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Ben Salango

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Ben Salango (born May 15, 1973) is an American attorney, businessman, and current Commissioner of Kanawha County, West Virginia. He is the Democratic candidate for the 2020 West Virginia gubernatorial election.

Early Life[edit]

Salango was raised in a two-bedroom trailer on Sullivan Road in Glen Morgan, an unincorporated town in Raleigh County, West Virginia. He graduated from Shady Spring High School before attending West Virginia University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government before pursuing his Juris Doctor in the College of Law.[1]

Ben Salango
Kanawha County Commissioner
Assumed office
February 2017
Personal details
Born (1973-05-15) May 15, 1973 (age 51)
Raleigh County, West Virginia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Tera Salango m.
Children2
ResidenceCharleston, West Virginia
Alma materWest Virginia University (B.A., J.D.)
OccupationAttorney
Websitehttp://bensalango.com

Law Practice[edit]

Salango is a founding partner at Salango Law, PLLC, (www.salangolaw.com) located in Charleston, West Virginia. It is rated favorably by Super Lawyers and U.S. News & World Report.[2] As a personal injury attorney, Salango has won awards for clients totaling millions of dollars.[3] Salango was named Lawyer of the Year in 2019 and 2021 by Best Lawyers in America.

Political Career[edit]

Kanawha County Commission[edit]

Salango has served on the Kanawha County Commission since February 2017. In March of 2019, the Commission established the Upper Kanawha Business Assistance Program, providing forgivable loans up to $10,000 for businesses with fewer than 25 employees in the manufacturing, commerce, food, beverage, and retail industries.[4] In July 2019, Salango's work on the Commission contributed to Shawnee Sports Complex in Dunbar, West Virginia.[5] In March of 2020, he helped repurpose county school bus routes to deliver meals to bus stops three times per week for families with students amid COVID-19.[6]

2020 West Virginia Gubernatorial Election[edit]

On October 19, 2019, Salango announced his candidacy for Governor of West Virginia against Republican incumbent Jim Justice.[7] On June 9, 2020, he won the Democratic nomination for Governor over community organizer Stephen Smith and state senator Ron Stollings with 38.68% of the vote.[8]

Political Positions[edit]
Economy[edit]

Salango is campaigning on the importance of small businesses and bringing in foreign investment to create jobs in the market. He believes in the expansion of broadband access and skills training to increase labor supply for technology and business.[9]

Education and Childhood Advocacy[edit]

As of August 2020, the West Virginia foster care system serves around 7,000 children at any given time.[10] Salango intends to establish a Department of Childhood Advocacy and a Secretary of Childhood Advocacy in the administrative cabinet, recognizing the significant demand for foster care, notably emphasized in HB 4092 from the state's most recent legislative session.[11] The department's responsibilities would be including, but not limited to: protections for foster children; eradication of student homelessness; and expansion of summer work programs.[12]

Healthcare and Recovery[edit]

Salango has campaigned on making healthcare more affordable to all West Virginia citizens. He promises to protect the 800,000 West Virginians with pre-existing conditions, including a 12-week paid family leave program for public employees, and cap monthly insulin copays. Salango pledges to eliminate the waitlist for the Intellectual Development Disabilities Waiver to ensure proper access to Medicaid funds.[13]

Protecting rural hospitals is a key policy point for Salango, who seeks to reduce their current closure rate.[14] He advocates for implementing a "stress test" to gauge the stability of rural hospital closures, and to assist in their continued longevity with state loans similar to programs in Pennsylvania and Kentucky.

Gun Rights[edit]

Salango supports the Second Amendment and the right for West Virginians to defend themselves, himself being registered for a concealed carry permit for over a decade.[15]

COVID-19[edit]

Salango advocates for increased testing in every county and providing tax breaks for West Virginia companies seeking to produce personal protective equipment (PPE).[16] He has criticized Gov. Jim Justice for his response to COVID-19 and the failure to properly administer the $1.25 billion allocation in Congressional funding from April of 2020.[17]

Personal Life[edit]

Salango lives in Charleston, WV with his wife, Tera Salango, and two sons, TJ and Caden.[18]

In addition to his law practice, Salango has owned the graphic design shop 304 Tees since 2017, which is a West Virginia based apparel company.[19] Salango is also an avid rock climber and outdoorsman.[20]

References[edit]

  1. "W.Va. Governor candidate: Ben Salango (D)". The Herald-Dispatch. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  2. "About Our Firm | Preston & Salango, PLLC". Preston & Salango. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  3. "Our Attorneys | Preston & Salango, PLLC". Preston & Salango. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  4. CLAY, JARROD (2019-03-06). "Kanawha County Commission to offer loans to new, expanding small businesses". WCHS. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  5. Salango, Ben. "Ben Salango: Shawnee Sports Complex already exceeding expectations (Daily Mail Opinion)". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  6. Staff, WSAZ News. "Kanawha County Schools to resume free meal program amid COVID-19 outbreak". https://www.wsaz.com. Retrieved 2020-10-16. External link in |website= (help)
  7. writer, Jake Zuckerman Staff. "Kanawha Commissioner Salango enters governor's race". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  8. writer, Phil Kabler Staff. "Democratic gubernatorial primary: Salango declares victory in tight race". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  9. "Economy First". Ben Salango. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  10. "Foster Care Placements Report" (PDF). West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. Retrieved 2020-10-16. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  11. "Foster Care Payments, Bill of Rights Passes W.Va. House". US News. Retrieved 2020-10-16. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  12. "Children First". Ben Salango. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  13. "Healthcare First". Ben Salango. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  14. "https://twitter.com/bensalango/status/1244987474788704256". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-10-16. External link in |title= (help)
  15. "Guns". Ben Salango. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  16. "COVID19". Ben Salango. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  17. "Salango, labor groups criticize Justice on C.A.R.E.S. Act spending". newsandsentinel.com/. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  18. "Ben Salango for Governor | West Virginia". Ben Salango. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
  19. "THE ORIGINAL 304 TEE – 304tees.com". www.304tees.com. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  20. "https://twitter.com/bensalango/status/1313460068663336962". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-10-16. External link in |title= (help)

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