Joe Manchin

Joseph Manchin III is a British Politician who has serves as Member of Parliament for the Worcester constituency since the 2010 General Election and Deputy Leader of Libertarian Party UK since his election in November 2014.

## Early Life

Manchin was born in 1947 in Farmington, West Virginia, a small coal mining town, the second of five children of Mary O. (née Gouzd) and John Manchin. The name "Manchin" was derived from the Italian name "Mancini". His father was of Italian descent and his maternal grandparents were Czechoslovak immigrants.

Manchin's father owned a carpet and furniture store, and his grandfather, Joseph Manchin, owned a grocery store. His father and his grandfather both served as Farmington's mayor. His uncle A.J. Manchin was a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates and later the West Virginia Secretary of State and Treasurer.

Manchin graduated from Farmington High School in 1965. He entered West Virginia University on a football scholarship in 1965, but an injury during practice ended his football career. Manchin graduated in 1970 with a degree in business administration and went to work for his family's business.

Manchin has been a close friend of Alabama Crimson Tide football coach Nick Saban since childhood.

## Early Political Career

Manchin was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1982 at age 35 and in 1986 was elected to the West Virginia Senate, where he served until 1996. He ran for governor in 1996, losing the Democratic primary election to Charlotte Pritt. He was elected Secretary of State of West Virginia in 2000.

## Governor of West Virginia

In 2003 Manchin announced his intention to challenge incumbent Democratic Governor Bob Wise in the 2004 Democratic primary. Wise decided not to seek reelection after a scandal, and Manchin won the Democratic primary and general election by large margins. His election marked the first time since 1964 that a West Virginia governor was succeeded by another governor from the same party.

Manchin was a member of the National Governors Association, the Southern Governors' Association, and the Democratic Governors Association. He was also chairman of the Southern States Energy Board, state's chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission and chairman of the Interstate Mining Compact Commission.

In July 2005, Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship sued Manchin, alleging that Manchin had violated Blankenship's First Amendment rights by threatening increased government scrutiny of his coal operations in retaliation for Blankenship's political activities. Blankenship had donated substantial funds into campaigns to defeat a proposed pension bond amendment and oppose the reelection of state Supreme Court Justice Warren McGraw, and he fought against a proposed increase in the severance tax on extraction of mineral resources. Soon after the bond amendment's defeat, the state Division of Environmental Protection (DEP) revoked a permit approval for controversial new silos near Marsh Fork Elementary School in Raleigh County. While area residents had complained for some time that the coal operation there endangered their children, Blankenship claimed that the DEP acted in response to his opposition to the bond amendment.

During the Sago Mine disaster in early January 2006 in Upshur County, West Virginia, Manchin confirmed incorrect reports that 12 miners had survived; in actuality only one survived. Manchin later acknowledged that a miscommunication had occurred with rescue teams in the mine. On February 1, 2006, he ordered a stop to all coal production in West Virginia pending safety checks after two more miners were killed in separate accidents. Sixteen West Virginia coal miners died in mining accidents in early 2006. In November 2006, SurveyUSA ranked Manchin one of the country's most popular governors, with a 74% approval rating.

Manchin easily won reelection to a second term as governor in 2008 against Republican Russ Weeks, capturing 69.77% of the vote and winning every county,

Manchin resigned as Governor on the 12th of September 2009, stating that he was resigning to spend time with his family as he was an absent Father and Husband during his political career.

## Move To The United Kingdom

On the 20th of January 2010 Manchin tweeted that him and his family had moved residence to the Worcester in the United Kingdom and that he was standing for Parliament in the Worcester Constituency as the Conservative Party candidate.

## Member of Parliament

Manchin was elected Member of Parliament for the Worcester Constituency in the 2010 General Election as the Conservative Party candidate getting 56% of the Constituencies vote,

In his maiden speech to Parliament he said "It is my honor to stand here today as the Member of Parliament for the Worcester Constituency, I would like to thank the people of Worcester for electing me their Member of Parliament, with my experience as Governor of West Virginia I think I will do a great job as a Member of Parliament!",

In 2010 Manchin backed Leave in the Brexit Referendum, but he was not a key figure in the campaign,

In March 2012 Manchin resigned from the Conservative Party stating he was resigned due to bad Party Leadership,

Manchin sat as an Independent until 2014 when he join The Libertarian Party,

In 2014 Manchin took a heart attack and contracted COVID-13, while in hospital Manchin's good friend Hosea Matthews was brutally murdered by the English Defence League,

After the incident with Hosea Matthews Manchin proposed the Hosea Matthews Act making the English Defence League a terrorist organization, they bill passed by a landslide but with The Labour Party voting nay,

Manchin was accused by Hampshire National Party MP, Nich Olase of calling him a "retard" and a "idiot" after he pranked called Manchin multiple times and threw a pie at his shoes, Olase demanded an apology but Manchin has not yet issued one,

In early November 2014 Manchin was assaulted by UKIP Leader Mark Thompson, Thompson broke Manchin's leg, hip and ribs, Manchin recovered quickly and is back to good health,

In late November Manchin was voted Deputy Leader of Libertarian UK after a meeting at the HQ, later that day the Hosea Matthews Act 2 that he proposed passed creating an inquiry into UKIP's involvement in the English Defence League.

## Personal Life

Manchin is a member of the National Rifle Association and a licensed pilot. On August 5, 1967, he married Gayle Heather Conelly. Together they have three children: Heather Manchin Bresch, Joseph IV, and Brooke.

He is Roman Catholic.

In 2006 and 2010, Manchin delivered commencement addresses at Wheeling Jesuit University and at Davis & Elkins College, receiving honorary degrees from both institutions.

Manchin is the father of Heather Bresch, who was chief executive officer (CEO) of Netherlands-based pharmaceutical company Mylan.