Toriseva: Government Must Get Out of the Way

TERESA TORISEVA

WHEELING — Wheeling attorney Teresa Toriseva — the Democratic nominee for West Virginia attorney general — already knows what focus she wants to bring to the office.

“It’s time for government to actually do its job and stay out of people’s lives,” she said. “I also think it’s time for women to have the full rights of citizenship and not be relegated to second class.

“And it’s time for government to leave us alone so we can be free, because freedom requires it.”

She added that she is “pro-gun for the same reason I am pro-choice.”

“It’s about my freedom,” she said. “I don’t want the government in my doctor’s office or my gun safe. I’m very passionate about government doing its job and getting out of the way.”

Toriseva said her focus as attorney general would be on “protecting people and households.”

“My focus would not be on these national, larger-than-life political issues — many of which don’t even impact West Virginia,” she said.

Even those that do, such as climate change, really don’t have much to do with the attorney general’s office, according to Toriseva. She fears national political pundits and consultants are seeking to convince people in West Virginia of what issues are important and stir them to action. Among the issues they are pushing are perceived dangers of transgender youths in athletics.

“That’s a fake issue created by people trying to get attention while running for office, and in doing so are willing to harm others,” Toriseva said. “I will be an attorney general for all West Virginians, and it won’t matter if you’re male or female — or haven’t yet made up your mind. It won’t matter if you’re black or white or of some other national origin. All West Virginians are worthy of the protection of their attorney general, including transgender children.”

The pundits are “using political red meat issues to throw to their base in terms of getting people worked up,” according to Toriseva.

“It’s very upsetting,” she said. “West Virginians love their neighbors, even when we disagree with them or don’t understand them. What we don’t want is for people to be attacked for being who they are, and that’s what we are seeing.

“If you want to protect girls’ sports, then let’s fund it. Otherwise, sit down. That’s not serious talk. They’re not really interested in protecting girls’ sports when they talk about transgender sports. They are just wanting to create fear.”

Leaders “just need to do their job and stay in their lane,” Toriseva continued.

“An attorney needs to be an attorney – not a mouthpiece for Washington politicians,” she said. “I will just be the attorney for the people. It’s so different from what I think the approach is of the current administration. It’s a policy difference.

“Another thing … the greedy corporate interests that break our laws and harm our people, they won’t find refuge in my office. I won’t look the other way. I will pursue in court the lawbreakers.”

As a Northern Panhandle lawyer, Toriseva believes there is some disconnect between state government in Charleston and outlying counties in the state, and she has an idea to address that. As attorney general, she would want to establish satellite offices to serve various regions in the state.

“The further you get from Charleston, the bigger the disconnect,” Toriseva noted. “One of the things I’ve learned on the campaign trail is that every area – except perhaps our wonderful capital city and the county it sits in – feels forgotten by government and by the resources paid for by their tax dollars.

“Being an attorney general who remembers all parts of the state is going to be important to me,” she said.