. And we adopted those two boys. Yes. And they are both residents. Of West Virginia now and hard. Workers. And so we. Had a connection.

David Martin: That had to be a shock to everyone.

Tammy Tincher: Well, they still I.

David Martin: Was from Brooklyn in West Virginia.

Tammy Tincher: Well, they they were have. Been in West. Virginia all of their. You know. Their through school. They’re all there. You know, they. Grew up here and. In our community, in our county, they. Were treated as West. Virginians and they still. Are.

David Martin: So have you all way back to Brooklyn?

Tammy Tincher: No, they they go back to. Brooklyn a lot. And and so and so now that. Now that I know you’re there so. I can I can come. Visit get.

David Martin: Well we’ll get it We’re going to we’re going to Brooklyn Pizza and we’ll talk about West Virginia. All right. Now we’re going to get to the heart of this. This is going to be your we’re going to get your personal philosophy on government. Are you ready for this? Sure. All right. Our good government, you’re a county commissioner in West Virginia.

Define good government.

Tammy Tincher: Good government, I. Believe, is. Being. Respectful. I believe is. Being financially. Conservative. And listening to. Your people. I think you have to work hard at it. You have to. Put the time in and if. You are a. Local government. Official, you have to have boots. On the ground and that is the only way you’re going to. Be able to. Make a difference. Is to. Be involved.

David Martin: How do you judge your success or sometimes lack thereof success?

Tammy Tincher: Well, it. Is not it is not me. It is us as a group. It is our I have two other commissioners. We have three commissioners for Greenbrier County. My friends. We are all friends. We have very good relationships. I am I. Am very, very active. And in a. Lot of. Our. Associates State association. The National. Association can bring back a lot. Of information that. Is helpful to our residents, our state, and have getting that. Information, trying to get all the information you can. Because there’s so much out there. And if. You just stay focused. On what. You think. You know in your county, it’s not going to be a benefit. You’ve got to absorb all the. Information you can and. Always learn.

David Martin: How do the people of your county, how do they know if they’re getting good government and how should they hold you accountable?

Tammy Tincher: Well, I think that they need to see they you need to be visible. You need to.

Be, as I said, boots on the ground. You need to. Be out. There and involved. And I. Think that. Is something that. Residents. Recognize is. If you’re out there, then they can feel comfortable that they are being represented. And and for. Them to feel like you. Are being accountable, I think you need to. Be there. And you need. To listen. Everyone has their. Opinions. Yes. So at times I often. Have. I often have. To. Hold my tongue. Because I. Do admit I am I’m. Very strong headed. And strong. Willed. But I. Try to listen. And I try. To make sure that. I don’t jump to conclusions. And I Alicia. I. Listen and make. Sure. That I Have. Done my due diligence in trying to make a. Decision.

David Martin: Despite your best efforts, if people feel like they’re not getting good government, what should they do?

Tammy Tincher: They’ve got to get involved. They can’t just. Complain on. Social media. They can’t.

David Martin: The first commissioner who said that.

Tammy Tincher: They can just throw it out there, you know, you need to come to a. Meeting, you. Need a set. Up an appointment, you need. To make your. Concerns known. And then. If. Your concerns can be. Validated or. Your concerns. Evidence. And information.

Can be shared to you to. Change your concerns. Or to. Help you change. Your decision or see that there. Is something different than. What is. You might think is happening. It is up to that you, as a resident, to do your due. Diligence to make sure. That you get the correct. Information before. You go out there and. And. Start. Putting your opinions out and your complaints out. Absolutely.

David Martin: Four years and you’re never into politics before this? No. What have you learned in the last four years about government that you’d like people to know?

Tammy Tincher: You cannot just go in and change things?

I think a lot. Of times people think, well, I can just. Change the system. And I can I can. Create something new. Well. The one. Thing about local. Government. Is that there are a lot of. Stipulations, a lot of requirements as. Far as. Funding and as far as spending money and. What things can be. Spent on. So just because. You’re an elected. Official. Doesn’t mean that you can go in and just change the way things have been. Done because. You don’t agree with how they’ve been done in the past. Lots of times. There’s rules in place that are causing the things to be done the way they are, and until you get involved, you don’t realize all of that.

David Martin: What I think I heard you just say is it’s a lot harder than I thought.

Tammy Tincher: You are absolutely right.

David Martin: That who is your political hero? Who’s your hero in government?

Tammy Tincher: You know what? Because I wasn’t. Real focused. On government growing up or in. I as a young adult or politics of that nature. But, you know. I really. Have thought. A lot about that. I always go back to George Washington. You know, and I know. That’s really random because I. Don’t know if. It’s random, but it’s odd because. You know, certainly not in government now. No, but you know.

David Martin: Government I know.

Tammy Tincher: He was the. Beginning of government. And I think that’s. Very to to go back. And learn. The original steps. In the. Original processes and the original thought. And reasoning of. Why. Government was important in it. Yes. And you look. At it, look at that aspect today, it really gives you. A different outlook. On how you view the things that are taking place in today’s. Government.

David Martin: No argument with George Washington as a role model. No problem. All right. So I’ve bit of West Virginia, I’ve I’ve eaten out West Virginia. You have the Greenbrier Hotel. You’re taking me out to dinner. Where we go? Where do we have what do we have?

Tammy Tincher: You know what?

David Martin: Show off the best of West Virginia.

Tammy Tincher: I would if. If you came to West. Virginia. I would take you to. Gosh, there’s so much to choose from. I’m trying to. Even. Think. Of what my choice. Would be, because I feel like we would have to, like, maybe take a week. And go.

David Martin: I could eat for a week.

Tammy Tincher: We could eat for. We could spend a whole. Day at the Greenbrier because there’s the buffet breakfast buffet and there’s Drapers for. Lunch. And then you could. Go to 44 for dinner. It is it is just a. A. The. Restaurant in the. Hotel that has everything. You could want and the. Best. Ice cream sundaes. Oh, all.

David Martin: Right, now we’re talking. So what are you ordering? What, are you having a tray for your drivers?

Tammy Tincher: Yes, I’m having collard greens. Okay. And fried chicken.

David Martin: You’re talking about language here. All right. Do we miss anything? You get it all?

Tammy Tincher: Oh, well, I mean, gosh. Then we could go to. Town White. Sulfur and we could go to the brewery. And have a meal. And then in downtown. Lewisburg, where Adele, Soul food. And friends. What do.

David Martin: We have for.

Tammy Tincher: Food and friends? I would have the steak salad and Adele Soul. We would have the case. It is.

David Martin: All right. We have it. We have a lot of we have a lot of work to do. Did you ever think prior to, you know, four years ago about running for office, was it ever something you thought of?

Tammy Tincher: No. Never, never, never, never. You know, I don’t know that I even when I was in. College. You know, I didn’t. Vote. When I was in growing up. We did not discuss. Politic. In our family. You know. It just. Wasn’t a conversation that we. Had.

David Martin: You are reading the opinion pages and the editorial.

Tammy Tincher: No, nothing. No. And so the.

David Martin: Do you now I mean, do you are you.

Tammy Tincher: Oh, yeah. I’m much more involved in that now. Yeah. And I pay much more attention, you know, very involved. In our state. Government and I vote. But, you know, growing up, it just wasn’t. A significant part. Of of what. You know, I. Grew up in. So it. Wasn’t, it, it. Wasn’t important. Per se.

David Martin: And now it is.

Tammy Tincher: Now it is, Yes.

David Martin: All right. Now, we were out with a family sitting down to talk politics.

Tammy Tincher: No government. No, we. Don’t do that. We don’t. We don’t.

David Martin: Because this is we’re not this is not worked out.

Tammy Tincher: That’s right.

David Martin: Okay. Four years in. Give me an example of something that you’re proud of that you were able to accomplish in government.

Tammy Tincher: I think that the biggest. Thing in my county that I’ve been able to accomplish is. That. I have been able. To learn. From all of our departments in our county. I’ve been able. To create. Conversations that within and grew relationships that weren’t. Necessarily there before I. Came along and. That we are working together. On a county. Level with all of our departments, whether it be our tourism, whether it be. Our economic development. Whether it be. You know, the county government. We are. All focused on. Doing the right thing for our county. And and I think. We as. An administration and our county government have. Worked hard to try to create. And and foster those relationships.

David Martin: Well, thank you very much for stopping by. This has been a great conversation with Tammy Fincher of Greenbrier County, West Virginia, and I am coming down and I’ve got to I have to go to the New River Gorge. And I apparently I have to get on an ATV.

Tammy Tincher: Absolutely. We’ll take you all around.

David Martin: All right. Sounds good. Thank you very much. Thanks for coming by. It’s a pleasure meeting in meeting you and chatting with you. Thank you.

Tammy Tincher: It’s been great. Thank you.

David Martin: Kutztown University is a smart choice for Pennsylvania students or students from anywhere looking for an outstanding college experience close to home. And in the heart of Pennsylvania, with over 130 majors, CU has endless academic opportunities. Kutztown also offers plenty of on campus housing 24 seven dining options, comprehensive support services to ensure our students success and so much more.

Kutztown has 22 NCAA Division, two sports teams and a nationally recognized men’s rugby team. How about that? Plus, you get it all with the affordable tuition of a state university. So visit Kutztown dot edu on the Web, Kutztown dot edu and see why it’s good to be goals. Every time I have a conversation with someone from West Virginia, I learn something and get more excited about visiting West Virginia.

And by the way, having George Washington as a role model, that’s a good way to start. That’s how our country started. As you heard, Tammy is learning a lot about water management. So she has her work cut out for her. I’ve added to my list of places to go on my next trip to West Virginia. But more important, it’s good to hear that leaders like Tammy are working to improve the state.

Not to mention the lives of the two boys she adopted from Brooklyn who are now true West Virginians. As you heard, my dining is lined up for me in Greenbrier, so I really need to get back. Well, join us again on the Good Government show for another conversation with another government leader. Right here where you listen to your podcasts.

I’m Dave Martin. Thanks for listening to The Good Government show and a conversation with is produced by Valley Park Productions. Jim Ludlow, David Martin and David Snyder are the executive producers. Our editor and producer is Jason Stershic. This is the Good Government show. Thanks for listening.

**This transcription was created using digital tools and has not been edited by a live person. We apologize for any discrepancies or errors.