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Trump promised to bring back coal in Appalachia. Here's why that didn't happen
Columbus DispatchIn 2016, Trump beat Clinton in Perry County by nearly 41%. All but two of Ohio's Appalachian counties — Athens and Mahoning — voted overwhelmingly for Trump that year. Even longtime Democratic strongholds in Jefferson, Belmont and Monroe counties, where many of Ohio's remaining operating coal mines are located, decided on Trump.
Today, Baker, who works as deputy auditor for Perry County and president of the county’s fair board, calls New Lexington a “tail light community.” With the mine closed and any other industry miles away, folks have no choice but to drive elsewhere for work.
“You only see their tail lights driving out in the morning, and their headlights coming back at night,” he said.
Promises kept?
