Besides the Republican-leaning “And for the Sake of the Kids” group, other coal interests are spreading their money more evenly this election season. Coal company owners have donated to political candidates for decades. But in West Virginia this year, it’s a little different. Political action committees for Arch Coal, CONSOL, Eastern Associated Coal, RAG Coal International and the West Virginia Coal Association continue to support legislative candidates, usually with donations of $100, $250 or $500. So do individual operators such as William T. Bright of Summersville; James O. Bunn of Grundy, Va., who owns Northland Resources and Eaglehawk Carbon; Charles Jones, who once operated Amherst Coal; and James “Buck” Harless, head of International Industries. Donations from these companies and individuals usually go to both Democratic and Republican candidates. But this year, another, smaller group of coal industry contributors also is making donations. Almost all are $1,000 contributions. And almost all are going to conservative Republican candidates, some of whom have little or no chance of winning. Donald L. Blankenship, president of Massey Energy, is the major donor. Blankenship also has given more than $1.7 million to a “527” group called “And for the Sake of the Kids,” seeking to unseat Supreme Court Justice Warren McGraw. Kentucky-based coal executives Larry, Robert and Bruce Addington often contribute along with Blankenship. The bankruptcy and sale of their Horizon Natural Resources might leave hundreds of West Virginia miners without health insurance. Others often making $1,000 donations to the same Republican candidates — those backed by Blankenship and the Addington brothers — own mining machinery and supply businesses, including: Charles A. and William H. Nelson from Nelson Brothers in Birmingham, Ala.; S.R. Smith of Raleigh Mine Supply in Mount Hope, Chris Cline, a Beckley-based coal owner; Steve and David Mayo of Mayo Manufacturing in Holden; and John and Ernest Rogers, coal operators from Pikeville, Ky. David Mayo said he and his family contribute to “the people we are for. That is the only comment I will make. We do want to change government in this state. Why we donate is absolutely none of your business.” In Charleston, Charles Minimah is a Republican running against incumbent Delegate Carrie Webster, D-Kanawha. Minimah received $1,000 donations from Blankenship and the two Mayos, making up $3,000 of the $4,700 Minimah received in the most recent reporting period. Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin, D-Logan, is one of the few Democrats who got money from Blankenship this year. Tomblin received $200 from Massey’s PAC and $2,000 from Blankenship personally. Tomblin also listed donations from a wide variety of economic interests, including electric power, pharmaceutical, oil, gas, bottling, forestry, gambling and health-care businesses. Billy Marcum, Tomblin’s Republican opponent, received no coal contributions. Sen. Shirley Love, D-Fayette, received at least $6,200 from various coal owners including Bunn, Harless, Arch Coal and CONSOL. But only $700 came from Blankenship and Massey. Love’s opponent, Robert C. Johnson, received no coal contributions. Sen. John Pat Fanning, D-McDowell, received no coal contributions. In fact, Fanning raised a total of about $6,000. But his Republican opponent, Jacob T. Potter, reports raising nothing. Sen. Mike Ross, D-Randolph, received $1,600 in coal contributions, a small portion of all the money he raised from business interests. Just $150 came from Massey. Republican candidates challenging other Democratic Senate incumbents and nominees reported thousands of dollars in coal donations, almost all from Blankenship and his allies. Thousands and thousands went to Republicans running against Sens. Robert H. Plymale, D-Cabell; Billy Wayne Bailey, D-Wyoming; Jon Blair Hunter, D-Monongalia; and Anita Skeens Caldwell, D-Mercer. Major coal money is also going to Sen. Vic Sprouse, R-Kanawha, and Delegate Rusty Webb, R-Kanawha. Sprouse and Webb are running against former Supreme Court Justice Margaret Workman and Delegate Dan Foster, D-Kanawha, respectively. Delegate Ann Calvert, R-Kanawha, the only Republican in the seven-member 30th Delegate District in Kanawha County, received $4,000 in donations from Blankenship and the three Addington brothers. But two Republican incumbents running from the 32nd Delegate District in Kanawha County — Delegates Ron Walters and Tim Armstead — received just $750 and $1,200 from coal interests, respectively. Neither Walters nor Armstead received any money from Blankenship and his associates. Some Republican Senate incumbents received little or no coal money. Sen. Andy McKenzie, R-Ohio, received thousands from business and labor interests, but just $100 from Arch and $200 from Bright. Sen. Karen L. Facemyer, D-Jackson, received no coal money. United Mine Workers President Cecil Roberts criticized the political donations made by Blankenship, especially the $1.7 million to finance “And for the Sake of the Kids.” “Operating a campaign group that bills itself as helping children when it would appear the group is really just a front for corporate interests is politics at its absolute worst. “If Don Blankenship really wants to help kids, he can start with the kids of the coal miners he displaced at the Cannelton mine. Their fathers and mothers no longer have a job or health-care benefits thanks to Blankenship’s caring heart.” The Addington brothers operated the Cannelton mine, just east of Charleston, before Massey Energy bought it during bankruptcy proceedings. Today, miners there are facing loss of all their health-insurance coverage. To contact staff writer Paul J. Nyden, use e-mail or call 348-5164. | 
