"SPIKE" SUFFERS CRUSHING BLOW - The Power Of A Photograph

(05/16/2008)

By Bob Weaver "A picture is worth a thousand words," is an old saying, and it likely was true in the decision making of West Virginia voters in the Supreme Court race rejecting the re-election of Chief Justice "Spike" Maynard. Photos of Maynard and Massey Coal CEO Don Blankenship soaking up a few drinks, partying and vacationing on the French Riviera, reportedly with their girlfriends, caused voters to toss "Spike." The photos were taken during a period when some high-stakes multi-million dollar appeals were before the court, directly affecting Massey's bottom-line. "Spike," according to most accounts, tended to favor his coal buddies. The Maynard-Blankenship personal relationship has been reported in the Charleston and Beckley newspapers many times, and has been the subject of out-of-state media reports, documentaries and novels. But it took a few photos to move voters against what has been common practice by state officials and coal corporations for years. The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce spent at least one-half million dollars ($593,870) supporting Maynard's re-election. Maynard raised another $586,873, much of it from his corporate buddies, giving him a grand total of well over $1 million for his race. Blankenship spent about $3 million to get current Supreme Court Justice Brent Benjamin elected.

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