Jon Hague
Elections and appointments
Personal
Contact
Jon Hague (Democratic Party) ran for election to the West Virginia State Senate to represent District 17. He lost in the Democratic primary on June 9, 2020.
Hague completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.
In 2020, Hague participated in a Candidate Conversation hosted by Ballotpedia and EnCiv. Click here to view the recording.
Biography
Jon Hague was born in Charleston, West Virginia. He obtained an undergraduate degree from Marshall University in December 1999. Hague was a state employee, working in recruiting, before he became a candidate for West Virginia State Senate in 2020. He then began working in a sales and marketing role with a local company. Hague received a professional in human resources (PHR) certification. He has served as the president, treasurer, and secretary of the Chamberlain Elementary PTO.[1]
Elections
2020
See also: West Virginia State Senate elections, 2020
General election
Democratic primary election
Watch the Candidate Conversation for this race!
Republican primary election
2020
Candidate Conversations is a virtual debate format that allows voters to easily get to know their candidates through a short video Q&A.
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Video for Ballotpedia
Video submitted to Ballotpedia
Released March 31, 2020
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Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jon Hague completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hague's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am a lifelong WVian, proud product of WV public schools, husband, father of 2, and man of faith. I am the only working class WVian in this race, the only one to say no to out of state PAC money, the only one who will put WVians first. Because of the Hatch Act I gave up my career as a state employee to run for elected office. That is how much helping my fellow WVians means to me. We need big, bold changes to the status quo in this state. We need leadership that prepares us for the future, that cares more about the everyday person than politics as usual. We don't need career politicians peddling the same ideas that have failed us for generations. We need new leadership and we need it now.
- I am the only candidate interested in big, bold changes to the status quo. I believe politics as usual is why WV has the problems it does today.
- I am the only working class candidate. I believe the only way to guarantee our economic future is to lift the common person up.
- Hope for the future. We CAN solve all our problems. With selfless leadership our future is bright.
End the Addiction Crisis. We need a systemic approach that provides treatment for all and provides a pathway back into society for all our brothers and sisters. 30%-70% of all elementary school children have a parent addicted to drugs. This is a crisis and we need the resources to treat it as such.
Diversify our Economy. We need a robust investment program in WV that prioritizes locally grown businesses. We need grants and low interest loans to stimulate development. We need to build up renewable energy in WV and we need to plant those in coal country to ensure a just transition for our fossil fuel workers. Any economic development must be broadly shared among all areas of WV.
Support Public Education. Nothing has the impact education does on the future of our children and our economy. Teachers are on the front lines of the Addiction Crisis. Raise teacher salaries to combat teacher recruitment issues and fully fund the school system. No teacher should have to pay out of pocket for school supplies. I have two: Teddy Roosevelt and Peter Drucker. Teddy Roosevelt because he was the only President to not age in office. Most Presidents are worn down by the responsibility of the office. It just thrilled Teddy no end. The energy and passion he lived his life I try to emulate. Peter Drucker is the father of modern management. He was a forward thinking leader who predicted many of the trends of today. I keep his quotes handy. My favorite is "the best way to predict the future is to create it."
Honesty. First and foremost and always.
Selflessness. You are there to serve.
Sacrifice. This is a calling. It requires everything you have.
Wisdom. Not everyone can or should be a leader. Forward-thinking, passionate, hard-working, caring, incorruptible and dedicated. I work only for the people of West Virginia. I will be out front as their champion and I will never quit.
To have a vision for this state and to work tirelessly for fundamental change. To be available to constituents always. To put their interests ahead of your own and absolutely ahead of special interests.
In 10 years' time I would like a state that my children can choose to stay in. Where they have the same opportunities as other places in the US. I want a WV where the Addiction Crisis is forever behind us. And I want a WV where the government is responsive to the needs of the people.
I remember the Challenger disaster. I was in 3rd grade and I remember watching it on TV with my entire class.
I was a paperboy when I was 12. Getting up at 5am and delivering newspapers to my neighbors. I kept it for 3 years and it taught me the value of hardwork and hustle.
Crime and Punishment. It is a book about redemption and the journey all people go through with their flaws, the bad choices they have made, and how they rise above.
Harry Dresden. Modern-day wizard, detective, with a heart of gold who will always sacrifice himself for others. He is absolutely fearless in confronting the powers that be and calling them out for their hypocrisy.
Burn the Ships by for King and Country
Something all West Virginians deal with - the struggle to stay. As an HR professional, I could have made twice my salary by moving to Virginia or Ohio. But I chose to stay here and raise my family here. But it's tough here. It impacts my finances, it impacts my children's future, it impacts everything. But I believe you don't quit when times are tough. You double your efforts and you give of yourself to your community. My struggle in my life is the main reason I am running ... so that my children won't have to struggle.
The House is where new legislators go to learn how government in WV is run. Once they have had all idealism beaten out of them they are eligible to run for the Senate.
No. Just the opposite. WV doesn't suffer from a lack of smart, dedicated people. We suffer from a lack of Legislators who are willing to stand up and put their own political future at risk for what is right. I believe its important for executives (Governor, President) to have experience but you need a pipeline for dedicated, talented people to enter public service. And if you need prior experience then you destroy that pipeline and are stuck with the same Legislators year after year.
Ending the Addiction Crisis and Economic Diversification. Everything depends on those two. And it will take a major effort on the part of this government to do both. We need a massive investment in new treatment facilities, we need a massive investment in business startups.
Right now we have a Governor who is part-time and lives outside the state capital. Legislators from both parties complain about it constantly. The ideal relationship should be the Governor provides a broad framework for topics to be debated during the Legislative session, is in constant contact with both political parties, and works to bridge the divide between members. The Governor in addition should focus on state agencies and making sure they operate smoothly and efficiently. That is where he can have the most impact.
Absolutely. Politics is all about "horse trading." You have to compromise with others. Find the areas where you can work together and do so. And no one wants to trade with someone they don't like and can't trust.
Government Organization, Economic Development, and Workforce committees.
In the future yes. But right now being elected as a first time candidate is sufficient. I am aware I will have a learning curve and while I do wish to help lead and guide the Democratic Party going forward, that is something I will have to earn just like right now I am working to earn the vote of everyone in WV.
Teddy Roosevelt. Active, energetic, change-bringer, and morally incorruptible.
The future will take care of itself. For the next few years I am only focused on changing the direction of West Virginia and doing good for my people.
Yes, many. Two come to mind. The first is the cupcake shop owner who wanted to expand and create a brewery. He wanted to create jobs here but our Tax Dept. wouldn't process his paperwork. Didn't deny him just left him in limbo for months. WV needs jobs. And a homegrown business wanting to expand is exactly what we need. That application should have been processed within 24 hrs. The second is the young woman in a drug treatment home. She lost everything. Her kids, her job, everything. Clean and sober for 8 months now all thanks to the program she is in. But her neighbors don't want the home there. They want to shut it down. The stigma of being in recovery is very real.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
External links
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 31, 2020
Leadership
Senate President:Randy Smith
Majority Leader:Patrick Martin
Minority Leader:Mike Woelfel
Senators
Republican Party (31)
Democratic Party (2)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
