CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A day after apparently getting a bigger share of the vote than any West Virginia gubernatorial candidate ever, Gov. Joe Manchin said he intends to use that momentum to push an aggressive agenda in the 2009 legislative session.

"I can't tell you how humbled and proud I am for the people to believe in what we've been able to do, working together with the Legislature," Manchin said of Tuesday's election, where he received 70 percent of the vote over Republican Russ Weeks and the Mountain Party's Jesse Johnson.

That tops the 1936 gubernatorial election, when Democrat Homer Holt defeated Summers Sharp by a 69 percent-31 percent margin.

Manchin acknowledged Wednesday that he benefited by running during a comparatively bright time for the state economy - but credited that upturn in part to initiatives over the past four years to cut taxes and reduce the state's long-term debts.

"We've had good times in the energy sector before, but the bases for a strong economy were not there," he said.

Manchin said he will use Tuesday's mandate to push for more initiatives to grow the state's economy, and develop an education system that prepares students for the workforce of the 21st century.

"We can't get to the next level without an educated workforce," he said. "People won't make investments here unless they know we have a workforce that can do what needs to be done."

Manchin said he wants to make sure every working person in the state has health care coverage, and said he wants to make the state a leader in the development of new, cleaner energy technologies.

"We've got to make some very solid and very smart choices," he said. "We will continue to grow our economy when other states are having difficulties and making cuts."

He said recent positive reports about the state economy from the Cato Institute and the Rockefeller Institute of Government is evidence the state is moving in the right direction.

"This is really happening. It's not just the same-old, same-old any more," Manchin said.

Reach Phil Kabler at ph...@wvgazette.com or 348-1220.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A day after apparently getting a bigger share of the vote than any West Virginia gubernatorial candidate ever, Gov. Joe Manchin said he intends to use that momentum to push an aggressive agenda in the 2009 legislative session.

"I can't tell you how humbled and proud I am for the people to believe in what we've been able to do, working together with the Legislature," Manchin said of Tuesday's election, where he received 70 percent of the vote over Republican Russ Weeks and the Mountain Party's Jesse Johnson.

That tops the 1936 gubernatorial election, when Democrat Homer Holt defeated Summers Sharp by a 69 percent-31 percent margin.

Manchin acknowledged Wednesday that he benefited by running during a comparatively bright time for the state economy - but credited that upturn in part to initiatives over the past four years to cut taxes and reduce the state's long-term debts.

"We've had good times in the energy sector before, but the bases for a strong economy were not there," he said.

Manchin said he will use Tuesday's mandate to push for more initiatives to grow the state's economy, and develop an education system that prepares students for the workforce of the 21st century.

"We can't get to the next level without an educated workforce," he said. "People won't make investments here unless they know we have a workforce that can do what needs to be done."

Manchin said he wants to make sure every working person in the state has health care coverage, and said he wants to make the state a leader in the development of new, cleaner energy technologies.

"We've got to make some very solid and very smart choices," he said. "We will continue to grow our economy when other states are having difficulties and making cuts."

He said recent positive reports about the state economy from the Cato Institute and the Rockefeller Institute of Government is evidence the state is moving in the right direction.

"This is really happening. It's not just the same-old, same-old any more," Manchin said.

Reach Phil Kabler at ph...@wvgazette.com or 348-1220.