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Kiss shares possible plan of run for governor
[Sep-17-2006]
By Amelia A. Pridemore
Register-Herald Reporter
As his legislative career has been drawing to a close, Bob Kiss has devoted more time to his law practice and his family, even taking his wife and two young sons on a trip to Disney World.
Saturday night, the Raleigh County Democratic Executive Committee honored the 18-year member of the House of Delegates and 10-year speaker of the House. However, he hinted that he may not be completely finished with politics.
"I have had a continuing interest in running for governor," Kiss said. "... I will not even be thinking about doing it any sooner than 2012. ... I may never run again. We'll see."
Being honored by the Raleigh County committee, Kiss said, was especially poignant because it was where he started his political career. Many people with whom he began his work have now died, but there are still members who remain active on the political scene whom he admires.
"They have fought the battles," he said. "They have been in the trenches for 15 to 20 years. It's nice."
Serving in the Legislature has not been an easy task, Kiss said. Base pay for a legislator is $15,000 a year, and the work one does while serving goes beyond the 60 days in the session. It also includes campaigning, attending functions, attending to constituents needs and several other responsibilities. Being chairperson of a committee adds to this. On top of this, most legislators have full-time jobs and family obligations.
"I believe an elder legislator once told me, "The pay is not good, but the abuse is great," he said.
Kiss also expressed admiration for the new generation of legislators and candidates who are willing to serve. Despite the stress involved with the job, the rewards are outstanding, he said.
"I don't believe anything could be more rewarding than raising two small children," he said. "You're making economic and social conditions better for your friends and neighbors, helping them have the American Dream. ... It's almost as rewarding as when you see a child read for the first time, walk for the first time, understand something for the first time.
"Professionally and personally, it has been so rewarding. That's why I did it."
Colleagues in the Democratic party praised Kiss for his service and recalled some of their times working with him - the great and even the tough ones.
Former state Sen. Bill Wooton served in both the Senate and House during Kiss' tenure. He recalled Kiss being appointed to the House Finance Committee in just his first term, going on to become vice chairman in his second. By the time Kiss was in his third term, he was already chairman.
"He was vice chairman when people are just finding where the bathrooms are," Wooton said. "We've got shoes bigger than any of us can fill."
State Sen. Billy Wayne Bailey, D-Wyoming, read a poem he wrote about Kiss that recalled the speaker's career and recalled their work together.
"He once told me, "It's amazing what you accomplish when it doesnt matter who gets the credit," Bailey said.
Delegate Virginia Mahan, D-Summers, praised Kiss for work she said "leveled the playing field" for West Virginia, especially when it came to better infrastructure. She called that his legacy.
"You can't have what you want until you give them what they need," she said.
Congressman Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., said Kiss was a man with whom every governor had to reckon because of his compassion and knowledge of hard facts and what those hard facts meant for the people he served.
"He served with governors. He served no governor," Rahall said. "...(Governors) come and go, but (legislators) serve beyond their terms."
E-mail:
apridemore@register-herald.com
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