The meaning of 35.

• Author: Peters, Charles
• Position: Tilting at Windmills - Brief Article

One thing the rest of the country thinks it knows about West Virginia is that its politics are corrupt. Actually, they're not as corrupt as outsiders think; most precincts are clean. Alas, however, there continues to be evidence to support the conventional view. And nowhere is the evidence more evident than in Logan County. According to a recent report by the Charleston Gazette's Chris Wetterich, "Logan lawyer Mark O. Hrutkay paid more than $10,000 to Logan County Sheriff Johnny 'Big John' Menendez, in order to buy votes for his wife, delegate Lidella Wilson-Hrutkay." The Gazette's story reveals that, in addition to the sheriff, Logan police chief Alvin R. "Chipper" Porter Jr. was also charged with paying off voters.

Ten thousand dollars for a seat in the legislature represents a considerable inflation since my time back...