Endorsements

Michael is proud to be endorsed by the following:

United Mine Workers of America (UMWA)

The UMWA is comprised of a diverse union, including coal miners, manufacturing workers, clean coal technicians, health care workers, corrections officers, and public employees.

The UMWA’s mission includes ensuring workers have:

  • The safest work environments in their respective industries.

  • A voice on the job.

  • Good wages and benefits, providing financial security at home.

  • Strong representation for working families throughout North America.

Bobby Nicholas

Bobby Nicholas – Philanthropist, Musician, CEO of OWNN

Bobby Nicholas is a gifted vocalist with a prolific music career spanning nearly six decades. He is also a professional fundraiser for a host of non-profit organizations, the co-founder of the One World Nonprofit Network, the Director of Business Programs for Mission for Miracles, and the former Director of Development Programs and services at WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital for over twenty-five years.

Bobby’s ability to fundraise for charitable organizations is unmatched. His accomplishments include:

• Raising over $7.6 million over nine years for Mission for Miracles.

• Developing and fostering the All-American Grand Bash, which has donated over $2.4 million to regional hospitals and affiliated foundations.

• Creating the WVU Children’s Hospital Gala - one of the most successful and highly anticipated black-tie fundraising events in the state of West Virginia - which has raised approximately $28-$30 million for WVU Medicine Children's Hospital.

In Bobby’s words: “Politics is all about the people, and I believe that Michael is a people person. I think that through his law practice, he’s demonstrated that he can be trusted and trust is everything.”

Charlene Marshall

Michael is honored to be endorsed by Morgantown icon, Ms. Charlene Marshall.

Ms. Marshall is a former Mayor of Morgantown and City Council Member, and served in the House of Delegates from 1998 to 2002, and 2004 to 2014.

She was the first Black woman mayor in West Virginia, born and raised in Osage, West Virginia, the daughter of a coal miner who passed away in the mines.

Her activities in politics began in the 1980’s, when she was appointed as president and spokesperson of a community group who was dissatisfied with the city’s inaction on deteriorating homes in their neighborhood. Overcoming opposition, she was elected to City Council, and then elected as Mayor of Morgantown.

Her term as Mayor is remembered as a time of rebirth and regrowth for the city; the effects are still felt in the vibrant Monongalia County economy and growing population.

Her successes led to several terms as a member of the House of Delegates, where she was a leading advocate for education, equal justice, and human rights for all.

At every step, there were people who tried to discourage her – officials from other towns who thought she was a waitress at a statewide conference, parking attendants who tried to chase her out of the members-only spaces at the State Capitol, and other legislators who dismissed and tried to silence her. She outlasted them all.

In Ms. Marshall's own words: “Most people are good, and I’m very grateful for all the old friends who supported me and all the new friends I made along the way. But I learned that you have to have a thick skin, and make the decision that you won’t let people hold you back. If they are not coming along, you just move ahead without them.”

Bob Musick

Bob is the former Mayor of Star City, and has been involved in Behavioral Health for over fifty years. He has taught and lectured around the State regarding suicide prevention and other mental health topics. He is the Director of PSIMED's Morgantown office, the President and CEO of Aspire Services, Inc., the former Vice-President of Mental Health at Valley HealthCare Systems, and the former CEO of the West Virginia Council for the Prevention of Suicide.

Bob has been involved in politics from a young age, and has managed more than forty campaigns, both locally and State-wide. He works with candidates from across the political spectrum, and chooses the person without regard for political affiliation.

Bob also is a well-known and successful former football coach, with nearly forty years of experience working with student athletes in our community.

From Bob: "Growing up here, all my life except my four years of military duty, going to college here, teaching at the University, coaching sports here, being the mayor out in Star City, I know the community fairly well, and if I’m working on a campaign it’s because it’s for a good person and I think it’s going to be good for our community. That’s why I’m the flag bearer for Michael Simms to be our Circuit Judge"

North Central West Virginia Building & Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO

The North Central West Virginia Building & Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO, represents a diverse coalition of skilled workers, including carpenters, electricians, plumbers, boilermakers, ironworkers, and more, who play vital roles in building and maintaining our community's infrastructure.

Their mission is to ensure that workers have safe work environments, a strong voice on the job, fair wages and benefits, and robust representation for working families.

Michael is honored to have their endorsement in his campaign.