Earl Ray
In his thirty-six years in the legislature, he chaired the Senate Finance Committee, was elected 18 straight years as President of the Senate, and with the election of Governor Joe Manchin to the US Senate, became Acting Governor. He was elected Governor in October 2011.
Earl Ray is credited with saving taxpayers millions by revising the state pension system and privatizing workers' compensation, stabilizing state finances by establishing West Virginia’s rainy day fund, reforming the state’s medical system, keeping doctors in this state, and implementing a plan to eliminate the state’s food tax.
As Governor, Tomblin has vetoed increases in DMV fees that would have cost West Virginians millions, led the way on bipartisan legislation to protect our miners and responsibly develop our natural gas, and banned texting while driving and the pill mills that have plagued our state.
Earl Ray Tomblin is a consensus-maker, a bridge-builder, a leader who has brought business and labor, Republicans and Democrats, urban and rural interests together to move West Virginia forward. Governor Tomblin believes “we have to stop playing partisan games, set aside personal ambition and put West Virginia first.”
Earl Ray Tomblin has been married to Joanne Tomblin for 32 years. They have one son, Brent, who attends Marshall University. Earl Ray is running in the general election on November 6th for Governor of West Virginia.