Sarah Umberger

Sarah Umberger earned a high school diploma from Baltimore Experimental High School, a bachelor's degree from Bluefield State College in 1984, a graduate degree from the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies in 1988, and a graduate degree from West Virginia University in 2002. Her career experience includes working as a teacher.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m Sarah Umberger, and I'm a candidate for the West Virginia House of Delegates.

I am running for office because I see what has happened with poor leadership and politicized representation. It’s time for us to have a voice that truly represents our needs both locally and in Charleston. I have the skills and knowledge to step up and be that voice.

Growing up in Maryland, I spent my summers on a working dairy farm. Those summers gave me a love of rural life, and the dream of living in a small town. It’s where I learned the values of hard work, community, and connection to the land, values that I carry with me today.

As a teacher, I have looked back on my own struggles as a student. I spent years in an educational system that didn’t work for me. I left school without finishing high school, returning in my mid-twenties to work with students like me.

In 2001, my older son enlisted in the Army and was deployed to Iraq in 2003. From his experiences, my dad’s stateside stint during the Korean conflict, and those of my husband, a Vietnam Veteran, I have firsthand knowledge about the toll that serving our country takes on our soldiers and their families.

Like many, my kids have moved away to places with more opportunity.

Today, I am driven to advocate for those whose voices are unheard. I want to ensure that our community is a place with access to the opportunities and support we need to thrive. I want to make sure every voice matters.

I want to work for you.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Strengthening Public Education:

I believe our public schools are the heart of our communities. We must invest in them, not undermine them. Every child deserves a strong, well-funded school in their community.

The Hope scholarship has decimated our schools, leaving some in real jeopardy of surviving. While I believe that parents should be able to choose where their children go to school, we need to put guardrails to ensure that the standards of these 'private' schools are as good as the requirements for regular public schools.

I think that scholarship eligibility should have income caps, that families that can afford tuition and supplies do not need public money for their child's education.Ensuring a Living Wage:

No family should have to work two or three jobs to afford groceries, housing, and childcare.

We need policies that support fair wages, good jobs, and the dignity of work. Parents should not have to worry about affording child care.Meeting the Needs of Our Community:

There is so much political posturing in Charleston right now with bills being introduced that reflect national party platforms, rather than the needs of West Virginians.

I believe public office is about service, listening, showing up, and doing the hard work.

We need:

Access to good local healthcare.

Access to reliable childcare.

Clean drinking water.

Living wages.

Good schools.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I want every child in my district to have a good education, with supports in place to ensure they have the tools needed for success as adults.

That means support at home, food, and heat.

I remember once, after a long, hard winter, I asked my students what they liked best about spring, and one student told me he was glad he didn't have to sleep in front of the oven now.

Another told me she came to school because she needed to eat.

That is unacceptable. We can do better.