West Virginia Candidate Maloney Denies Profit Over Safety Charge

West Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Maloney said Democrats’ accusations that he values profits over safety are untrue.

The founder of North American Drillers was among those who helped rescue 33 trapped Chilean gold miners in 2010 and touted that experience as one West Virginia can learn from at a Charleston mining symposium on Wednesday.

Maloney filed last week to challenge incumbent Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin this fall.

Democrats responded by launching a website and posting a letter Maloney had sent federal officials opposing some proposed regulations. But Maloney says he’s more passionate about safety than anyone and the website distorts his position.

Maloney also said he’s studied fatality figures and called West Virginia’s numbers inexcusable. He said companies, regulators and others should set aside their differences to help make mines safer.