
Transforming Huntington: A Conversation with Mayor Steve Williams
In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers, I chat Mayor Steve Williams at Meet-Up 64 in Huntington. I want to hear about his work and the city’s progress. He’s been the mayor for 12 years, always hustling for the citizens of Huntington. He talks about the city setting standards that others are beginning to notice. Huntington is becoming a go-to city, and it shows every time I visit. There’s always something new, like a cybersecurity center and other new buildings at Marshall University. I ask him to share more about the developments he’s excited about.
Steve tells me about the cybersecurity initiative, which has been 40 years in the making. He compares it to the growth seen in Morgantown with WVU’s research and development. The same growth is happening here now. He mentions Brad Smith, the new president of Marshall University, who was the CEO of Intuit. Brad brings a lot of knowledge and experience to the table.
I ask how much of an impact Brad has had since becoming the president of Marshall. Steve says anyone who meets Brad can see he’s something special. Despite his impressive resume, Brad introduces himself humbly as “Brad from Kenova.” Born and raised in West Virginia, Brad went to Marshall before heading to Silicon Valley and rising to become the CEO of Intuit. Steve feels smarter just being around him.
I steer the conversation towards economic development, something our podcast listeners care about. Steve shares a story about a factory built in 1872 that went out of business around 2000. The city of Huntington bought the property, which spans 100 acres next to the university. They tore down the factories and are cleaning up the brownfields. This area, once a hub of the Industrial Revolution, is now poised to be a center of the digital age. With Brad Smith’s leadership and proximity to Marshall, Huntington is on the rise.
Steve predicts that in seven years, Huntington will be seen as the gateway to Appalachia, similar to how people view Asheville, Greenville, and Chattanooga. Recently, Huntington was named the 17th best-run city in the nation, regardless of size. I ask him what he attributes this success to.
Steve explains that when he took office, the city was near bankruptcy. Now, it has a $25 million surplus. They achieved this by cutting taxes on retail and manufacturing and reducing taxes on service businesses. This approach didn’t reduce revenue; instead, business growth led to increased revenue. They’ve managed to increase the city’s budget from $40 million to $60 million without raising taxes. The city’s fiscal management and business-friendly policies are key reasons for its recognition as a well-run city.
As we wrap up, I ask Steve about his new endeavor. He proudly announces that he is the Democratic nominee for governor of West Virginia. He clarifies that despite being a Democrat, he considers himself a moderate to conservative mayor. He highlights the tax cuts and business growth strategies he’s implemented in Huntington, which he plans to continue as governor.
I wish Steve the best of luck with his campaign and thank him for joining me on the podcast. He directs listeners to https://stevewilliamswv.com/ to learn more about his past accomplishments and future plans.