[ad_1]
Larry Puccio has been strolling a political tightrope.
His path crosses affect, entry, politics, loyalty, friendship and no small diploma of private finance in opposition to the backdrop of a West Virginia that’s transitioning from longtime Democratic dominance towards Republican energy.
He’s a lobbyist, former state Democratic Social gathering chairman and ex-chief of employees for Joe Manchin when he was governor. However this political season, Puccio pushed for the re-election of Gov. Jim Justice, a Republican who first gained workplace as a Democrat.
Puccio’s efforts had been very totally different from Manchin, who very publicly stated Justice must be defeated.
On social media, Puccio’s social media standing can be, “It’s sophisticated.”
“It wasn’t arduous for me as a result of I’ve all the time been an individual once I get up within the morning, I’m going to assist who I believe is greatest for the state and greatest for our nation,” Puccio stated final week after being known as on the phone proper as he sat down for a meal at Muriale’s, a much-loved Italian restaurant close to his residence in Marion County.
“Should you have a look at the outcomes of this election, main numbers of Democrats voted for Jim Justice, so I must assume these felt it was nice.”
The subsequent query was about what Manchin should take into consideration that.
Manchin and Puccio helped the billionaire proprietor of The Greenbrier win the governor’s race as a Democrat in 2016. “All of us made that call to assist Jim Justice,” Manchin stated final week. “Larry went and actually form of ran the marketing campaign.”
The twist got here a half-year into Justice’s time period when he declared himself a Republican onstage with President Trump at a Huntington rally.
Manchin weighed operating for governor himself this time to attempt to knock off Justice however finally determined in opposition to it. Manchin’s criticism centered on Justice’s work habits: “He simply gained’t work. Doesn’t present up.”
The senator supported the Democratic candidate, Ben Salango. Justice’s response: “It’s grandstanding whereas operating Ben Salango’s marketing campaign and it’s precisely what Joe Manchin has been since Day 1, a politician.”
So the politics acquired tough, however Puccio and Manchin say their longstanding relationship stays sturdy.
“Joe and I are very shut. I believe the world of Joe. I hope you print that. I’ve all the time been supportive of Joe Manchin. Joe is aware of me and I do know Joe. Joe is aware of that I imagine in my coronary heart the correct factor is to assist Governor Justice,” Puccio stated.
“We might by no means finish a friendship over who we imagine is the correct particular person to assist.”
Manchin, whose personal cellphone name was patched via final week whereas he was out on the street, agreed. He says he advised Puccio, “You’ve acquired to do what you’ve acquired to do buddy.”
“He’s my pricey good friend. So it could’t get private. Should you try this then it should not have been a lot of a friendship. I can’t perceive why associates can’t agree.”
Not everyone seems to be shopping for all that.
“It was form of ironic his greatest good friend was in opposition to Justice,” stated Roman Prezioso, a Democrat from Marion County who’s retiring as minority chief of the state Senate.
Prezioso added, “I do know these guys are associates. I’ve talked to Joe about it. I stated, ‘Properly how may Larry if he’s your greatest good friend, how can he assist your worst enemy?’”
Nick Casey can also be a former Democratic Social gathering chairman and Manchin ally. He was briefly Justice’s chief of employees till Justice switched events and fired him.
“I have a look at it as, it’s what it’s,” Casey stated on the phone.
That’s all Casey would publicly say.
Puccio the West Virginia Democrat
Puccio has a protracted and distinguished historical past with Manchin and with the Democratic Social gathering in West Virginia.
Earlier than politics, he was a industrial and residential actual property appraiser in Marion County, the place Manchin grew up. Manchin stated he’s identified his longtime ally since Puccio was 13 or 14 years previous.
As younger males, “We each needed to be salespeople so as to survive. Larry was promoting vehicles and organs and I used to be promoting furnishings and rugs,” Manchin stated.
Throughout Manchin’s political life, Puccio has been there each step. “So long as I’ve been in politics, Larry’s been with me. He had these good instincts,” Manchin stated.
“Larry sees very clearly. Larry can eradicate the political B.S. that goes on. Larry’s been capable of undergo that like a knife via butter.”
Puccio served as Manchin’s chief of employees when he was secretary of state from 2001 to 2005. Manchin was elected governor in 2005 and Puccio got here alongside, persevering with as chief of employees.
When Manchin left the Governor’s Workplace for the U.S. Senate, Puccio succeeded Casey as chairman of the Democratic Social gathering from 2010 to 2015. He stepped down to change into chairman of Manchin’s Nation Roads PAC.
Throughout these years, Puccio constructed up a distinguished lobbying function, establishing a relationship with Justice as a lobbyist for The Greenbrier, the historic resort owned by Justice’s household.
Puccio labored as senior adviser to Justice’s 2016 marketing campaign, led the transition team when Justice took workplace, then served as senior adviser to Manchin‘s 2018 re-election marketing campaign for U.S. Senate.
When Justice was up for re-election this 12 months, Puccio was on board to assist, regardless of the governor’s get together swap.
He resigned from the Democratic Government Committee after making a $2,800 donation to the Republican’s marketing campaign throughout a fundraiser at the Marvel Bar, co-owned by Puccio, in Clarksburg.
The Justice marketing campaign stated it was glad to have Puccio.
“Larry Puccio and Governor Justice have been shut associates for a few years, and Larry has many years of expertise in politics and authorities in West Virginia,” said Roman Stauffer, Justice’s marketing campaign supervisor who can also be energetic with the state GOP.
“He’s an incredible useful resource and supplied recommendation, which helped information our marketing campaign to a record-setting victory on Election Day.”
Puccio described his function with the Justice marketing campaign as casual.
“I volunteered time, as I did two years in the past to Joe,” he stated.
“When there was something I put my two cents in. Many occasions my opinion was favored. Many occasions they thought my opinion wasn’t the correct route or wouldn’t work. I simply have been round this for a very long time, and I provided an opinion. When it may be used, that’s nice. When it could’t be, I admire that too.”
Manchin acknowledged, “I want he hadn’t helped Jim as a lot as he did.”
Prezioso suspects the function was central to the re-election effort.
“He ran the marketing campaign. He ran the Justice marketing campaign. He lobbies for The Greenbrier. That’s all reality,” Prezioso stated. “Justice has made him some huge cash. He had an allegiance.”
Late this previous election cycle, Puccio briefly took a public function, showing on MetroNews’ “Talkline” to assess Justice’s polling margin. “We’re happy. We’re excited,” he stated on statewide radio. “Extra necessary than the massive lead is the boldness individuals have within the governor, and it’s excessive.”
That prompted a rebuke from the present Democratic Social gathering chairwoman, Belinda Biafore, Puccio’s successor as get together chief and Manchin’s cousin. Proper after Puccio’s radio look, Biafore had an announcement emailed to reporters.
She stated, “I’m upset in former West Virginia Democratic Social gathering Chair Larry Puccio for being part of Governor Jim Justice’s marketing campaign crew. It’s disheartening for Democrats in West Virginia who labored alongside Mr. Puccio for thus lengthy to see him be a spokesperson for Jim Justice who turned his again on them.”
Puccio stated he nonetheless considers himself a Democrat.
“I’ve all the time been a average. I’m registered Democrat. I’ve all the time been a average Democrat. I imagine in governing from the center as a lot as attainable,” he stated.
“I take into account myself — and I hope you print this — all the time doing in my coronary heart what I imagine is the correct factor for West Virginia. Greater than attempting to decide once I get up to assume like a Democrat or a Republican or an unbiased. I attempt to make good choices for West Virginia.”
State Senator Paul Hardesty, a longtime Democrat from Logan, stated he made the same determination. Hardesty, who determined to depart the Senate this 12 months, served as vice chairman of the Justice marketing campaign’s finance committee.
“I acquired scrutinized for that myself,” stated Hardesty, a former lobbyist who additionally did work for Justice properties.
“Governor Justice was a good friend. Simply because he switched events don’t imply I’m going to cease being his good friend. I believe Larry felt the identical means.”
Puccio’s worth to the Justice marketing campaign is evident, Hardesty stated.
“I believe he’s one of the good political minds and tacticians that I’ve ever been round,” Hardesty stated.
Prezioso, who stated he hasn’t spoken with Puccio for months, doubts he’ll be concerned with Democratic politics any extra.
“I don’t assume he’ll be concerned with the Democratic Social gathering any extra. When you make an announcement like that, you’re all in. I believe he’s all in,” Prezioso stated.
“You in all probability can’t blame the man. He’s acquired the governor’s ear.”
Larry Puccio, lobbyist
Multiple particular person interviewed for this story stated Puccio was open about having monetary incentives to keep up his relationship with Justice.
Manchin stated Puccio defined to him, “Joe in the event you’re not going to run in 2020 then I’m going to be with Jim as a result of we began there.” And he says, “I do lobbying; I work for him.”
Puccio’s lobbying activity has been energetic, distinguished and, by all appearances, profitable.
He does foyer for The Greenbrier, in addition to Southern Coal Corp., a part of the Justice household’s coal holdings.
He lobbies for FirstEnergy, the ability firm with a major presence in West Virginia houses and politics. FirstEnergy associates donated thousands of {dollars} to Justice’s re-election marketing campaign. Salango contended that merited a longer look after federal allegations of influence buying emerged in neighboring Ohio.
Puccio lobbies for both sports activities betting operators FanDuel and DraftKings. The Greenbrier has a non-public on line casino that’s home to a FanDuel sportsbook.
He represented Main League Baseball and the NBA when West Virginia allowed and controlled sports activities betting, though he doesn’t checklist these accounts any extra.
Puccio lobbies for Thompson Development, which acquired most of the contract work to offer houses to state residents who misplaced their houses in a devastating 2016 flood. The state has acquired criticism over the tempo of the trouble, however state records show Thompson bringing in $24.5 million this 12 months and $18.9 million final 12 months.
He lobbies for Frontier Communications, which continues to receive scrutiny over broadband velocity, reliability and attain in a state that sorely wants it.
He lobbies for UnitedHealthcare, a major insurer in West Virginia.
And he did foyer for Google however then filed a termination discover this previous Could 15, just some months earlier than the state announced an $eight million contract with Google Cloud for digital productiveness providers for 22,000 government department staff. Microsoft known as foul final week as a result of it simply signed a renewed contract for related providers just a few months in the past.
These contracts, the relationships and the affect are price so much. By using the political winner, a lobbyist can guarantee open doorways and related cellphone calls.
Prezioso bluntly recommended entry was the principle think about supporting the sitting governor.
“I assume Larry places cash earlier than friendship,” he stated.
Previous and future Puccio
Mike Caputo, a passionate Democrat and union mine employee from Marion County, has identified Puccio for the reason that 1970s. Puccio sang lead in a band, “Sassy,” with Caputo’s brother because the drummer.
“Larry had the voice of an angel, I child you not,” Caputo stated.
Caputo was a state delegate representing Marion County for years. When he ran for Senate this 12 months, narrowly successful in a Republican wave, Puccio guided his marketing campaign.
“Larry was very useful to me, fairly frankly. He helped me with messaging and helped me craft our marketing campaign,” stated Caputo, who was amongst Puccio’s small group at Muriale’s final week. (He had a chopped salad.)
“We talked about my marketing campaign. We didn’t speak about different campaigns. We didn’t discuss in regards to the governor’s.”
Simply the identical, Caputo wished Puccio’s political recommendation was unique to Democrats. He famous, although, that the one Republican that Puccio has pushed for is Justice.
Caputo stated he doesn’t blame Puccio for going to bat for the governor.
“I assume in the event you look again via his historical past, when else has he been within the nook of a Republican apart from this time?” Caputo requested. “For many of his profession, he has supported Democrats. This one time, he switched to assist a Republican.”
Requested final week whether or not he’ll proceed working for Justice because the governor heads into his second time period, Puccio left it open. He stated they haven’t had that dialog but.
“I proceed to speak with the governor usually and discuss with him. I believe it will likely be quickly that he’ll clarify to me the route he’d prefer to go and what he’d like to perform,” Puccio stated. “We’ve got not had that dialog at this level, I can inform you.”
Someway, he stated, he’d prefer to proceed supporting each Justice and Manchin.
“They actually wish to do nice issues. There’s lots of people in West Virginia who wish to do nice issues. I assist any and all of them,” Puccio stated.
“We are able to make a greater West Virginia.”
Manchin stated if it ever comes right down to it, Puccio is with him.
“One thousand %,” Manchin stated. “Larry and I’ll all the time be collectively.”
[ad_2]
Source link