BECKLEY -- The West Virginia Coal Association, which represents companies that employ tens of thousands of state residents and contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to our economy, endorsed Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin in the May 14 Democratic Primary.

Gary White, chairman of the association that represents 90 percent of the coal producers in West Virginia, said selecting Tomblin was an easy decision.

“Gov. Tomblin is a son of the coalfields. He knows coal and West Virginia’s 63,000 coal mining families are in a very real sense his family,” White said. “He knows how important it is to have a job, to pay your bills and provide for your children. He has always stood with us … not just as a ‘friend’ of coal but as one of us.

Here in West Virginia, coal mining isn’t just a way of living – it’s a way of life. It pays bills, lights homes and feeds families, and it also is a binding source of pride for those who work in it, know it, and respect it. I am one of those proud West Virginians – I always will be. And I will always fight for our miners, our jobs, and our economic future.

West Virginians are well aware of the big showdown in Congress that pits the Environmental Protection Agency and rules on greenhouse gas regulations against the interests of our coal miners.

The Friends of Coal and the West Virginia Coal Association join in urging everyone to exercise their rights and vote in the upcoming May 14 special gubernatorial primary election.
As much of the rest of the country struggles with multi-billion dollar deficits and unemployment rates approaching 10 percent, West Virginia has managed to balance its budget and keep its people working. Strong, effective leadership on the part of the governor and the Legislature, combined with the state’s coal industry have made this possible.

However our coal industry is under threat from an out-of-control Washington bureaucracy. This makes it even more important for us to choose leaders who will continue to put West Virginia first – who will step up to the plate and defend our state’s bedrock industry.

If you are registered to vote, please vote on May 14. If you aren’t registered, you must register before April 25th if you plan to vote. If you are registered and may be out of town on May 14, check with your county clerk about their early voting options in accordance with the following schedule:

Last day to register to vote is April 25, 2011. For information on registering to vote, please click here.
Early voting period will take place April 29th through May 11th (including Saturdays)
Absentee ballot request deadline is May 9th
Primary Election is May 14th.
 

CHARLESTON -- Keep your eyes open for the blue and gold 1980 Chevy Camaro equipped with a 498 big block engine capable of traveling the quarter mile in 8.80 seconds and a prominent Friends of Coal logo.  Greg Fowler of GDF Consulting, and driver of the Friends of Coal race car, is headed out on the International Hot Rod Association (IRHA) circuit with the goal of capturing a number of racing titles in 2011.

When he is not behind the wheel of the Friends of Coal Camaro, Greg conducts pre-blast surveys and hydrology work for a number of coal companies.  Following a successful 2007 season, Greg formulated a plan to combine his vocation and his avocation with a plan to promote the industry via his race car.

CHARLESTON -- Governor Tomblin has named the week of April 18-22 as Coal Education Week in West Virginia.  As part of the observance of Coal Education Week, the West Virginia Coal Association is launching a new section of its website dedicated to Coal Education. You can access the sites at HERE. In addition, you can access more resources for educators at the CEDAR of Southern West Virginia website HERE.