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WHEELING - Wheeling needs to better focus on its homeless situation, according to Bill Flanigan, Republican candidate for the West Virginia House of Delegates, District 4.
He said the Wheeling community has especially been affected by its inability to deal with its homeless situation.
"It's affected businesses, and people's ability to feel safe," Flanigan explained. "I don't believe we've directed an answer that can correctly help that issue. It's a very complex problem, and it will take a multi-faceted approach, I'm sure.
"I never want to think that we need to throw more money at things like that."
Flanigan said there are three types of homeless people - those who are mentally incapable of taking care of themselves, those who are dependent on substances, and some "who hide out who are criminals."
Caring for these people now would likely be cheaper than putting them into assisted living and psychiatric care later, according to Flanigan.
He explained why he wants to serve in Charleston.
"I love West Virginia a lot," Flanigan said. "I feel like there are too many good things for us here to be so far behind in so many avenues of our state."
He noted the first time he ran in 2014 it was because "my daughter told me to quit yelling at the television and do something about it."
Flanigan doesn't remember exactly what it was that had set him off, but he said it was "the news."
Flanigan previously served in the House representing Monongalia County after being appointed in 2016. Health issues at the time deterred him from seeking re-election.
A top priority for him is to help young entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground. He found out new startups often have issues getting licensed in West Virginia unless they've probably been operational in other states.
"I've found that to be one of the strangest issues I've ever heard because I don't believe somebody is going to come back into the state once they've established a business somewhere else," he said.
Also, West Virginia’s infrastructure "is falling down around its ears," according to Flanigan.
"Some of the bridges in the state need to be replaced," he explained. "Some people tell me the most important thing to them is to be able to flush their commodes and have it go somewhere. Our public services are in dire need."
Water is "our number one resource in the state," he continued.
He remembers being in Charleston in 2014 when water there became contaminated following a spill of the chemical MCHM into the Elk River. Businesses shut down and "you couldn't even get a cup of soup."
"So when people try to tell you water isn't important, believe me it is much more important than any of us want to give it credit for," Flanigan said. "It's something we should cherish a little better."