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MORGANTOWN - Ron Lytle, the Republican candidate for the Eastern District seat on the Monongalia County Commission, said county leadership is not the place for on-the-job training.
He believes his experience, both as the owner of a successful construction business, and previously a 12-year member of the Monongalia County Board of Education, sets him apart from his opponent, Democrat Julie Knight, and gives him the skills and insight necessary to hit the ground running on day one as a member of the county commission.
"I think the county commission needs to have leadership that understands the business side and understands the fact that the county commission is a business when you look at it from the standpoint of what the actual responsibilities of the county commission are. I think that's important, and I think my business and development background and construction background would make me a strong member of the commission," he said.
If elected, the first thing he'd like to build are lines of communication.
"The county has a communications problem. The relationships with the different entities in the county, it seems like there's a breakdown in that communication and it's across the board. I'd like to look at that and be that person who gets out and has those conversations to make sure everyone is on the same page," Lytle said.
While the county isn't in charge of roads or road projects, Lytle said Monongalia County isn't effectively utilizing its leverage as a center for growth and prosperity to ensure its needs are being addressed.
"I really don't think we do. When you drive around Morgantown and you see road conditions that are absolutely horrible. You know, [fixing roads] it’s not the job of the county commission, but the job of the county commission is to represent the taxpayers of Mon County to make sure that we're getting our fair share. The fact that Mon County is a growing county and Mon County is a prosperous county, for the state to continue to not invest in infrastructure here is just not good foresight for Charleston," he said.
"It's a matter of keeping people's feet to the fire when it's their turn to do their part of a development or their part of the process. It's about getting projects on schedule and moving, keeping people's feet to the fire. 'It's been on your desk. You were supposed to have this done. Where's it at?'
Lytle said the county must prioritize efforts to diversify its economy.
"The vision I have is to continue to invest in Mon County and continue to build Mon County up. I want to continue to diversify the economy here. I was involved in politics when Mylan [Pharmaceuticals] went out. A lot of people saw that as the end of the world. My comment on that was it was an opportunity. It was an opportunity to diversify the economy and recruit new businesses, and this community has done it," he said. "The more you diversify the economy, the better it's going to be for the people of Monongalia County. You need to recruit more business, diversify the economy, and give more options for employees to choose where they're going to go."
Asked about subdivision regulations, a topic that's been on and off the county's radar for decades, Lytle said he's not interested in telling people what they can or can't do with their property.
"I will never touch that and never vote for that because that's the reason people bought out in the country, because they don't want to be told what they should do with their property. I'm definitely not going to be the person who would push for that," he said.
In terms of the recent hot button issue of Flock cameras, Lytle previously told The Dominion Post that he believes the way the technology is being utilized by the Monongalia County Sheriff's Department is limited, responsible and within the confines of the law.
While Lytle said there are a long list of issues he’d like to tackle as a commissioner – development, infrastructure, support for county employees to name a few – he said instilling an approach rooted in collaboration and teamwork is his top priority.
"I've always been about teamwork. The county commission, the different municipalities and the state representatives need to get together, every two months or quarterly, and just talk about the stuff that we can work on collaboratively as a community and as a county because there are things that one person or one group cannot take care of. Homelessness is one of them. Low-income housing is one that could be worked through, but there are so many things that need to be done and historically have been done by collaborations, and it doesn't seem to me like anyone knows what the other entities are doing," he said. "I think that's the most critical thing that I'll do when I get in there is put that team back together and start talking to the mayors and the councilors, the school system, the state delegation and even our national delegation, West Virginia University, and get everyone in the room and say, 'Hey, what can we do to make it better for this community? What are the needs of your organization or your city, and what can we do?' I think that's the most important thing that this community needs, a teamwork approach."
Lytle, who was unopposed on the Republican ballot in the May primary, said he's been itching to return to public service since his tenure with the board of education ended following the 2024 primary election.
"People ask me, 'Why would you get back into it?' The truth is I absolutely love public service. Politicians get a bad rap, but the people I've worked with on both sides of the aisle, they're out working when other people are out recreating and enjoying life. They're working behind closed doors and really pouring themselves into this community and trying to make this community better," he said. "It was an honor to serve on the school board, and I'd be honored to be able to serve on the county commission and represent every single person in this county to the best of my ability."