Current:Home > StocksWest Virginia Gov. Jim Justice appoints wife Cathy to state education board after U.S. Senate win-LoTradeCoin
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice appoints wife Cathy to state education board after U.S. Senate win
View Date:2024-12-23 19:37:02
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice appointed his wife to the state school board about a day after a decisive victory in a U.S. Senate race against his Democratic opponent.
The 73-year-old Republican governor announced First Lady Cathy Justice’s appointment to the West Virginia State Board of Education during a press briefing on Thursday, after submitting a letter notifying the Secretary of State’s office Wednesday.
“She’ll do an amazing job,” Justice said. “And really, truly, Cathy loves kids beyond good sense.”
Cathy Justice, 71, will serve a nine-year term on the board, taking over the seat of Dr. Daniel Snavely, a Huntington cardiologist whose term expired this week. Justice said his wife wasn’t initially sure about the position but that after some convincing, “she’s fired up now and ready to go and do the job.”
When asked by a reporter about whether nepotism played a role in the appointment, Justice insisted Cathy Justice is more than qualified.
“How could you possibly think that Cathy is not just covered up with qualifications?” he asked.
Justice cited the work of his wife, who earned a degree in secondary education at Marshall University, within the state’s Communities In Schools program. As first lady, Cathy Justice helped the nonprofit school dropout prevention program launch in 2018 and expand to 285 schools in all of the state’s 55 counties.
According to the governor’s office, West Virginia is the only state in the nation to have the program operating in every county.
Cathy Justice also spearheaded the Friends With Paws program, which puts certified therapy dogs in schools to provide comfort and companionship to students. More than 40 such dogs have been placed throughout the state.
“There’s no way that I could find someone — no matter where they are — that’s more qualified than Cathy Justice for this job,” Justice told reporters.
Cathy Justice has taught as a substitute teacher in Raleigh County schools and is involved in a elementary school program affiliated with a local church. She previously served as president of Comer Electric, Inc., a business started by her father and mother. She also served on the board of directors for First National Bank in Ronceverte for five years.
In 2007, former Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin — whose seat Justice is taking over in the Senate — appointed his wife Gayle Manchin to the state school board. Gayle Manchin, a former Marion County public school teacher, was later elected the board’s president for a two-year term.
In January, Justice will be going to Washington, D.C., to start a six-year term as a U.S. senator after easily besting Democrat Glenn Elliott.
A businessman whose family owns dozens of companies and the historic resort The Greenbrier, Justice has in the past donated his $150,000 a year salary as governor to the Communities In Schools program.
veryGood! (45)
Related
- Sports are a must-have for many girls who grow up to be leaders
- Deion Sanders responds to story about his unique recruiting style: 'I'm Coach Prime'
- Virginia House leaders dispute governor’s claim that their consultant heaped praise on arena deal
- Presbyterian earns first March Madness win in First Four: No. 1 South Carolina up next
- Martin Scorsese on the saints, faith in filmmaking and what his next movie might be
- The Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady. Here's the impact on your money.
- Christine Quinn's Husband Christian Dumontet Arrested for Assault With Deadly Weapon
- Shop Like a Frugal Billionaire in Amazon Outlet's Big Spring Sale Section, With Savings Up to 68% Off
- AI could help scale humanitarian responses. But it could also have big downsides
- Shop Amazon’s Big Spring Sale for Festival-Ready Fashion for Coachella, Stagecoach & More
Ranking
- Shel Talmy, produced hits by The Who, The Kinks and other 1960s British bands, dead at 87
- Prosecutor tells jury former Milwaukee official who requested fake ballots was no whistleblower
- Execution in Georgia: Man to be put to death for 1993 murder of former girlfriend
- Budget Office report credits immigration and spending deals with improved outlook despite huge debt
- Disruptions to Amtrak service continue after fire near tracks in New York City
- Their WWII mission was secret for decades. Now the Ghost Army will get the Congressional Gold Medal
- A Tennessee fisherman reeled in a big one. It turned out to be an alligator
- USWNT get Germany, Australia in group stage at Paris Olympics; US men get host France
Recommendation
-
NASCAR Cup Series Championship race 2024: Start time, TV, live stream, odds, lineup
-
Lukas Gage describes 6-month marriage to Chris Appleton as a 'manic episode'
-
Alyssa Raghu denies hijacking friend's 'American Idol' audition, slams show's 'harmful' edit
-
Hungry to win: Jets fan sent Mike Williams breakfast sandwich to persuade him to sign
-
Will Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul end in KO? Boxers handle question differently
-
Deion Sanders responds to story about his unique recruiting style: 'I'm Coach Prime'
-
Mississippi deputies arrest 14-year-old in mother’s shooting death, injuring stepfather
-
Elizabeth ‘Libby’ Murdaugh, mother of Alex, dies in hospice