By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV
The news of Del. Elliott Pritt’s, R-Fayette, alleged child sexual abuse rocked the state last week. Reading the criminal complaint absolutely broke my heart. I can’t imagine the pain and trauma the alleged victim, plus Pritt’s family, will face for years to come. I pray they all receive the support they will need to heal.
Currently, legislators are laser-focused on convening a special session to expel him. They want to do it soon. They say it will pass quickly and not cost the state any additional funds. (I can’t imagine anyone opposing it at all. Pritt seemed to have few friends before these harrowing criminal charges as a result of shifting positions and parties, let alone after.)
Press releases are flying, all calling for the same thing. It’s good to see everyone on the same page and ready to take swift action, for once.
I imagine Pritt is under heavy pressure to resign from the Republican party and anyone close to him, but there’s a logistical problem in that he’s currently behind bars. It may take an expulsion to settle the matter quickly.
That’s all well and good. But as Stephen Covey famously says, “Keep the main thing the main thing.” Whether Pritt holds his seat as a delegate for another day, week, or month is not the main thing. He will face the justice system for the crimes he allegedly committed, and I cannot imagine any scenario where he remains in office. His constituents to whom I’ve talked are disgusted by his alleged actions and don’t want to waste any breath on him.
So if Pritt’s office isn’t the main thing, what is? Child safety. Protecting kids from child abuse.
Child and abuse neglect cases dominate the dockets of judicial circuits across the state and have for generations. This isn’t anything new, unfortunately, but it is a very public case of what has historically been private.
It was my hope that in the wake of this horrific situation, the state could come together, learn from it, and work through the policy process to improve child safety. How can we better protect kids from abusive adults?
Thus far, there’s been no effort from legislators to do that. What if they convened a special session not only to expel Pritt but also to improve child safety? What if they pledged to make it their top priority next legislative session?
What if they fully funded child advocacy centers? What if they gave judges additional authority to protect children in the judicial process when abusers are found guilty of crimes? What if they committed to putting a reasonable number of guidance counselors in schools so that kids have someone they can actually go to when these crimes occur? What if they enacted comprehensive online safety measures? Or worked with the Department of Education to require training for students and staff on child abuse prevention?
These are but a few examples of policy proposals. There are surely many more worthy of debate and discussion.
My experience with child safety and child welfare legislation in the WV Legislature during my time of service was consistent–it always received verbal support but rarely was enacted. I can’t tell you how many times we labored behind the scenes for months or years to enact child safety measures, only to have them torpedoed by the departments charged with enacting them or legislators doing the bidding of special interests.
Not to mention the numerous heinous cases of abuse and neglect which happen year after year, when legislators promise “never again” but don’t make any real changes.
Will this Pritt situation be the moment that finally makes child safety a real priority? Will the legislature keep the main thing the main thing and truly prioritize child safety? Or will they expel Pritt and move on?
Cynics say they’re working quickly to expel him in order to CYA (“cover your assets” or protect themselves). Optimists say it’s the necessary first step and will be a turning point.
Time will tell.
I hope this is a turning point for posterity.
Stephen Baldwin is the publisher of RealWV and a Presbyterian pastor. He is the former WV Senate Minority Leader.
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