Former Gov. Gaston Caperton has endorsed Jim Justice for governor, as Justice hopes to follow the path that Caperton traveled, from business success to the Governor's Mansion.
Justice, a coal and agriculture magnate and owner of The Greenbrier resort, is in a three-way Democratic primary against state Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler, of Marshall County, and former U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin.
Just as Justice's campaign has done so far, Caperton cited his business success as a reason to support his bid for office.
"Jim Justice understands how to create jobs and grow our economy," Caperton said, in a prepared statement. "Just look at how he rescued The Greenbrier from bankruptcy and added hundreds of new jobs to the resort. When many coal operators are closing their doors, Justice has kept coal miners on the job. The man knows how to make big things happen."
He also cited Justice's success in bringing a PGA Tour golf tournament to The Greenbrier and getting the New Orleans Saints to hold their training camp there.
Caperton was governor from 1989 to 1997. Just as Justice intends to do, Caperton used his personal wealth to boost his campaign. Caperton transformed a small Charleston insurance agency into the nation's 10th largest insurance brokerage firm. He spent $3.2 million of his own money to defeat Arch Moore in 1988.
Justice, whose assets are estimated by Forbes at $1.7 billion, is the richest man in West Virginia.
"Jim Justice has no hidden agenda, and is not doing this for personal gain," Caperton said in his statement. "Jim is running because he deeply loves our state."
The Kessler and Goodwin campaigns could not be reached for comment Monday.
Reach David Gutman at david.gutman@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5119 or follow @davidlgutman on Twitter.