Green Party Gains a Partisan Office-Holder in West Virginia
By Richard Winger
Ballot Access News
On July 24, 2012, Charleston, West Virginia city councilwoman Kasey Russell revealed that she has changed her registration from “Democrat” to “Mountain.” In West Virginia, the name of the state Green Party is the Mountain Party. It has been ballot-qualified starting since November 2000. Charleston City Council is a partisan body. The council now has fifteen Democrats, eleven Republicans, and one Green Party member. See this story [below]. As far as is known, this is the first time any member of a minor party has held partisan office in West Virginia since the Prohibition Party elected a state legislator in 1906. Thanks to Andrew for the link.
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Charleston City Council Democrat changes parties
By Paul Fallon
Charleston Daily Mail
Charleston City Council has lost a Democrat and gained a member of the Mountain Party.
Saying that the current political system is "broken," Councilwoman Kasey Russell has switched her party affiliation and resigned from the Democratic Executive Committee.
Russell, a two-term, at-large council member, made the change during a Mountain Party convention in Sutton on Sunday.
Russell also will not seek re-election when her term expires in 2015.
"I've been thinking about this for a while, and I know it's the right decision because I feel like a big weight has been lifted off my shoulders," she said.
She has become disenfranchised with both the Democratic and Republican parties on a national level. She felt it was time for a change. She believes large corporations and big money play too big a part in policy decisions within the two parties.
"I think our political system is broken," Russell said. "And I don't want to be a part of that system anymore."
Russell pointed out that she has long been a proponent of allowing local farmers to sell produce to the school system. However, large corporations oppose the measure and it has not been adopted, she said.
"I felt like this was an opportunity to join with some other people who are willing to speak up and say 'Hey, this isn't right,' " Russell said.
When asked why she opted not to become an independent instead of joining the Mountain Party, Russell answered, "I guess I thought there was value to belonging to a political party."
She doesn't expect the change will affect her performance on council. Partisan politics play no role in the city and that political affiliation does not play a role in council members' decisions, she said.
"There's not really any party affiliation when it comes to dealing with issues in the city," she said. "People on council don't make decisions based on their party."
Russell will continue to serve on the same committees, she said.
The Democrats will also remain the majority party on council. Fifteen members of council are Democrat, and 11 members are Republican counting Mayor Danny Jones.
East End Councilman Cubert Smith is the lone independent.
Majority Leader Jack Harrison said issues handled at the city level don't come down to partisan politics.
"You don't have Democratic potholes and Republican potholes," Harrison said.
This bipartisan attitude is what helps make Charleston Council an effective legislative body, he said.
"I'm thankful for that," Harrison said. "I wouldn't want to be a part of party politics.
"Politics gets in the way of delivering service, and we don't let that happen," he added.
Representatives from the West Virginia Mountain Party could not be reached for comment.
Russell said she would publish an explanation in local media outlets either in the form of a paid advertisement or a letter to the editor.
Russell made the decision not to run for re-election long before she made the choice to switch parties, she said. She cited family commitments, among other issues.
"Being on council is a lot of work," Russell said. "I feel like being on council eight years is enough."
Russell has a husband and two children - a 10-year-old son and a 13-year-old daughter.
She isn't ruling out a run for some other office in the future.
"We'll see what happens," she said.
By Richard Winger
Ballot Access News
On July 24, 2012, Charleston, West Virginia city councilwoman Kasey Russell revealed that she has changed her registration from “Democrat” to “Mountain.” In West Virginia, the name of the state Green Party is the Mountain Party. It has been ballot-qualified starting since November 2000. Charleston City Council is a partisan body. The council now has fifteen Democrats, eleven Republicans, and one Green Party member. See this story [below]. As far as is known, this is the first time any member of a minor party has held partisan office in West Virginia since the Prohibition Party elected a state legislator in 1906. Thanks to Andrew for the link.
* * *
Charleston City Council Democrat changes parties
By Paul Fallon
Charleston Daily Mail
Charleston City Council has lost a Democrat and gained a member of the Mountain Party.
Saying that the current political system is "broken," Councilwoman Kasey Russell has switched her party affiliation and resigned from the Democratic Executive Committee.
Russell, a two-term, at-large council member, made the change during a Mountain Party convention in Sutton on Sunday.
Russell also will not seek re-election when her term expires in 2015.
"I've been thinking about this for a while, and I know it's the right decision because I feel like a big weight has been lifted off my shoulders," she said.
She has become disenfranchised with both the Democratic and Republican parties on a national level. She felt it was time for a change. She believes large corporations and big money play too big a part in policy decisions within the two parties.
"I think our political system is broken," Russell said. "And I don't want to be a part of that system anymore."
Russell pointed out that she has long been a proponent of allowing local farmers to sell produce to the school system. However, large corporations oppose the measure and it has not been adopted, she said.
"I felt like this was an opportunity to join with some other people who are willing to speak up and say 'Hey, this isn't right,' " Russell said.
When asked why she opted not to become an independent instead of joining the Mountain Party, Russell answered, "I guess I thought there was value to belonging to a political party."
She doesn't expect the change will affect her performance on council. Partisan politics play no role in the city and that political affiliation does not play a role in council members' decisions, she said.
"There's not really any party affiliation when it comes to dealing with issues in the city," she said. "People on council don't make decisions based on their party."
Russell will continue to serve on the same committees, she said.
The Democrats will also remain the majority party on council. Fifteen members of council are Democrat, and 11 members are Republican counting Mayor Danny Jones.
East End Councilman Cubert Smith is the lone independent.
Majority Leader Jack Harrison said issues handled at the city level don't come down to partisan politics.
"You don't have Democratic potholes and Republican potholes," Harrison said.
This bipartisan attitude is what helps make Charleston Council an effective legislative body, he said.
"I'm thankful for that," Harrison said. "I wouldn't want to be a part of party politics.
"Politics gets in the way of delivering service, and we don't let that happen," he added.
Representatives from the West Virginia Mountain Party could not be reached for comment.
Russell said she would publish an explanation in local media outlets either in the form of a paid advertisement or a letter to the editor.
Russell made the decision not to run for re-election long before she made the choice to switch parties, she said. She cited family commitments, among other issues.
"Being on council is a lot of work," Russell said. "I feel like being on council eight years is enough."
Russell has a husband and two children - a 10-year-old son and a 13-year-old daughter.
She isn't ruling out a run for some other office in the future.
"We'll see what happens," she said.
