Steve Williams

Steve Williams earned a B.A. in political science from Marshall University in 1978, a master's of public administration (MPA) from West Virginia University in 1980, and a degree from the University of the South, Sewanee, in 2020. His career experience includes working as a market manager and director of sales at various companies. Williams also served as mayor of the City of Huntington, WV.[1][2]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Steve Williams. I am the unopposed Democratic candidate for Governor of the State of West Virginia. I am a native West Virginia. I was born in Bluefield, WV and grew up through age 16 in Athens, WV. My father was head football coach at Concord University. My mother was an early childhood elementary school teacher. My dad grew up in McDowell County and my mother grew up in Mercer County. Both of my grandfathers were coal miners.

When my dad quit coaching at Concord he went to Virginia Tech to get his doctorate degree and upon completion he was offered a job to be a professor at Marshall University. At age 16 my family moved to Huntington.

I graduated from Huntington High School and was offered a football scholarship at Marshall University. I was a member of the Young Thundering Herd which followed the tragic plane crash that killed the Marshall football team, staff, and boosters.

Upon graduating with honors from Marshall, I attended West Virginia University and received a Masters Degree.

My professional life has included being a Director of the Putnam County Development Authority, Director of Economic Development and City Manager of the City of Huntington. I served 4 terms in the WV House of Delegates, In 2008 I was elected to Huntington City Council and in 2012 I was elected Mayor of Huntington. I am the only three term mayor ever elected in the City of Huntington.

I am running for Governor because our success in Huntington can be instructive for the state.

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?

Freedom is on the ballot.We will set standards that the rest of the nation will seek to emulate.We must expect more out of ourselves. We can compete with anyone in the world. In order to compete and to be a top producing state we have to be aggressive in our aspirations and again expect to set standards that the rest of the nation will seek to follow. We create unimaginable success by being collaborative and placing aside political parties and insist on results. My mantra is "Make No Little Plans". We need to challenge ourselves to make a difference in each other's lives.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Innovation. Creating prosperity. Transformational leadership. Leveraging talent in our communities. Identifying talent hiding in plain sight and enabling communities to develop solutions that make sense for their community, their neighborhoods, their families.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My Granddad Taylor. At age 8 his father died in the mines and Granddad had to go to work in the mines to provide for the family. He grew up on Taylor Mountain in Mercer County. He managed to buy a hillside farm in Duhring, WV when he and may Grandmother married. My Granddad had a 3rd grade education and may Grandma had an 8th grade education. Yet, their 4 children all went to college and each received advanced degrees. My mother and her 2 sisters became teachers and her brother became a minister and retired from a pastoring a church next to UCLA in Los Angeles.

If I am elected Governor, I will be standing on the shoulders of Everett Taylor who became a coal miner at the age of 8.

The American Dream lives.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

"The Tipping Point" by Malcom Gladwell. It is the little details that will transform lives and society.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity. Dignity. Tireless enthusiasm. Intellectual curiosity.

A Governor needs to articulated a vision, build consensus towards accomplishing that vision, and then persuade the residents of the state to identify their personal assignment(s) to making a difference in the lives of our families and neighbors.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Intellectual curiosity.

Dogged determination.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Lead. Lead. Lead.

Set a vision, articulate the vision and build consensus towards accomplishing that vision.

The next Governor will face a challenge that will be unexpected. At that moment the Governor has to name the problem and then claim ownership of the problem.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I hope that when people stand over my grave, they will be able to say, "this world is a better place because Steve Williams lived."

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The assassination of President Kennedy. I was 7 years old and my mother had taken me to the doctor. As we were walking down the street in Downtown Bluefield a large crowd was gathered in front of the Montgomery Ward's show window and everyone was watching the news coverage on the TV set. I recall coming home from church a few days later and a neighbor came to the front porch to say that Lee Harvey Oswald had been killed on live TV.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a Chief Housing Inspector and Supervisor of the Construction Inspectors in the City of Huntington. I had that job for 2 years. I learned that regulations set by the government do not demand additional regulations. What is necessary is to use our mental capacity to identify how we can best serve the needs of the community and making another law or additional regulation is not necessary.

What is your favorite book? Why?

"Think And Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill.

It doesn't address financial health. Hill indicates there is a secret formula success found throughout the pages of the book, but it is not explicitly stated.

I had to read the book three times until I found "secret"!

I won't say what the "secret" is...but it is found within the title. I have been guided by this book and its secret through celebrations and through personal trials.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"Aint no mountain high enough."

A governor is the top executive authority in his or her state. What does that mean do you?

During my 12 years as Mayor of my city, I learned that there is one person who must own every problem facing the community - the Mayor. When someone says, "Somebody needs to do something..." - the Governor has to name the problem, take ownership of the problem and then identify a path towards creating a solution.

The Governor must be decisive and not be fearful of making the wrong decision. That's ok. Name it. Own it. Adjust.

People will follow a leader when the leader demonstrates that movement is occurring.

Governors have many responsibilities, which vary from state to state. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your state?

The Governor should be seen at the principled voice of the State. We will find solutions together. We will work together to enable decisions to be made in our communities. We will work together to make a difference in the lives of our families and neighbors.

Different states require governors to have different degrees of responsibility for the state budgeting process. If it were your choice, what do you believe is the appropriate degree of gubernatorial involvement with this process in your state?

When you control finances you control policy.

The legislature will expect that I will be scrutinizing every penny being appropriated.

In most states, governors have the power to make line-item vetoes. If that is true in your state, what would be your philosophy for how and when to use this power?

I will use a line-veto if I determine that the appropriation could derail fiscal integrity.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Collaboration.

Period.

What do you love most about your state?

The people.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Financial stability. If we assure fiscal integrity we will have the resources to create prosperity and transformation of our state's future.

Under what circumstances should the governor of your state be able to use emergency powers?

I insist on my legal counsel to advise me the full breadth of the authority of the office on a given issue. I will then use every centimeter of authority in the field of executive authority. I will depend on my legal counsel to be yelling "Look Out!" and assure that I stay within the legal boundaries of my office

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Public dollars must be sanitized by the light of public scrutiny. The government's accountability depends on the accountability of the CEO...the Governor. Every dollar needs to be judiciously spent and every dollar needs to be structured to leverage additional resources to maximize innovation.

Campaign website

Williams’ campaign website stated the following:

BECAUSE LEADERSHIP MATTERS!

As Governor, Steve Williams will fight to create jobs and opportunity so that our kids can stay at home and our families can stay together. Join our campaign to make sure the best West Virginia is yet to come. Sign up now!

SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN

I love West Virginia. We're a great state filled with wonderful hardworking people. I want safer communities, stronger schools, healthier families and personal freedom. Most of all, I want an economy that will provide the jobs and opportunities that will allow our kids to stay home and our families to stay together.

The only way we'll be able to keep up our campaign's momentum is if you're standing with us. Please chip in now to help us win.[3]

—Steve Williams’ campaign website (2024)[4]