By Steven Allen Adams | West Virginia Watchdog

CHARLESTON — Republican businessman Bill Maloney filed candidacy papers today for another run for Governor of West Virginia, hoping to close the three-point gap that saw him fall to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.

Maloney was joined by his wife Sharon and several supporters at the Secretary of State’s office; a big difference from when he filed this time last year when he was a newcomer to state politics.

“I walked in a quarter to five last year and nobody knew who I was,” Maloney said. “This year you know who I am.”

Maloney, a drilling engineer, was a co-founder and executive at North American Drillers, North American Pump and Supply Co., and Shaft Drillers International (SDI). He is the principal of Cow Run Energy LLC and Drill Leader LLC, and founder of the Mine Rescue Drilling Fund.

A virtual unknown in the political world when he first entered the race in February 2011, Maloney went on to defeat eight Republicans in the May 4 primary, including former Secretary of State Betty Ireland. Maloney beat Ireland 27,871 to 19,027; a difference of 8,844 votes.

Maloney went on to the general election, where he faced Tomblin, who was then the Senate President and acting governor, defeated Maloney 50 percent to 47 percent; a difference of 7,546 votes. Last year’s special general election was one month shorter. Maloney said he has more time to campaign and reach parts of the state where he didn’t do so well.

“Our message resonated,” Maloney said. “You’ve got to get government out of the way, bureaucracy out of the way, make the taxes fair for everybody, and let our kids stay here and have opportunities. “We’re going to beat the same drum this time. We’re going to get everywhere in the state and repeat that message.”

Tomblin, next in line of gubernatorial succession due to being Senate President, was sworn in to act as governor after Joe Manchin was sworn in as U.S. Senator, a seat he won when a special election was called after the death of U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd. Originally intending to remain acting governor until the 2012 election, the state Supreme Court of Appeals ordered a special election.

Maloney isn’t the only Monongalia County-based millionaire running in 2012. Republican Businessman John Raese is challenging Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Manchin in 2012. Raese ran for U.S. Senate in 1984, losing to Jay Rockefeller. He ran for U.S. Senate again in 2006, losing to Robert C. Byrd. After Byrd died in 2010, Raese ran against Joe Manchin, who was governor at the time. Manchin beat Raese 53 percent to 43 percent.

The state Democratic Party is already attacking Raese, and now Maloney, for trying to buy their way to office. Today, the Democratic Party unveiled moremaloneybaloney.net and issued a press release.

“This past fall the phrase ‘Maloney Baloney’ was coined, and it’s an incredibly accurate description,” said Larry Puccio, chairman of the West Virginia Democratic Party. “Bill Maloney spent millions of his own money on lies, distortions, and promoting risky ideas in hopes of buying an election. Over the next ten months we’re happy to hold him accountable and help spread the word about why millionaire Maloney is wrong for West Virginia.”

Maloney dismissed these attacks as unfair.

“We’re very successful by the grace of God, but really by a lot of hard work and doing the right thing,” Maloney said. “There’s this aura out there that there’s something wrong with that. You know what? There is nothing wrong with that. That’s what America is all about and if there is something wrong with being successful by hard work, we’re not America any more. Believe me, West Virginians don’t feel like that.”

Watch the Maloney press conference below:

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