MANCHIN AND WARNER SHARE PLANS FOR WV CHILDREN IF ELECTED

(10/20/2004)
Every Child Matters in West Virginia has posted the responses of gubernatorial candidates Joe Manchin and Monty Warner to a survey on children¹s issues.

The survey is designed to give voters a better understanding of where candidates stand on a myriad of issues including the economy, child care, welfare reform, child protection and after school care.

A Mason-Dixon poll conducted last May showed that West Virginia voters want candidates for office in 2004 to talk about where they stand on important children¹s issues. When thinking about all of the issues facing West Virginia and the country, 94% of voters say that it is important for candidates for office to talk about plans to make children a priority.

"West Virginia voters are parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles." Explains Tom LaPointe, director of the West Virginia office of Every Child Matters. "They understand that elected officials influence the health, education, safety and future of the children they love. They take their vote very seriously."

Republican candidate Monty Warner and Democratic candidate Joe Manchin responded to the survey and their answers are posted unedited on the Internet.

Responses of candidates for the West Virginia Legislature will be posted in October. Every Child Matters in West Virginia is a non-profit, 501(c)3 coalition of nearly 70 organizations in the state working on behalf of children and families. The campaign is a non-partisan, voter education effort. It does not rate or endorse candidates. This has been an announcement from Every Child Matters in West Virginia, a nonpartisan campaign dedicated to educating voters and candidates about children's issues.

Manchin and Warner's answers may be accessed by going to www.everychildmatters.org and clicking on the West Virginia icon.