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CHARLESTON -- A former secretary of commerce has joined the board of directors of the Cardinal Institute in West Virginia.
Ed Gaunch, a native of Boone County, is respected for integrity, business acumen, love for his home state and a desire "to help shape a better future for West Virginia and its people," Garrett Ballengee, executive director of the Cardinal Institute.
"The Cardinal Institute could not be prouder to have a man like Ed Gaunch join its board of directors," Ballengee said.
Gaunch graduated from West Virginia State University in 1970. He spent more than three decades in the insurance industry including 34 years at the Carson Agency in Charleston where he was president and CEO.
In 2014, Gaunch was elected to the state Senate representing the 8th District. In December 2018, Gaunch was appointed by Gov. Jim Justice as secretary for the Department of Commerce.
Gaunch and his wife, Marilyn, of 55 years, reside in Charleston.
"I am pleased and honored to be invited to join the Board of the Cardinal Institute because the mission of Cardinal matches one of my own personal mission priorities which is to promote economic freedom, individual liberty, consumer choice and limited government," Gaunch said.
Gaunch said he wants to be the "catalyst to help create an atmosphere where our young citizens, including our children and grandchildren, can flourish and enjoy a wonderful future in this state that we love."
"I am very optimistic about the future of West Virginia. We have made giant strides over the past decade in terms of policy and governmental attitude," he said. "Folks are beginning to recognize that West Virginia is a wonderful place to live, work, play, transact business, and raise a family. While there is work yet to be done, I believe that the underpinnings are in place to make further progress."
Gaunch is dedicated to bettering the broader West Virginia community, a goal shared by the Cardinal Institute, Ballengee said.
"We look forward to bigger and better things with Ed on board in 2023 and beyond," Ballengee said.
The Cardinal Institute was founded in 2014 and is a non-profit group dedicated to research, develop, and communicate effective free market public policies for West Virginia.