We’re used to negative advertising in certain political races – president, Congress, governor – but mudslinging in the race for Commissioner of Agriculture.
But that’s exactly what’s happening in West Virginia, as GOP challenger Mike Teets launches a series of ads targeting long-time Democratic incumbent Gus Douglass. The latest ad targets 81-year-old Douglass for drawing a state pension and a state paycheck at the same time.
The ad features two cows talking to each other about Agriculture Commissioner Gus Douglass.
Bessie: Oh, you’re stirring over Commissioner Douglass getting a half-million dollars in state retirement.
Bossie: While he’s drawing his salary.
Bessie: That’s a rocky road for taxpayers and two scoops of cash for Douglass.
The ad is correct that Douglass has received more than $500,000 since 1989, when he retired as agriculture commissioner to try to run for governor. He failed, and then was re-elected as agriculture commissioner in 1992. But he kept collecting his state pension, which is allowed by current state law.
It may be legal, but GOP challenger Mike Teets, a Hardy County farmer, says he has a problem with that.
“We have families in this state working two or three jobs making ends meet. And then we have a guy drawing full retirement, and he’s drawing full pay too, which is $75,000 a year, I think people have lost trust in him. I think he’s just taking advantage. It’s a greed issue,” Teets said.
Douglass’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment. The issue has come up in other campaigns.
Two circuit judges have retired so they can start earning their pensions, but then plan to return to work in January. Governor Joe Manchin, if re-elected, has promised to sponsor legislation to close the so-called loophole.
Those judges have argued that they earned their pension and deserve to collect it, whether they keep working or not. Teets disagrees.
“If he’s going to retire, that’s fine, he’s entitled to that money. But if he’s retired, he’s retired. He’s not supposed to come back to the same job and expect full pay if he’s retired,” he said.
Teets thinks he’s found an issue he can campaign on, and he may need it. A recent poll showed him trailing Douglass by 23 points.