Jeff Kessler

Biography

Jeff Kessler was born in 1955, he is of Russian descent on his mother's side. His father served in the US Navy during World War II and the Korean War, then later worked as a cookie salesman for Nabisco, he would bring home free samples and damaged cookies which Kessler enjoyed as a child. His mother stayed at home and took care of Jeff and his three siblings. Jeff's younger brother, Chris, was diagnosed with aplastic anemia when he was a toddler, he went into remission and survived. In 1994, Chris was elected Marshall County Assessor. Kessler's mother later died of breast cancer at the age of 47.

Positions

SCORE Initiative

In 2014, Kessler spearheaded the SCORE Initiative, which stands for Southern Coalfields Organizing and Revitalizing the Economy. The initiative aims to provide economic opportunities in areas which have suffered from job losses and economic hardships primarily due to losses in the coal industry. According to Kessler, the program acts as a counterpunch to the effects of the "war on coal" and aims to "change our way of thinking so that [Southern West Virginia] can once again become a region that offers our children and grandchildren opportunities for a better future."

Gun control

Kessler has previously voted in favor of a bill that eliminated the requirement for a permit and training before a person can carry a concealed weapon. He refers to himself as a "second amendment advocate."

Tobacco tax

In 2015, Kessler proposed raising the state cigarette tax by $1 per pack, stating that a $1 increase in the cigarette tax would bring in an estimated $130 million. Citing West Virginia's relatively high smoking rate, he has proposed setting aside $20 million of the new revenue for substance abuse programs; this move comes as part of a larger effort He also hopes to set aside $10 million of the money for collegiate scholarships. The idea began to receive increased support in late 2015, with some newspaper boards citing the higher rates of neighboring states and comparing West Virginia's "arbitrarily low" rates to government subsidies for smokers.

References

References

1. (19 March 2015). "Kessler signals run for governor in 2016". Charleston Gazette-Mail.
2. "Vote Jeff Kessler for WV Governor".
3. "Kessler announces S.C.O.R.E. initiative". Parkersburg News and Sentinel.
4. "Jeff Kessler on Gun Control". On the Issuesl.
5. (13 March 2015). "Cigarette tax hike-smoking bill moves from Senate to House". West Virginia MetroNews Network.
6. (13 March 2014). "In U.S., Smoking Rate Lowest in Utah, Highest in Kentucky". Gallup.
7. "Issues: Funding Our Future". Jeff Kessler Democrat for Governor of West Virginia.
8. (11 November 2015). "Arbitrarily low cigarette tax costs WV $100 million a year". Charleston Gazette-Mail.