| Thornton’s Introduction as Democratic Secretary of State Candidate | |
| Richard and Thornton had a discussion on the Richard Urban Show, where Thornton introduced himself as a candidate for the Secretary of State on the Democratic ticket. Thornton shared his background, including his education at Yale University and the WVU College of Law, and his experience working for various State agencies. He also mentioned his experience in overseeing taxicab companies, limousine companies, and landfills while working at the Public Service Commission Thornton emphasized his roots in the eastern part of the state and his ties to the area. | |
| West Virginia Election Process and Security Concerns | |
| Richard and Thornton discussed the election process in West Virginia, focusing on the use of electronic ballot marking devices and mail-in voting. Richard expressed concerns about the security of electronic devices and the potential for fraud, particularly in the context of mail-in ballots. Thornton, however, emphasized the importance of mail-in voting and the need to administer the law as it stands, despite his personal belief that people should have the right to vote by mail. He also noted that West Virginia is behind other states in terms of electoral practices. | |
| Ballot Harvesting and Voter Identification Laws | |
| Richard and Thornton discussed the issue of ballot harvesting and voter identification laws. Thornton expressed his opposition to ballot harvesting, but acknowledged that it is a common practice in several other states. He shared about how voter fraud occurred in West Virginia in the 1960s and 1970s. Richard asked about voter identification laws, to which Thornton responded that he believes the current system is sufficient, as it was designed to prevent the fraud that was prevalent in the past. | |
| Voter Registration, Citizenship Verification, and Election Integrity | |
| Richard and Thornton discussed the issue of voter registration and citizenship verification. Richard raised concerns about the potential for fraud in recent elections, while Thornton argued that the 2020 election was fair and that any claims of fraud were part of a political spin, with Richard disagreeing that the 2020 election was fair, and not fraudulent. They also discussed the importance of election integrity being bipartisan. Richard pointed out that Hillary Clinton and Al Gore had contested their respective elections, but Thornton pointed out that they had conceded. | |
| Concerns Over Third-Party Election Reporting System | |
| Richard expressed concerns about the use of a third-party system, Clarity Voting, for reporting election results in West Virginia. He questioned why they had dropped their in-house system and whether this introduced security concerns. Thornton, who was present, agreed to look into the matter if elected. Richard also mentioned that Mac Warner, a previous candidate, had not clearly answered his questions about the system. Thornton pointed out that all Constitutional Amendments must have the full text published in the newspaper three months in advance of the election. The assisted suicide Constitutional amendment did not have the full language included in the published text, violating the law. Richard agreed with Thornton’s concerns and suggested that the full text should be on the ballot, too. Thornton also mentioned that he might take Mac to court again due to the issue recurring this year. | |
| Business Registration and Secretary of State Role | |
| Richard and Thornton discussed the importance of business registration and the role of the Secretary of State in this process. Thornton emphasized the need for accurate and updated information on business filings, as it can be a misdemeanor if a company fails to file annual reports. Richard agreed and brought up an issue he encountered with properties in his area, where ownership was complex and involved multiple LLCs. The conversation ended with a mutual understanding of the significance of business registration and the need transparency. | |
| Corporate Ownership, Campaign Spending, and Voting | |
| Richard and Thornton discussed the need for transparency in corporate ownership and political campaign spending. They agreed that corporations and limited liability companies should not be used to conceal identities or facilitate secretive activities. They also discussed the issue of absentee voting, with Thornton expressing his support for allowing people to choose their preferred method of voting. However, they disagreed on the extent of voter fraud in the 2020 US Presidential election. Thornton emphasized that fraud was not a significant issue, while Richard disagreed. | |
| Thornton’s Secretary of State Candidacy and West Virginia Amendment | |
| Thornton, a candidate for Secretary of State, discussed his 29 years of experience in state government and his commitment to fairness and honesty. He emphasized his nonpartisan approach and criticized current Secretary of State Mac Warner for firing staff members. Thornton thinks the Secretary of State’s office should be under civil service. Thornton will vote against the proposed constitutional amendment regarding assisted suicide in West Virginia, arguing that it was unnecessary as assisted suicide and euthanasia were already prohibited. | |
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