Kump candidacy published by "The Journal"

HEDGESVILLE — Del. Larry Kump, R-Berkeley, announced Wednesday at a monthly Hedgesville Town Council meeting that he will seek another term of office during the next election.

Kump, who has already filed pre-election papers with the Secretary of State’s office, will be running for a seat in the state House of Delegates in 2020 to represent District 59, which includes the northwestern section of Berkeley and Morgan counties.

Kump’s decision comes on the heels of a recent health scare for which he underwent a successful surgery to remove blockage from his carotid artery.

“After a strong and steady stream of personal pleadings urged me to once again serve in public office and prolonged pondering and personal prayer, I have decided to answer the call to return to duty one more time,” Kump said in a prepared statement handed out Wednesday evening. “And so, I now am a Republican candidate for re-election to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 2020.”

He also cited the saying, “What shall we give in return for so much?” as the reason for his desire to continue serving the public.

In 2010, Kump came out of retirement and was first elected, serving two terms in office, until the end of 2014. He then once again came out of retirement and was elected for yet another two-year term in the West Virginia House of Delegates in 2018.

Kump said he has promised and will continue to stand up and speak out on behalf of more taxpayer friendly and less intrusive government. He also pledges to serve with “integrity, accountability and transparency.”

According to the West Virginia Legislature’s website, Kump currently serves on the industry and labor committee; technology and infrastructure committee and the judiciary committee. During the 2019 session, Kump sponsored 15 bills in the House of Delegates.

“During my previous tours of duty, 75 different Republican and Democrat legislators, in the 100-member West Virginia House of Delegates, co-sponsored legislation with me. Even so, I never have been and never will be someone who goes along, just to get along,” Kump said in the statement.

He also vows to pursue “principles of good governance,” which he believes will give the people a meaningful tax reform, protect retired senior citizens and “working Mountaineers,” defend the personal right to bear arms, provide for local accountability of schools, more equitable treatment of school teachers and state employees (including much needed reform of our educational system) and to safeguard personal property rights and pro-life family values.

“Additionally, still more needs to be done about the drug and alcohol abuse that rages throughout West Virginia,” Kump said. “And so, our West Virginia legislators, in addition to enacting other prudent measures, should lead by personal example. That’s why I’m again proposing mandatory substance abuse testing for all West Virginia legislators.”

Kump added times are still to hard for many local residents and so there needs to be more tax reforms, not tax burdens.

“A better way is to restructure our already ample state budget by reforming our tax system and state government programs,” he said. “Among other things, this could and should lead to improved highways (including long overdue improvements to Rt. 9 between Martinsburg and Berkeley Springs), reduced (not increased) gasoline prices at the pump, better internet access and the complete elimination of state taxes on our social security benefits and all pensions.

Born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Kump currently lives in Falling Waters. He moved to West Virginia in 1989 and graduated from the Maryland Correctional Profession Staff Academy as a Maryland Prison Case Manager, according to his biography.

He has also served as a court expert witness, employee training coordinator, cognitive development trainer, employee critical incident stress counselor, certified mediator and a part-time sex offender group therapy facilitator.

According to the West Virginia Secretary of State’s website, one other individual has filed for candidacy in the 59th District — Republican Chandler Stone Absher of Hedgesville.