By Jennifer Jett
When Senator Robert C. Byrd passed away earlier this year, it fell to Governor Joe Manchin to select the individual who would hold Sen. Byrd’s seat until a special election could be held to find a more permanent replacement. Every West Virginian turned his or her eyes toward the State Capitol and its governor, holding their breath as they waited to see who Gov. Manchin would choose for the honorable—if temporary—open senate seat.
With his family present and Senator Jay Rockefeller at his side, Carte Goodwin became the youngest U.S. Senator in history on July 20, 2010. Sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden in the U.S. Senate Chamber at the U.S. Capitol, Sen. Goodwin took an oath to use his experience in law and legislation, as well as his love for the Mountain State, to work for the people of West Virginia.
Sen. Goodwin is a Mountaineer by birth, an attorney by profession and a public servant by choice. Raised on a farm in Jackson County, this West Virginia Executive Young Gun from the Class of 2009 found law to be a natural choice for a career as many of his family members are also lawyers. From 2005 to 2009, Sen. Goodwin served as General Counsel for Gov. Manchin, where his work included drafting legislation and working to get important bills passed to protect West Virginians. His devotion to public service was summed up in his Young Guns interview in 2008 when he said, “It is an honor and privilege to not only work for Gov. Manchin but to come in and perform some kind of public service in the time I’m going to be here.”
The sentiment that he expressed in 2008 was the same that he carried with him during his four-month term as a U.S. Senator: to serve the public the best way he could in the time he was given.
With the election of a new U.S. Senator to complete the remainder of Sen. Byrd’s term, Sen. Goodwin returned to Charleston to resume his law practice. Becoming a public servant wasn’t something he did in the form of a favor to Gov. Manchin at a time when the state needed a senator, though. Public service is, for Carte Goodwin, a way of life taught to him by his father in Mt. Alto, WV. And while his abbreviated term as a U.S. Senator may have come to an end, you can be sure we haven’t heard the last of Carte Goodwin.
WVE: Tell me about the first time you walked into the U.S. Senate Chamber. What was going through your mind and what kind of emotions were you experiencing?
CG: It’s hard to explain. I was incredibly fortunate to have my wife with me, who at the time was pregnant with our daughter, as well as my son, Wes. Up in the senate gallery there was my mother, Gov. Manchin and so many of our friends and family who had traveled from West Virginia to be in Washington, D.C. that day. Sen. Rockefeller walked onto the senate floor with me where Vice President Biden was waiting to perform the official swearing in. This was truly an amazing experience—I felt so honored to have the chance to represent West Virginia in the United States Senate and this is an honor that I take with me each and every day.
WVE: Tell me about the pressures of sitting in that chair in the Senate Chamber—the pressures of upholding a deeper responsibility for West Virginia and taking up the good fight for its citizens.
CG: Having the opportunity to work for West Virginia on the issues that really matter to our state—from economic security, balancing the federal budget and protecting the brave soldiers who put their lives on the line for our security to strengthening our education and health care systems—is a responsibility I take very seriously. We need to put people back to work and improve the economy in West Virginia.
WVE: Have you ever worried about what your fellow West Virginians would think about decisions you have made while in this position?
CG: The challenge for any public servant is to balance the discretion inherent in your position with the concerns of your constituents. I think that challenge is especially pronounced here since I was appointed to the position, but West Virginians are thoughtful and can appreciate hearing both sides of each debate. Each and every decision that I made was in the best interest of the people of West Virginia.
WVE: You’ll go in the history books as the youngest U.S. Senator to date and as the successor of the oldest U.S. Senator, and 8th graders all over West Virginia will be reading about you. What do you think about that?
CG: It’s humbling. As I’ve said before, no one can fill Sen. Byrd’s shoes—all I could do was try to emulate his work ethic. Our state is fortunate to have had such talented leaders in the federal government—including Senators Byrd and Rockefeller. I hope that the students in West Virginia who read about this in their history books know how hard their senators have worked for them to secure a strong future for our state.
WVE: What was your main goal as a U.S. Senator?
CG: My goal was to work hard every day for the people of West Virginia. I was fortunate to have committee assignments that reflect the interests of our state. My participation on the Budget Committee, for instance, aided in addressing our rising deficit, an issue which I know West Virginians care a great deal about. I also participated on The Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee, which has oversight over the mine safety legislation I introduced with Sen. Rockefeller; The Senate Armed Services Committee, which the late Sen. Robert Byrd served valiantly on for nearly three decades and The Rules Committee, another place where the late Sen. Byrd made his mark as a master of senate rules, which is currently taking a long, thoughtful look on senate procedures.
WVE: What was the toughest issue you faced as a senator?
CG: The toughest issue for any senator is to address the concerns of their state—and in West Virginia, families are concerned about the economy and our rising deficit. I think we need to do what is best for West Virginia families, many of whom are struggling during these tough economic times. I absolutely believe we can do this in a fiscally responsible way so we are not passing debt on to our grandchildren.
WVE: Tell me about your first vote in the U.S. Senate.
CG: I am honored that my first vote in the United States Senate, which was centered on extending unemployment benefits, helped so many West Virginians who are struggling in this difficult economy as they search for a new job. Too many people have been suffering while this bill has been held in limbo and I’m glad that I was able to play a part in pushing this legislation forward.
We are faced with a situation where there are five potential employees for every one job opening, leaving too many families struggling to make ends meet. We must focus on policies that will foster the return of a healthy, job-creating economy, and that is what I was there to do.
WVE: What kind of effect did your sudden rise in the political chain have on your family and personal life?
CG: The most direct effect, of course, was that we temporarily relocated to Washington, D.C. It was a wonderful transition and we tried to enjoy everything D.C. has to offer.
WVE: Tell me about a typical day on Capitol Hill.
CG: I tried to make it into the office on the early side, read the West Virginia newspapers, met with staff and went over the day’s agenda. We had committee hearings and senate votes, and I even had the opportunity to preside over the senate on several occasions.
WVE: What is the most important thing for the next senator to know upon taking this position?
CG: That serving our state is an honor and a privilege, but above anything, you’re doing the job for the people of West Virginia. You need to do what is best for West Virginia each and every day.
WVE: What is the most important thing you’ve learned?
CG: I’ve learned how incredibly blessed I am to be here in the senate—to represent a state I love and to have a supportive family, a hardworking staff and an opportunity to make a difference.
