Republican Delegate Proposes WV Counties Rejoin VA

E-mail him (4.00 / 6)

Larry Kump's e-mail is larry.kump@wvhouse.gov.  I sent him an e-mail last night suggesting that he should move to Virginia if he'd rather live there and that he resign his seat since he apparently has no interest in serving the State of West Virginia.  I encourage others to do the same.

---

by: Bitmapped @ Sat Jan 22, 2011 at 17:46:28 PM UTC

use responsibly (4.00 / 3)

I hope nobody gets the idea of signing up that email address for Virginia real estate alerts. That would be really wrong.

---

by: Clem Guttata @ Sat Jan 22, 2011 at 19:33:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Kump does not speak for me (4.00 / 2)

I am proud to call myself a West Virginian by choice. If had wanted to be a Virginian, I would have picked somewhere else to live, not in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.

---

by: Clem Guttata @ Sat Jan 22, 2011 at 18:13:41 PM UTC

Eastern Panhandle (4.00 / 2)

Jeremiah is exactly right when he says that this stunt is meant to get "the first term delegate attention." There's not much rhyme or reason to his thinking here on why Richmond would serve the Eastern Panhandle better than Charleston. He mentions a sense of disconnect and problems with centralization with W.V. centering on Charleston. I wonder if other EP residents and even Northern Panhandle residents truly feel that way.

Personally, I grew up in Winchester, Va, just below Martinsburg and didn't really notice much of any a change, culturally speaking, from the two areas.  The EP is perhaps really part of the growing suburban D.C. mega-opolis and therefore somewhat distant from the rest of W.V. But why not secede, then, into Maryland or become instead part of an extended Washington, D.C.? (Just using hypotheticals here, as I don't agree with Kump's claim). Every state has parts of it where some residents feel disconnected from the main currents of power. We'd have multiple mini-states in the U.S. if other states followed Kump's lead.

---

by: New2Charleston @ Sat Jan 22, 2011 at 19:09:23 PM UTC

The Northern Panhandle does (0.00 / 0)

I know that attitude has been prevalent ever since the capital was underhandedly stolen from us.

---

by: WV26003 @ Sat Jan 22, 2011 at 19:49:03 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Maybe Delegate Kump should just move to VA (4.00 / 5)

Those of us in the Eastern Panhandle are just as proud to call ourselves West Virginians as any of our neighbors to the south.  Delegate Kump doesn't seem to understand that this legislation is not only offensive but potentially damaging.  It's no secret that our unique geography creates political and cultural difference, however this diversity in our state should be celebrated. Unfortunately, HB 2698 drives a wedge.  Historically we've had challenges establishing political alliances between the EP and other regions.  This legislation undermines recent efforts by Senator Snyder, Delegate Lawrence and other forward thinking legislators who are working to bridge the divide.  I hope the voters of Berkeley County will think carefully before sending Delegate Larry Kump back to Charleston. He's bringing attention to our area in the worst possible way. I want to stay in West Virginia.  Perhaps Delegate Kump should leave.

---

by: rodsnyder @ Sat Jan 22, 2011 at 19:25:06 PM UTC

Why not just call the whole thing off and dissolve WV? (4.00 / 2)

We could give the Northern Panhandle to Pennsylvania, everything south of 64 and west of the Turnpike to Kentucky, and everything else to Ohio.

OK, those in the Mon watershed can join Pennsylvania instead if they want - and why not give the Northern Panhandle a choice, come to think of it.

Maybe we should advocate a statewide referendum for every county to vote on what state to join.

---

by: JAWVMM @ Sat Jan 22, 2011 at 20:49:27 PM UTC

Then we should all choose Maryland (4.00 / 1)

It is the most progressive of our neighbors.

---

by: WV26003 @ Sat Jan 22, 2011 at 23:01:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Maryland > Virginia (4.00 / 3)

I was forced to choose, I'd definitely take Maryland over Virginia.

I think the EP has more in common with the parts of Maryland across the Potomac than it does to the parts of VA to its South. Also, joining the smaller of the two there would be a chance to have more influence after joining.

But, really, this is a stupid issue. This bill is a total distraction. The session is short and there's real problems that need addressing.

Plus, as a political stunt, it's not even smart politics. It doesn't help with regional politics and it doesn't help with party politics, either.

---

by: Clem Guttata @ Sat Jan 22, 2011 at 23:44:33 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

And Maryland doesn't have Kookinelli n/t (0.00 / 0)

---

by: WV26003 @ Sun Jan 23, 2011 at 00:44:09 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

What about a new state? (0.00 / 0)

We could annex everything in PA and Maryland west of say Catoctin Creek and rename the whole thing West Augusta, confusing everyone.

We'd really have to move the capitol north, though.  Flatwoods, maybe.  There's a pretty wide flat space there, and a history of odd things happening, so they'd be used to it.  

---

by: JAWVMM @ Sun Jan 23, 2011 at 00:09:23 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Governor McDonnel and AG Cuccinelli are right wing (4.00 / 1)

homophobes and all I can think of in KY is Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul.  

---

by: MadAnne @ Sun Jan 23, 2011 at 02:23:15 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

giving? (4.00 / 1)

what's with all this 'giving' crap?

Taking. Taking is where its at , man

For starters, we could annex Point Marion, PA without firing a shot.  We'd surely be greeted as liberators!  Once that's settled and we've sorta established a precedent then we can start pecking away at the INCOMPETENTLY established western boundary of PA/WV (you'd be shocked to learn the revered Founding Fathers who had a direct hand in that screw up) .  Its easy to see everything west of the Monongahela River and South of the National Road (Mt Washington overlooking the Pittsburgh skyline would be ours, for example, as it should have been all along.). As compensation, Pennsylvania get all of Maryland except the western shore.  The Western Shore of Maryland merges with that little bit of Virginia and Delaware to become that 'Delmarva' they're always going on about anyway.  And voila!!  The Mason-Dixon Line, the most divisive, over-rated, mis-represented line in U.S. History is gone, baby, gone! (along with Maryland, sorry Maryland)
For good measure, then extend the District of Columbia up the potomac to include the town of Harpers Ferry (so we'd give up that little bit for a 'greater' capitol that finally include the toehold on the interior some sought during the endless original discussions over siting the u.s. capitol those centuries ago.

Next change U.S. congressional districting to allow cross state boundaries.  This would more equal districts population-wise, as opposed to ending up with low population states who get one dedicated U.s Rep. States would end up with some 'shared' reps, etc.  there are numerous potential benefits of this i won't go into now because, even though i am obviously inclined to div into just this sort of barber-shop b.s. discussion, even i realize that Job A should be getting Larry "Gib-it-away" Kump out of the business or representing proud West Virginians.

---

by: Vandaliamort @ Sun Jan 23, 2011 at 12:28:07 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

You're suggesting reunification? (0.00 / 0)

Of the REAL counties of Ohio, Monogalia, and Youghogenia?

---

by: WV26003 @ Sun Jan 23, 2011 at 13:25:08 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

mebee (0.00 / 0)

and if Kump and his tidewater chums want to start trouble, i say we've got a decent claim to Frederick and Augusta counties of VA (and i'm talking their historical boundaries, not present day).  By the time we're done Virginians might need a passport to get from  Bristol to Blacksburg

---

by: Vandaliamort @ Sun Jan 23, 2011 at 13:34:37 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

That's what I had in mind (4.00 / 1)

plus western Maryland - can't have that little triangle just sitting there - it is geographically and culturally very much part of all this and was settled by exactly the same families as the surrounding bits of PA and WV.  There was a controversy about the western boundary that wasn't resolved until the 20th century, and I'm sure we could revive the one about what is really the main branch of the Potomac.  Not sure I care about much east of the Catoctin - although having a saltwater port would be a kick.

And we might ask Rockingham County if they want to join.

---

by: JAWVMM @ Sun Jan 23, 2011 at 14:09:09 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

oops (0.00 / 0)

and of course i meant "Eastern Shore" of MD should be part of the New state of Delmarva, not western shore.

---

by: Vandaliamort @ Sun Jan 23, 2011 at 13:41:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

stupid idea (4.00 / 1)

...though having Jim Webb as our senator would be kind of cool.

---

by: heath_harrison @ Sat Jan 22, 2011 at 23:01:21 PM UTC

At the local Chamber of Commerce (4.00 / 2)

He recently spoke at a local Chamber of Commerce event and when he spoke about this, people shook their heads in disbelief. People couldn't believe he'd propose something that idiotic. Hopefully that same crowd is feeling buyers remorse and remembers this in the next election.

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

---

by: Carnacki @ Sat Jan 22, 2011 at 23:38:20 PM UTC