West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice with Babydog, seated in front, greets Delegate Charlie Reynolds, R-Marshall, left, Benwood Councilwoman Lori Longwell and Police Chief Frank Longwell. Lori Longwell had crafted a calendar featuring photos of Babydog that she presented to Justice.<\/p>\n
Benwood Police Chief Frank Longwell and his wife Councilwoman Lori Longwell love West Virginia\u2019s first dog Babydog, good food and horses \u2013 and so does Gov. Jim Justice.<\/p>\n
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The Longwells and Justice this week bonded at the governor\u2019s office in Charleston during a meeting arranged by Delegate Charlie Reynolds, R-Marshall.<\/p>\n
The end result could mean a visit by Justice and his wife Cathy to Benwood to tour the city, discuss pertinent issues, see the Longwell\u2019s horses and eat Frank Longwell\u2019s homemade spaghetti.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I\u2019ll make a few extra meatballs for Babydog if she comes,\u201d Frank Longwell said.<\/p>\n
Neither of the Longwells had previously met Justice. Each time the governor was in the area they weren\u2019t able to attend, or Longwell received a police call just as Justice arrived.<\/p>\n
But both admitted to being big fans of West Virginia\u2019s 36th governor and Babydog. Lori Longwell last year began crafting a 2023 \u201cBabydog Calendar\u201d for Justice featuring photos of his beloved bulldog, as well as pertinent dates for the Justice family.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know how much he loves Babydog,\u201d Lori Longwell said. \u201cI know that she was a big part of the COVID (vaccine promotion in West Virginia), and that she is in all the pictures,\u201d<\/p>\n
Her intent was to ask Reynolds to take the calendar with him to Charleston and present it to Justice before his birthday on April 27. But Reynolds was able to arrange the in-person meeting, and the Longwells traveled Tuesday to Charleston for a half hour meeting with Justice.<\/p>\n
Frank Longwell said he has been an elected official for 40 years, and not many things impress him. He has met the past five governors during his time in office.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut when we walked into the governor\u2019s office face-to-face\u2026 he was definitely a mountain of a man,\u201d Frank Longwell said of the larger-than-life governor. \u201cAnd I am a big man.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said he wanted to thank Justice not just for being a good governor who led the state through the COVID pandemic, but for being an extremely successful businessman in West Virginia.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told him I just wanted to thank him on a personal note for helping families to put food on the tables and send their kids to college, as well as all the job opportunities he provides throughout the state,\u201d Longwell said.<\/p>\n
Lori Longwell said Justice at first seemed uncomfortable with them giving him a birthday present, and that he opened the package \u201csheepishly.\u201d<\/p>\n
But he was very impressed when he saw the photos of Babydog and the calendar.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was so pleased with the gift that he told me he would cherish it forever,\u201d she said. \u201cBabydog is the most important thing to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe told me I\u2019m so impressed by this I have to give you a hug.\u201d<\/p>\n
Justice proceeded to look through the calendar, telling the Longwells the story behind each of the photos.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really think he thought here are city officials from the Northern Panhandle, and what do they have? A plaque? A key to the city?\u201d Frank Longwell said. \u201cHe was going through the motions.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut he absolutely did not expect that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lori Longwell next told the governor she was a aware he has a second dog named Ellie, and that she had a horse also with that name.<\/p>\n
Justice told him his wife Cathy loved horses, and would want to see Ellie.<\/p>\n
The Longwells said no politics or city business was discussed during their meeting, and that was by design on their part. They feel they established a friend in Justice, who told them he wants to come visit Benwood soon.<\/p>\n
Frank Longwell offered to show Justice around the town when he comes \u2013 including stops in the Benwood industrial parks and at the Bellaire Bridge. He also told Justice they could stop a very good Italian restaurant, Undo\u2019s, that was owned by his relatives.<\/p>\n
When Justice told them he loved spaghetti, Lori Longwell noted her husband makes the best homemade spaghetti and he and his wife should come visit them there and see the horses.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s likely discussion about the Benwood industrial parks and the Bellaire Bridge would come up as they ate pasta, according to Frank Longwell.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure he is always bothered with small town politicians wanting a waterline, or this or that,\u201d he said. \u201cThe big thing on my mind is the bridge.\u201d<\/p>\n
Talking about it while in Charleston \u201cwasn\u2019t the time,\u201d Frank Longwell continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the future, I\u2019m sure we\u2019ll discuss some of those things,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
The Longwells reported they did get a chance while in Charleston to speak to State Development Director Mitch Carmichael about property available in the industrial parks. There were also stops in the State Treasurer\u2019s Office, and the State Attorney General\u2019s Office, they said.<\/p>\n
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