Share on WeChat
https://www.powervoter.us:443/charles_clements
Copy the link and open WeChat to share.
 Share on WeChat
Copy the link and open WeChat to share.
 Share on WeChat
Scan QRCode using WeChat,and then click the icon at the top-right corner of your screen.
 Share on WeChat
Scan QRCode using WeChat,and then click the icon at the top-right corner of your screen.
Quick Facts
Personal Details

Education

  • AB, Mathematics, West Virginia University, 1961-1966

Professional Experience

  • AB, Mathematics, West Virginia University, 1961-1966
  • Office Manager, H&R Block, Incorporated, 2015-present
  • Former Executive Director, West Virginia Route 2 and Interstate 68 Authority
  • Recruit, United States Army, 1966-1968

Political Experience

  • AB, Mathematics, West Virginia University, 1961-1966
  • Office Manager, H&R Block, Incorporated, 2015-present
  • Former Executive Director, West Virginia Route 2 and Interstate 68 Authority
  • Recruit, United States Army, 1966-1968
  • Senator, West Virginia State Senate, District 2, 2017-present
  • Candidate, West Virginia State Senate, District 2, 1998, 2018
  • Appointed by Governor Jim Justice, Senator, West Virginia State Senate, District 2, January 28, 2017
  • Candidate, West Virginia House of Representatives, District 5, 2000

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former Member, Health and Human Resources Committee, West Virginia State Senate

Former Member, Military Committee, West Virginia State Senate

Former Chairman, New Martinsville Parks and Recreation Commission

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Agriculture and Rural Development Committee

Vice Chair, Banking and Insurance Committee

Member, Energy, Industry and Mining Committee

Member, Government Organization Committee

Member, Joint Committee on Energy

Member, Joint Committee on Government Operations

Member, Joint Committee on Government Organization

Member, Joint Committee on Natural Gas Development

Member, Joint Committee on Public Employees Insurance Agency, Seniors, and Long Term Care

Member, Joint Committee on Technology

Member, Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Member, Joint Legislative Intern Committee

Chair, Joint Legislative Oversight Commission on Department of Transportation Accountability

Member, Judiciary Committee

Chair, Legislative Oversight Committee on Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority

Chair, Select Committee on Infrastructure

Chair, Select Committee on Tax Reform

Chair, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • AB, Mathematics, West Virginia University, 1961-1966
  • Office Manager, H&R Block, Incorporated, 2015-present
  • Former Executive Director, West Virginia Route 2 and Interstate 68 Authority
  • Recruit, United States Army, 1966-1968
  • Senator, West Virginia State Senate, District 2, 2017-present
  • Candidate, West Virginia State Senate, District 2, 1998, 2018
  • Appointed by Governor Jim Justice, Senator, West Virginia State Senate, District 2, January 28, 2017
  • Candidate, West Virginia House of Representatives, District 5, 2000
  • Member, Loyal Order of Moose, present
  • Member, Ohio-West Virginia Football Officials Association, present
  • Member, Rotary International, present
  • Member, West Virginia Oil Marketers and Grocers Association, present

Other Info

— Awards:

  • Outstanding Officials Award. Was football official for 41 years

Date of Wedding Anniversary:

50th wedding anniversary was 3/1/2018

Policy Positions

West Virginia State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-life

2. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes

3. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, & Tax

Budget Stabilization:

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing West Virginia's budget.

1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
- No

2. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
- No

3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
- No

4. An income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
- Yes

2. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes

3. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes

4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- The redistricting process is very political. I do support a bipartisan commission, however I feel that it will be difficult to compose the commission without political bias.

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No

2. Do you support expanding existing medical marijuana laws to include edible and/or respiratory forms of marijuana?
- Yes

3. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- No

4. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- Yes

5. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- Adult prosecution of a minor should be very limited.

Economic

1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
- Yes

4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- No

5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- Yes

6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of West Virginia?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in West Virginia?
- No

2. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- No

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from West Virginia high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- No

4. Do you support increasing funding for the state education budget?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- I do support the formation of Magnet schools. If our education outcomes do not improve I would support public support for charter schools

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- No

3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- No

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- No

3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- Yes

4. Should a license be required for gun ownership?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- Certain, qualified teachers should be allowed to have a firearm if no "resource" officer is in the school

Health

1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- Yes

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through West Virginia's health care programs?
- Yes

3. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- No

4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
- Yes

5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- All students attending should be vaccinated.

Social

1. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in West Virginia's anti-discrimination laws?
- No

2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in West Virginia's anti-discrimination laws?
- No

3. Do you support greater efforts by West Virginia state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- My top priority is making the state of WV more attractive to business and manufacturers. This includes improving our schools and health care for our people. Business look at other things such as this as well as taxes and regulations.My second priority is infrastructure. We need to build and maintain roads as well as expand our public utilities such as water and sewer. The expansion of broadband and cell service throughout the state is necessary.The third priority is the control of the drug epidemic within our state. Treatment, not jail is what we need.