Natalie Tennant Announces Gubernatorial Bid

First test (0.00 / 0)

Will she participate in Tomblin's rally to support Mountaintop Removal and the continued destruction of WV's mountains and streams, as well as residents' health and lives?

"It's important to have someone who steps forward who shows that she has the courage and she has the backbone for standing up for what's right . . .

And then there's that pesky issue with Betty Ireland's no-bid contract that saddled WV with overpriced, problematic and hack-prone electronic voting machines that do not comply with State Code (i.e. no verifiable paper trail). Correcting this major flaw in our election system would take courage and leadership.  

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by: DB @ Thu Jan 20, 2011 at 13:11:18 PM UTC

Tennent Didn't Speak at "Rally for [MTR]" (0.00 / 0)

I don't think Tennent was on the list of speakers for today's "Rally for Coal [Mountaintop Removal]" -- although, Jeff Kessler was.

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by: DannyWV @ Thu Jan 20, 2011 at 21:07:17 PM UTC

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as was Rick Thompson (4.00 / 1)

so I can cross three names off my list of people to support in the primary

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by: heath_harrison @ Thu Jan 20, 2011 at 22:18:27 PM UTC

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heath (0.00 / 0)

Was Treasurer Perdue there?

When a man embarks upon a crime, he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring from it. Sherlock Holmes.

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by: Carnacki @ Thu Jan 20, 2011 at 23:26:56 PM UTC

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don't know (0.00 / 0)

I'm only listing those I've seen mentioned in news reports so far.

If I come across more, I will note them here.

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by: heath_harrison @ Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 05:41:10 AM UTC

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Kessler (0.00 / 0)

very disappointing.

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by: DB @ Thu Jan 20, 2011 at 22:27:14 PM UTC

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and Senator Manchin (4.00 / 2)

apparently, no family parties were scheduled for today

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by: heath_harrison @ Thu Jan 20, 2011 at 22:29:30 PM UTC

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Jeff has mines in his district (0.00 / 0)

not surprising that he would appear at the rally

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by: dlwickham @ Sat Jan 22, 2011 at 06:25:47 AM UTC

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Premature??? (0.00 / 0)

I am concerned that Natalie is jumping into this contest at this time.  I really like her, and think she has the potential to be a good Governor.  That being said, I don't think she has had enough exposure at this time and should wait until another election to run.  

The announcement mentioned in the Daily Mail does not appear on line.  Is she going to resign as Secretary of State to run?  If she does resign then who would fill the office of Secretary of State?  Would succession to the office of Secretary of State require another special election? Will we see a primary election or a convention to nominate the candidates for Governor?  

So many questions.  Does anyone have an answer as to how all this going to work?

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by: wvblueguy @ Thu Jan 20, 2011 at 16:17:43 PM UTC

No need to resign (4.00 / 1)

The other candidates aren't resigning their office to run. I don't think she should either.  

The presence of a 2011 Special Election actually allows more sitting elected officials to run without having to choose which office to run for.  

For example Rick Thompson can run and if he's defeated in the primary, he continues to serve as Speaker and can run for re-election to his House Seat in 2012. Same for all the other candidates who currently hold office.

In a good conversation everyone speaks.  In a great conversation some even listen.

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by: Wabi-Sabi @ Thu Jan 20, 2011 at 17:26:25 PM UTC

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If Tennant resigned (0.00 / 0)

To answer your question:

If Secretary Tennant resigned, the Governor (or Acting Governor as the case may be) would have the authority to appoint a new one. That person would serve until January 2013. Why? Because we have already surpassed the November 2010 election.

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by: WV26003 @ Sat Jan 22, 2011 at 01:55:04 AM UTC

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Governor of West Virginia (0.00 / 0)

Come on Natalie, I like you and I voted for you for Sec. Of State. Please listen to me. You are not ready for the Governor's seat. You remind me of our Mayor.  

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by: kworkman @ Thu Jan 20, 2011 at 19:26:16 PM UTC

Her press conferences are impressive (0.00 / 0)

She has an excellent command of the room and an exceptional talent at answering questions directly, succinctly, and connectively.

Kessler is my first choice (for geographic and personal reasons), but should he decide to run in another race, I'll support Tennant.

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by: WV26003 @ Thu Jan 20, 2011 at 23:59:05 PM UTC

I think Natalie could win the primary (4.00 / 1)

since there are so many candidates but I'm afraid she'll be another Charlotte Pritt-win the primary but lose the general since the big boys were mad and took their toys and went home

I wouldn't put it past some of the other potential candidates to sabotage Natalie if she did win the nomination like some of the "Democrats" for Underwood did

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by: dlwickham @ Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 04:56:28 AM UTC

I think Kessler, McCabe, Unger would behave (0.00 / 0)

Those three would behave themselves if Secretary Tennant won the primary. It's the Tomblins, Thompsonses, Perdues of this State that make me nervous.

However, sexism is now more easily recognized and exposed in 2011 than it was in 1996. Furthermore, I think today's local Democratic chairpersons (at least in the Northern Panhandle) would be strongly offended by a 1996 Manchin-esque style attack on Tennant.

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by: WV26003 @ Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 12:14:42 PM UTC

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McCabe would be ok, but Unger and Kessler (0.00 / 0)

would oppose her simply on her abortion stance.  I don't know how far we've come since Pritt.

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by: MadAnne @ Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 13:58:05 PM UTC

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No way Kessler supports a Republican (4.00 / 2)

They may disagree on abortion, but Kessler is not a bashful Democrat at all. His Governor's campaign website even has a link to WVaBlue.  If he doesn't receive the nomination, there's no way he'll back a Republican.  Same for Unger.

In a good conversation everyone speaks.  In a great conversation some even listen.

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by: Wabi-Sabi @ Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 17:32:55 PM UTC

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Good to hear. (0.00 / 0)

Would WVFL be able to put pressure on them to do otherwise?

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by: MadAnne @ Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 19:45:18 PM UTC

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No vision and no leadership = no vote (0.00 / 0)

Tennant has shown time and again over the past two years that she does not have a vision for the state past "technology" nor has she shown the leadership skills that are necessary in the state's trying times.  Her 'leadership' on the election debacle was no where to be found.

Further, progressives have no reason to support her as she nor her state senator husband have shown any progressives that she will fight for our causes.  No unions will back her because of how her husband alienated them in the last election cycle.  

If Tennant happens to win the primary, she will split the party and be Charlotte Pritt all over again.  Ask yourself if you want a Republican governor.

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by: alanshore @ Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 13:35:00 PM UTC

Natalie Tennant is not Charlotte Pritt (2.00 / 1)

Charlotte Pritt had never won statewide office and she had a record of pushing for environmental issues in the State Senate.  Manchin and others she defeated were able to rally behind Underwood as a moderate figurehead alternative to her supposedly "radical" positions.  

Tennant doesn't have negatives that Pritt had.  I highly doubt that the same rallying behind the GOP by moderate Dems won't happen for Betty Ireland, Clark Barnes, John Raese or Mike Stuart.

Plus, this election will likely have a very low turnout. That's an opportunity for whomever has the best on the ground operation, voter registration, etc.

Other than Perdue, no other Democrat on the ballot has the statewide recognition and network that Natalie has.

As for leadership, I'm not sure what more you want Natalie to do. She has broadened participation for voters, investigated voter fraud, implemented a special election and primary with one hand tied behind her back by GOP members in the House, and streamlined efforts to help small businesses in WV.  That's her job and she's done it well.

In a good conversation everyone speaks.  In a great conversation some even listen.

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by: Wabi-Sabi @ Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 17:43:48 PM UTC

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Typo (0.00 / 0)

Just noticed a typo in my comment.  It should read:

I highly doubt that the same rallying behind the GOP by moderate Dems would happen for Betty Ireland, Clark Barnes, John Raese or Mike Stuart.

In a good conversation everyone speaks.  In a great conversation some even listen.

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by: Wabi-Sabi @ Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 18:31:05 PM UTC

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She is Charlotte (0.00 / 0)

in the way she would divide the party.  I will grant you that she has won a statewide office.  But at a time when the party is already at a low because of Manchin's selfishness, a figure like Tennant is not someone who will unite the party.  Further, she has no money in her coffers and no state wide organization to run a race.  She is being an opportunist because she thinks as a woman she can win.  

As for leadership, look at how she handled the special election.  She consulted with no one, not even the state's highest attorney- the AG- on how she should proceed.  Instead, she jumped in front of a microphone to try and get free press before everyone else.  In the end, the lack of LEADERSHIP got her a wrong opinion on the Constitution.  

As for the successes in her office, start talking to the county clerks about how well she has done her job.

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by: alanshore @ Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 18:45:06 PM UTC

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Wrong opinions (4.00 / 1)

Let's take a look at what happened with her "wrong opinion" on the US Senate election.  The AG opinion said the Governor could declare the election date and whatever he wanted to surrounding it. If that was really the case, why didn't Manchin do that?  Answer: Because he knew the AG's opinion didn't have a legal leg to stand on. If he had called a special election based on the AG's opinion he would have been sued and the WVSupCo would have laughed him out of the chamber. Don't believe me? Take a look at what 3 different attorneys with 3 different motivations said at a joint judiciary interim meeting on Gubernatorial succession. The AG's opinion was wrong and Manchin called a special session to get a 2010 election because he knew it was wrong, too.

As for county clerks: there are 55 of them. Good luck getting them all to agree on something. Ask one if they think Natalie is doing a good job and they'll say no. Ask the one in the next county and they'll say yes.  

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by: fishhead @ Sat Jan 22, 2011 at 00:43:52 AM UTC

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alanshore -- which is it? (4.00 / 4)

Thank you for sharing that views. Can you also please provide some constructive suggestions instead of just trying to tear down two loyal Democrats? So far, I'm just not finding your "anti-" threats convincing.

First off, I don't follow this logic. If "progressives have no reason to support her" then how is it she's going to "split the party"?

Also, I'm totally, completely, and utterly tired of hearing about an election that happened 15 years ago. Tell me instead, who do you support in 2011?

I've got a open mind about who to support for this primary, make your best case on who you think will best further progressive causes and you may win me over.

Otherwise, you're just saying that progressives should give up before we even start because any candidate we choose is either (a) not really progressive or (b) won't be supported by the center-right of the party. But, really, if the center-right isn't going to support the Democratic nominee, then I'm certainly not going to support their candidate in the primary.

And, more broadly, I'm certainly not going to concede a primary to them before it's even started.

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by: Clem Guttata @ Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 20:55:41 PM UTC

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Clem- you are (4.00 / 2)

correct in that this election should be about the future of West Virginia.  To my logic about progressives supporting her, I was referring to in the primary.  First, I am not sure why progressives would be willing to support her as she has not given us any reason (issue) to support her.  Secondly, if progressives do support her enough to get her into a general election, it would be a concern that she would not be able to get the party to rally around her enough to beat a strong and very well funded Republican candidate.  (Lets face it, this is going to be the election in 2011 and Republicans from all over the country will be financing the Republican campaign.  Natalie has not proven to be a good fundraiser or a person who can unify the party after a nasty and divisive primary).  

In regards to my support for a candidate in 2011.  I am preparing a post as to who I am supporting and all of the reasons that individual will be getting my support.  While Natalie would likely be an excellent candidate in a few election cycles, it is my opinion that she is in no way ready to be governor in this environment with the little experience in state governance that she has as SOS for the past 2 years.  

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by: alanshore @ Mon Jan 24, 2011 at 02:48:06 AM UTC

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Thanks (0.00 / 0)

Thanks for the clarification. I look forward to hearing more about who you support.

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by: Clem Guttata @ Mon Jan 24, 2011 at 10:12:16 AM UTC

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Tennant Strongest Candidate (4.00 / 3)

She polls consistently high.  She has operated the SoS office in a manner that let's us know she believes in transparency and modernization in government.  She has a mix of progressives and moderates that provide her with policy and political advice.  She is without doubt the number one legitimate candidate.  There will be smear campaigns against her because that is how dirty politics are played in WV.  

The correlation between her and Pritt is based on what exactly?  That they are women?  Split the Party?  Why her more than other candidates?  Be legitimate.  WV Democratic politics have to move passed the misogynistic old school view where women have to prove more and do more to appease voters than men.  Remember, the majority of Democratic voters in the State are women and that trend will need to continue to hold off the always looming Red shift.  Tennant all the way.

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by: Jeremiah @ Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 04:46:08 AM UTC

The only thing high (0.00 / 0)

is her name recognition.  This is not about misogynistic or old school views.  As I stated above, she would be good in a few more terms.  Natalie has yet to demonstrate any concrete plans or ideas that she would implement as governor.  One of the other huge issues which you are over looking is that she does not have any mechanism to raise the large sums that will be needed to combat a huge Republican onslaught after the primary.  She and her husband are consistently poor fundraisers.  Without being a successful fundraiser, or show that she has the ability to raise large sums quickly, I do not see how she will be a viable contender in the primary or the general.  

It shocks me that you can say she is the number one legitimate candidate.  She has no campaign mechanism in place to run, she has no funding to finance a campaign, she has been in state government exactly two years and has not gained nearly enough experience to tackle the tasks that will face the next governor.  

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by: alanshore @ Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 20:14:23 PM UTC

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