Vickers announces candidacy for county commission

MONTGOMERY – Montgomery native Beach Vickers has announced his bid to seek the office of Fayette County Commissioner. He is the only Democratic candidate appearing on the countywide ballot for the Valley District seat that is up for election this year. His grandmother, the late Helen Montgomery Vickers of Montgomery, was a descendant of J.C. Montgomery, the town’s founder.

Vickers was graduated as valedictorian from Montgomery High School and lives in his family’s 131-year-old house there. He holds a B.A. in journalism from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.

“I believe many will agree this election gives us the perfect opportunity to send a strong local voice from the heart of the Valley into county leadership for a change, as we need and deserve, although I promise to represent the people of the whole county, too,” Vickers said.

“I support Vickers because he is honest, bright, and full of ideas about how to make life better for people who live in the Valley District of our county,” said Fayette County Democratic Executive Committee member Susan Williams.

“We have to find ways to better encourage the growth of both current and new restaurants, lodging and other tourist amenities in local towns leading to our natural recreation areas,” Vickers said. “And focus together on cleaning up dilapidated buildings and other eyesores along the Midland Trail, that is Rt. 60, and everywhere else visitors and their spending money may be heading.”

“With the recent designation of America’s newest national park in our own backyard, now not later is the time for the county to step up as an effective partner for tourism-inspired economic development,” he said.

“In addition, if elected, I want to explore how we can do more to promote local initiatives underway for historic preservation and visitor attractions such as Mt. Hope is pursuing with its historic walking trail,” he added.

A former resource specialist for the Morris Creek Watershed in Montgomery, Vickers is currently working as an independent consultant on grants and community events for the City of Smithers.

Earlier experiences included five years as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer teaching in Afghanistan and South Korea, followed by posts as a reporter and assistant editor at The Montgomery Herald and education director for the Charleston Regional Chamber of Commerce. Later he was a member of the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) of the AFL-CIO while employed in postproduction at NBC Universal Studios in Los Angeles, California, before returning to Montgomery.

Vickers is a longtime professional actor and director at theaters in West Virginia and six other states. The Shakespeare Studio he founded in Montgomery produces plays and educational theater workshops locally and throughout the state.

He helped create a performing arts summer school for youths in Charleston where he also taught. He also assisted the development of similar workshops for underprivileged children as well as physically and mentally challenged students in both Charleston and Houston, Texas.

“As commissioner, I will promote the arts and arts education as a proven driver of economic development,” Vickers added.

His parents from Montgomery were Betty Vickers, a school social worker, and Earl Vickers, an attorney who represented Fayette County in the House of Delegates where he rose to the position of majority leader and later served as director of legislative services. The Kanawha River Bridge between Montgomery and Smithers is named in Earl Vickers’ honor. Charles Vickers, a former Fayette commissioner and judge, is the candidate’s first cousin.

The campaign’s email address is electbeach2022@gmail.com, and the phone number is 304-981-1863. Contributions are payable to the Committee to Elect Beach Vickers County Commissioner, c/o Carl Harris, Treasurer, PO Box 83, Glen Ferris, WV 25090. More information is posted on the Facebook page named Elect Beach Vickers County Commissioner.