Published: January 20, 2008 01:21 am      

‘An honor for me to continue serving you’

Rockefeller makes it official: He’s running for fifth Senate term

FAIRMONT — Red, white and blue signs supporting U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., filled up the grand ballroom at Westchester Village Saturday evening to celebrate the West Virginia Democrat’s official announcement to run for a fifth Senate term this year.

“I am running because it would be an honor for me to continue serving you,” the senator said after his official announcement. “Yes, I enjoy the job. But more importantly, I enjoy you. We’re a state that never gives up. We can’t afford to, and we never do.”

Accompanied by his wife, children and grandchildren, Rockefeller said he chose Marion County as the site to publicly announce his plans for candidacy because of the unwavering loyalty he has received from Fairmont voters since beginning his longtime senatorial career in 1985.

“I never lost Fairmont,” he said, adding that he has never held an event in the city that was not accompanied by significant support and excitement from the locals.

A New York City native, Rockefeller has spent the last 44 years making West Virginia his home. He began his early career in public service, working with the Peace Corps and then as a VISTA volunteer, which he said is where he adopted his first West Virginia family.

His start in West Virginia politics began in 1966, when he was seated in the House of Delegates. He was then elected to the office of West Virginia Secretary of State and served as the state’s governor for two terms beginning in 1976 before being elected to the Senate in 1984. He also currently holds the job of chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Today, Rockefeller said it means “everything in the world to him” to represent the state of West Virginia in the U.S. Senate and, if elected, admitted he does not know whether this will be his last term running.

“It’s all about how you feel,” he said, explaining his indecision in running again in the future. “Not just physically how you feel but psychologically.”

Rockefeller said that if he gets elected this term, he would like to improve both health care and veterans’ situations within the U.S. government. He said that during the last five terms, he has also seen positive things come to fruition, which include improving education within the state with the installation of Internet access in all classrooms.

“There is a lot to be said with what’s been done, but there is so much more to do,” Rockefeller said.

He added that any political representative who believes they have accomplished every goal they set out to tackle should “get out of the field,” because there are always more goals to accomplish and more things to improve upon when it comes to government.

During Rockefeller’s speech, he pointed out that one of the perks of campaigning this year will be running with current West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin III as he seeks re-election as well.

“Joe is an optimist, and I am an optimist, and there’s nothing that the two of us can’t do together,” he said.

Manchin and Rockefeller have been longtime friends and colleagues in the political circuit for years, and the governor sung the praises of the senator Saturday with the first lady by his side.

He explained that when Rockefeller first came to the state, no one knew how long he would stay. But now, with 44 years under his belt and a set of goals he would like to see accomplished in the future within the state, it has become apparent that he is not going anywhere anytime soon.

“Jay and Sharon are so special to work with,” said Manchin. “Jay has stayed and made West Virginia better.”

Manchin also complimented the teamwork and accomplishments of Rockefeller and Sen. Robert Byrd, who have been working together for many years.

In closing, Rockefeller simply said he would be honored to represent the state of West Virginia and its hard-working, valuable residents for another six years within the U.S. Senate.

“I will be deeply honored to represent you in the U.S. Senate,” he said. “I will be a senator worthy of your trust and confidence. Together we will not fail.”

E-mail Mallory Panuska at mpanuska@timeswv.com.