Like so many West Virginians, I came from humble beginnings and was raised in a small town by parents who were proud, hard-working people who had high expectations for their children. In fact, I was the first in our family to graduate from college and go on to law school.

My father was in the US Navy and served during World War II and the Korean Conflict. After his service to our country, he became a cookie salesman for Nabisco. Dad was the neighborhood hero since he brought home damaged cookies and free samples from the warehouse. It is no surprise that Oreo cookies and a tall glass of milk still bring back such great childhood memories.

Mom was a homemaker who took great care of me and my three siblings. Much of her time was devoted to my younger brother, Chris, who was diagnosed with a plastic anemia (similar to leukemia) when he was a toddler. After years of experimental treatments and family prayers, Chris’s illness went into remission and he survived the odds. In 1994, he was elected Marshall County Assessor – a post that he still holds today. Mom lost her own valiant battle with breast cancer at the age of 47.

But my family story would not be complete without sharing some highlights of the incredible journeys of my grandparents. My mother’s parents emigrated from Russia; and despite a lack of formal education, my maternal grandfather was a translator at Ellis Island and a NYC streetcar operator. In an effort to earn more money for his family, he moved to Marshall County and began a long career as a proud West Virginia coal miner.

My paternal grandparents’ legacy was also steeped in tradition and lore. My grandfather served in World War I. My grandfather’s sister, Katie Kessler Blake lost two sons in the conflict. Post No. 46 of the Benwood American Legion was appropriately named the "Blake Brothers" Post in their honor. My grandfather later became the chief of police in Benwood, WV. After his early death, my grandmother went to work in the local post office. She rose through the ranks and, in 1962 was appointed by President John F. Kennedy as the first female US postmaster in West Virginia history.

This rich tapestry of family history has been my inspiration in my personal and professional life.

As a four-term State Senator and as the first Acting Senate President in the state’s history, I am proud to have played a pivotal role in passing legislation to improve the lives of West Virginians. Most recently, I helped pass legislation to lower the food tax, to improve access to healthcare, to rescue our volunteer fire departments with emergency funding, and to provide incentives to help spark a rebirth in our chemical and manufacturing industries.

Creating jobs and boosting economic development have also been cornerstones of my legislative agenda. I sponsored the Economic Development Grant Committee and tax increment financing legislation that led to the Cabelas project in Wheeling, Power Alley Park in Charleston, Pullman Square in Huntington, new schools in the eastern Panhandle, and the Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute in Morgantown. I also helped draft West Virginia’s medical malpractice law and Workers Compensation reform legislation.

Because of my family involvement in coal mining, I was proud to have served as the Senate Chair of the Legislature’s Special Investigative Committee on Mine Safety after the Sago Mine disaster.

But without question, my greatest achievement has been my role as a husband and father. My wife, Gretchen, and I are especially proud of our four children ages two to 21. So many of my decisions as a legislator and public servant are based on the values and work ethic instilled by my parents and grandparents – values that we are sharing with our children.