Oct. 31, 2006
 
Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney Meets with Kim Wolfe in Charleston
 
From U.S. Rep. Candidate Kim Wolfe Campaign Headquarters
 
Charleston, WV (HNN) – Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, a leading Republican on the national scene and possible 2008 Presidential candidate, met privately with West Virginia 3rd District Congressional Candidate Kim Wolfe and his wife, Deborah, at The Charleston Marriott Monday morning, Oct. 30, 2006 following a health care symposium.
 
Romney was stumping for Wolfe because, as he said, “Sheriff Wolfe is an outstanding public servant with a reputation of integrity, a strong background and position on Homeland Security, Strengthening our Borders, and other fundamental issues of concern to Americans, he is a man of integrity with a great family, he is a working man, and can best represent the hard working people of southern West Virginia.”
 
Romney went on to mention Wolfe’s involvement as a member of the United States
 
Anti-Terrorist Advisory Council and the Advisory Committee to The National Task Force on Community Preparedness and Response.
 
As Governor Romney and Sheriff Wolfe shared a telephone press conference, Romney kept bringing the conversation back around to Sheriff Wolfe’s congressional campaign, reinforcing Wolfe’s reputation for integrity and leadership, and the need for America to have true public servants who sacrifice to represent the people they serve, not special interests, political parties or their own selfish interests.
 
Wolfe definitely fits that description, as he purposely did not receive any financial support from any political party, PACs (political action committees), unions or other special interests, which leaves him, as Wolfe states, “free to just do what is right for southern West Virginians. When I do get elected, I will be obligated only to the voters, which is how it should be.”
 
Wolfe went on to say: “The framers of this great Nation did not intend for the Congress to be made up of professional politicians, but to be exactly as it was named: A House of Representatives: representatives of the people:
 
teachers, farmers, laborers, businessmen, and so on. My opponent is a multi-millionaire who has never had a “real job,” never had to struggle to pay the bills, educate his children, access good health care. I’m just like the people I seek to represent: I work hard every day, struggle to make ends meet, and have had an opportunity to work and gradually pursue education and expertise in areas that now allow me to be well-prepared to represent all of us in Washington, and especially, to continue to protect and serve.There is no more important issue facing America today than Homeland Security, and Mr. Rahall’s record is especially frightening in that area. He’s consistently voted against Homeland Security, against our military, against strengthening our borders and immigration reform, and against Israel. He is an endangerment to our fundamental safety and security.”
 
Governor Romney followed up his meeting with Wolfe with an appearance on Hoppy Kercheval’s West Virginia Talk Net radio show, during which he said: “I think you will see Sheriff Wolfe get elected because he’s focused on national safety, personal safety, homeland security and the fundamental issues Americans and southern West Virginians are concerned about. Regarding the war in Iraq, Romney said, I don’t think the American people want to see us ‘cut and run,’ and see the terrorists show up on our shores, they don’t want them on our doorstep.”
 
“The key decision is what the people of West Virginia want to do: If they think that homeland security is a high priority, they’re going to send Sheriff Wolfe to Washington.”
 
Asking about his consideration of a presidential bid and the public scrutiny and negativity that sometimes goes with it, radio host Kercheval asked, “Do you really want to go through that?”
 
Romney responded: Before entering into such a commitment, of course you have to consider the extraordinary cost on an individual and their family. But hopefully, those of us who are sincerely motivated to serve are not looking at it from a perspective of personal gain, but what good we can do.”
 
The Governor repeatedly drove home the point that if West Virginians are concerned about America’s safety and future,"they will send Sheriff Kim Wolfe to Washington."