Name Lisa Hyre
Office Sought WV House of Delegates
Party Affiliation Democrat
District 84
City/Town Kingwood
Campaign Website Hyre for House (facebook)
Data shows that Black and low-income students are disciplined at a higher rate than their peers in West Virginia schools. Involvement of School Resource Officers (SROs) exacerbates these discrepancies and can lead to the school-to-prison pipeline. Studies show SROs do little to make schools safer, while contributing to harsher discipline and drawing resources away from other services like mental health and other support services. What is your position on having SROs in schools?
I would rather have a social worker walking the halls than a cop with a gun. Although I appreciate some SROs are kind, capable individuals, I do not believe they are as approachable to kids that have behavior or mental health issues.
Mental health has been a growing concern since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Conversations on mental health are complicated by the prevalence of substance use disorder (SUD) in the state. WV has long wait times for mental health services including SUD treatment. One proposal is using mental health teams as first responders. Would you support funding for more mental health response teams? Why or why not, and what if any is the role of the legislature in solving this issue?
I have worked as an attorney, representing indigent clients, for over 22 years. Many of my clients have SUD and/or mental health issues. I also worked for about 8 years as a social worker. I have experienced too many incidents where an individual, experiencing a mental health crisis, is arrested and taken to jail. So many times these folks should have been taken to a mental health facility. I love the idea of having mental health teams as first responders!
In Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. In response, the West Virginia Legislature banned most abortions. Do you agree or disagree with this new law? What do you think West Virginia's abortion policies should be?
I have always been pro-choice. I believe the decision whether or not to have an abortion, is a decision a woman should make for herself. I know of no woman who WANTED to have an abortion. It is a very difficult and personal decision. Banning abortions will only serve to kill women when they take action on their own. I support efforts and ideas to decrease the number of abortions. I support free and accessible birth control. I support health education classes in high schools where students can learn about birth control options and the possible consequences of being sexually active, including STDs.
Several West Virginia municipalities have passed ordinances that expand the definition of racial discrimination to include discriminating against traditional or natural hair textures and styles. Would you support expanding this protection statewide? Why or why not?
Yes, I would support expanding this protection, but am unsure if it is necessary. Normally, the discrimination over natural hair is racial discrimination.
Many states have created laws that seek to limit the teaching of "divisive concepts" or "critical race theory.” West Virginia narrowly missed passing a similar law during the 2022 Legislative Session. What is the value or harm in teaching these topics and what role should the legislature play in determining this curriculum?
I believe our students should be taught true history. Teachers and Educators should decide the curriculum for schools.
Currently there is no statewide law protecting people in matters of employment, housing, and public accommodations based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Do you support or oppose adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s nondiscrimination law? Why or why not?
I support adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the State's nondiscrimination laws. I honestly thought sexual orientation was protected by the WV Human Rights Act. I was wrong, it is not and should be.
There is increasing tension with communities of people who are unhoused or face housing insecurity. Police breakups of encampments are common, and municipalities have shown growing opposition to low-barrier housing and recovery housing. How would you address community concerns while protecting the rights of unhoused people?
I find it sad and frustrating that we have such a large number of unhoused people. I am also aware many of those facing housing issues are also suffering from mental health issues/SUD as well. So I understand the concerns of the community, simply because of these issues. I don't have the answer but I am willing to listen and work toward a solution.
Jails in West Virginia are overcrowded, have some of the nation’s highest death rates, and are bankrupting some counties. Prisons are understaffed, making them dangerous for residents and staff alike. What steps should West Virginia take to address these issues?
Stop putting people in jail for being addicts. Building more jails is not the answer. The answer is half-way houses, job training programs, community service, rehabilitation programs, life skills training, and providing defendants with resources to get a decent paying job. A job where one can afford to have a decent home, a decent car, enough to pay the bills and have a little left. Go back to unsupervised probation where we aren't simply having people come to the probation office for drug testing and then putting them in jail for being addicts. Lighter sentences for non-violent crimes. The goal should be less people in jail, not more jails.
Taxpayers who have served time behind bars and are currently on probation and/or parole cannot vote in West Virginia. The West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee joined a growing number of states this year and passed a bill that would have expanded that right to people in community corrections. When, if ever do you think people should lose their right to vote? When should that right be restored?
I think if a person has a felony conviction from more than 15 years ago,(negotiable) and has not had any additional offenses, the felony should be expunged and the person's right to vote should be restored. If someone is on probation or a participant in community corrections, they should retain their right to vote.
Study after study shows that gender-affirming care is lifesaving for trans people. And yet, some states have banned things like hormone therapy and even labeled gender-affirming care for minors as child abuse. How can West Virginia, a state with a large percentage of trans-identifying teens, best protect transgender people?
This is a parenting decision. But, I believe failing to provide gender-affirming care would be emotionally abusive. And I would never vote to ban hormone therapy. The decision should be left to the child, the parents, and possibly a counselor or other trained professional.