We're a growing group of people who believe that understanding your world shouldn't feel impossible. We believe you should have what you need, so you can live a meaningful life, and spend your days with intention pursuing a purpose.
The people behind The West Virginia Clarity Project
Creator & Founder
Core Contributor
Core Contributor
The WV Clarity Project started as a simple idea: people deserve a place where they can learn how things work without feeling overwhelmed, judged, or talked down to. Over time, that idea grew into a broader effort focused on helping people build confidence in their own ability to understand their government, their community, and the systems around them.
We're motivated by curiosity, honesty, and a genuine belief that people grow when they have the right tools. We don't see ourselves as experts, or as a team who knows everything. We see ourselves as learners, and human beings who stand beside anyone. Our work is shaped by a desire to make things clearer for everyone.
This project began in West Virginia because this is where we live, work, and care deeply about the future. But the values behind it aren't limited to one state. Anyone who wants to learn and grow is welcome here.
As we grow, we're building more than a website. We're building a space where people can learn at their own pace, ask better questions, and feel supported in the process. Over time, this will expand into hands-on efforts, community involvement, and resources that help people take meaningful steps in their own lives.
We're here to grow, and to help others grow with us. You deserve to live a life of dignity, and to have what you need to survive - no matter who you are and what your situation is.
We respect your privacy. The WV Clarity Project does not track, sell, or share personal data. Any information you choose to provide (such as through a contact form) is used solely for communication related to this project.
The WV Clarity Project is committed to accountability for all West Virginians regardless of party or institution. All candidates and incumbents are invited to interview. Candidates are asked about their plans and goals. Incumbents are additionally asked about their record in office. All participants receive a similar structured format and fact-checked summary. Those who decline or do not respond are documented as such. We do not speak for any party, candidate, or corporation.
The WV Clarity Project is committed to making our website accessible and usable for everyone, including people with disabilities. We aim to follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA and continuously improve our site. If you experience any accessibility issues or have suggestions, please fill out our contact form.
William Polhamus is a lifelong citizen of West Virginia. He has worked as a delivery driver, and currently works as an intern and IT, and a housekeeper as a secondary job. His academic background includes an associate's degree in Software Development Engineering (2026) from Blue Ridge Community and Technical College in Martinsburg, West Virginia. He enjoys many hobbies and consuming arts, like exercising, creating websites and software, guitar, Spanish, jazz, and civic engagement. A lot of his life is dedicated to building tools and resources that help people heal, learn, and understand the world around them. His efforts within the project are inspired by seeing the massive amounts of misinformation, scattered information, and hateful rhetoric. His goals are to help the civic space turn into something that isn't scary, but rather something that actually helps us flourish, and work towards real solutions.
Paul Johanson has been a professional gardener most of his life of both plants and people. His academic background includes degrees in Cultural and Linguistic Anthropology from UW, Madison (1987), ILS - Critical Thinking and Expression (Certificate from UW- Madison 1987), Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (University of Arizona - Tucson with honors) and for 30 years has worked with and led men's personal growth work in the ManKind Project. He has worked as a gardener, owned multiple businesses with his wife (a coffeeshop, a movie theater and a restaurant). He became increasingly political in response to what he has seen happening in his town, country, nation and world over the past two decades in particular. Throughout his slow dip into political discussions and collaboration with fellow citizens he tries to keep focus on the underlying problems that define us for better or worse. He believes times we are living through now are stressful for many but they are not unique and we can learn a great deal from our previous generations have responded to our natural inclinations to divide and vote against our own best interests in the face of power, money and corruption of our politics.
Bio Coming Soon - Oriole has helped with advising on the direction of the project and providing support to us.