Source: The Independent Herald

Tony Paynter says working in the House of Delegates is a more amicable experience than he expected.

Panyter, a Republican, is serving his first term as representative of the 25th District.

“The most surprising thing to me is how well everybody gets along,” he commented. “I thought it would be a battle, but both sides get along. What happens on the floor (of the House) happens on the floor.

“I have good friends on both sides,” he added.

“There are so many different personalities, but you have to find ways to get along with everybody,” Paynter stated.

Long days are the rule, not the exception.

“It’s been hectic,” Paynter said. “You never keep running.

“Some days I work from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.,” he noted. “You have a little free time if you get here early, but that’s about it.”

He serves on five committees, but Government Organization occupies much of his time.

“We meet three or four times a week, and the meetings last an hour to three hours,” he said. “The bills have to be ironed out before they go to Judiciary or Finance and then ironed out on the floor.”

Paynter said Speaker of the House Tim Armstead “pretty much gave me every committee I asked for.”

One thing he has had to learn, he said, “is tempering my expectations. You think you can do big things. but you find out how slow this process really works.”

Visitors from his home district are always welcome. “I’ve probably had 40 pages (from Wyoming County schools),” he said. “It tickles me to death.

“I’m happy to be here fighting for my district,” Paynter said. “I’ve got their back even if it means staying in trouble with my party.

“Doing right has no party,” he stated. “If it’s a good idea, it needs to be done, no matter who comes up with it.”

He says constituents ask him about the budget. “The budget is the gorilla in the room,” he commented. “We’ve been working on that since we got here.

“I think we’re on a good track to get something done,” Paynter remarked. “I think we can get it done before the session ends, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that doesn’t happen.”

He says there has been a lot of work on making drug penalties stiffer and trying to improve the state’s business climate.

“I never dreamed I would be here, but I enjoy every second of it,” Paynter said.

He thanked voters for sending him to Charleston.

“There are days when I still can’t believe I’m here,” he said.