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Charlotte Pritt

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Charlotte Pritt
Member of the West Virginia Senate
from the 17th district
In office
December 1, 1988 – December 1, 1992
Preceded byTod Kaufman
Succeeded byMartha Yeager Walker
Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates
from the 23rd district
In office
December 1, 1984 – December 1, 1988
Personal details
Born
Charlotte Jean Pritt

(1949-01-02) January 2, 1949 (age 75)
Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (before 2012)
Mountain (2012–2020)
Independent (2020–present)
SpouseJames Midkiff
Children3 stepchildren
EducationMarshall University (BA, MA)

Charlotte Jean Pritt (born January 2, 1949)[1] is an American educator, businesswoman, and politician in the U.S. state of West Virginia.[2][3][4] From 1984 to 1988, she served in the West Virginia House of Delegates, representing Kanawha County.[5][6] From 1988 to 1992, she served in the West Virginia State Senate.[6] She ran unsuccessfully for West Virginia governor in 1992, 1996 and 2016 and for West Virginia Secretary of State in 2000.[7]

Career

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Prior to entering politics, Pritt, the daughter of a coal miner, worked as a high school English teacher[8] and a college professor.[9] During the span of her educational career, she served as director of communications at Kanawha County Schools and director of the West Virginia Writing Project at the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies.[4][1] She had also served as an independent marketer and president of the Charleston office for SteelOaks/Acorn Investments and formerly owned Pritt Associates.[10][4]

When elected to the West Virginia State Legislature, she directed two federal education grants and the National Writing Program in West Virginia.[4][11][12]

Statewide campaigns

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1992

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Pritt ran for governor as a Democrat in the primary election in 1992, but lost to Gaston Caperton.[9] She gained notoriety initially by challenging then-Governor Caperton on his grocery and gasoline taxes and opposition to collective bargaining.[13][14] She also managed to garner strong union support.[14] Even so, Caperton had outspent Pritt 10 to 1 and defeated her in the primary, 42.68 to 36.45 percent.[13][15] West Virginia attorney general Mario Palumbo came in third, with 20.1 percent.[16][15]

After losing the Democratic primary to Caperton, Pritt refused to endorse her opponent and mounted an independent write-in bid for governor in the general election.[9][1] This action led to a splinter in the state's party establishment.[9] Pritt garnered 12.4 percent in the race, in which Caperton defeated Republican Cleve Benedict, 51 to 36.6 percent.[17]

1996

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Pritt ran as a Democrat for governor and defeated future governor and U.S. Senator Joe Manchin in the primary, 39.5 to 32.6 percent.[18][13] She was the first woman to secure the West Virginia gubernatorial nomination of either of the two major political parties and gained the endorsement of then President Bill Clinton.[19][20]

During the primary, Manchin had attempted to portray her as "anti-gun", which Pritt denied by stating she owned a shotgun and being a 12-year member of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) at that time.[9][13][14] After the primary, a group known as "Democrats for Underwood", which consisted of West Virginia Democrats who refused to back her in the general election.[9] Pritt dismissed the defections as coming from Democratic officials "who would be Republicans in any other state anyway".[14]

Further complicating matters, the National Senate Republican Committee (NSRC) and West Virginia State Victory Committee funded a television ad campaign against Pritt falsely accusing her of voting for a bill that would allow children to access pornography and proposing to teach first graders about condom use, among others.[21] Underwood distanced himself from the negative ads.[22] Political opponents had additionally attempted to paint her as "flaky" and "a little off the wall" by alleging that her mother had dabbled in fortune-telling.[13][14]

Pritt lost in the general election to Republican Cecil Underwood, 51.6 to 48.5 percent.[23][24] While she sued the NSRC after the election, it was ruled that too much time had passed for it to have caused harm to Pritt.[25] Pritt called on her former opponent Underwood to testify during her suit.[22]

Her nomination was particularly ground-breaking because only 20 of the 134 West Virginia legislators were women in 1996, and per the U.S. Census Bureau, fewer women hold jobs in West Virginia than any other state.[13] A study published in 1999 in the Journal of Women, Politics & Policy found that the press coverage surrounding her and Mary Sue Terry's gubernatorial campaigns had been negative, albeit primarily based on issues aside from gender.[26] Even still, none of the state's major newspapers endorsed her campaign.[27]

2000

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Pritt ran for West Virginia Secretary of State in 2000, losing the Democratic primary to Manchin, 41.1 to 32.9 percent.[7][28] After the election, she returned to educational pursuits and studied for a degree in nutrition.[1]

2016

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Pritt was nominated as the Mountain Party's candidate for West Virginia governor on July 16, 2016, at the party's convention.[29] Rev. Jim Lewis, who was previously expected to get the nod, got sidelined by knee surgery.[7]

On Bray Cary's statewide show Decision Makers, Pritt called her billionaire Democratic gubernatorial opponent Jim Justice a "Republican".[30] In response, West Virginia Democratic Party chairwoman Belinda Biafore allegedly signed and sent out a letter to an electronic mailing list claiming that the GOP had adopted Pritt, that the Republicans were funding her campaign, and that "a vote for Pritt is a vote for Cole" (a reference to Bill Cole, the GOP nominee).[30] Pritt called the unsubstantiated accusations a "blindfaced lie" and instead argued that a vote for her is a vote against the "conservative status quo".[30][31]

Pritt was not invited to the debate between the Republican and Democratic nominees. She finished third in the general election, receiving less than 6% of the vote, behind Justice (the winner) and Cole.[32]

Mountain Party

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From 2012 to 2014, she was chairwoman of the Mountain Party, which is the Green Party's state branch affiliate for West Virginia.[33][34]

Political activism

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During campaign events, Pritt would recount standing on picket lines.[13] The Rolling Stone noted that she was a longtime advocate for the environment, women's rights and worker safety.[5] She started her political career arguing against nursing home closures and against gas taxes.[35] In July 1993, while working as a consultant for citizens groups, she authored a column calling for citizen action against the construction of the APCO 760 kV high voltage line, which was successfully brought to a halt.[36]

During the 2016 election cycle, she supported Senator Bernie Sanders in the Democratic presidential primary and Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein for the general election.[6] She also endorsed the Occupy Charleston Movement in 2016.[37]

During the 2018 election cycle, Pritt endorsed Paula Jean Swearengin in the senatorial primary against incumbent Joe Manchin.[38] Pritt said that the race was "a chance for an FDR Democrat to take the party back".[39]

Having been hit hard by the effects of coal mining on miners, she campaigned for marijuana legalization.[35] This culminated in the passage of Senate Bill 386 in April 2017 to allow marijuana use for chronically ill patients.[40][35] Pritt was also a speaker at the 2017 Indivisible March for West Virginia in celebration of Women's Equality Day.[41]

In 2017, Pritt defended a Raleigh County, West Virginia doctor, Michael Kostenko, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison on federal drug charges for giving out painkillers.[42] Federal prosecutors said Kostenko continued to prescribe oxycodone to patients, even through signs of abuse. After Kostenko pleaded guilty, Pritt said at his sentencing that he was a great doctor who used “non-traditional” and “non-invasive” medical techniques.[42][43]

During the 2020 election cycle, Pritt endorsed and cast her vote by absentee ballot for Tulsi Gabbard in the Democratic presidential primaries;[44][45] she later voted for Swearengin in her senatorial bid against incumbent Shelley Moore Capito in the general election.[46][47] She has advocated for the pardon of Edward Snowden and Julian Assange.[48] She was also featured in "Water For Life: Is Safe Water a Human Right?", an episode of the PBS documentary series Global Mosaic.[49][50]

She is currently a board member of the Greater Sissonville Development Council (GSDC), a volunteer-led non-profit organization to improve the Sissonville community.[10] The non-profit seeks to increase community events, improve infrastructure, and promote economic and housing opportunities.[10]

Personal life

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Pritt was the oldest of six children and grew up on a farm.[14] Her father, who had worked as a mechanic,[51] mine safety officer, and president of United Mine Workers Local 1766, died from black lung disease.[35][52]

Pritt from 1989 to 1994, dated U.S. Congressman Steve Cohen. After that she was married in 1995 to a chiropractor, James Midkiff,[53] and had three stepchildren.[54] They divorced in 1998 after he admitted to an affair he had with a female who had been a member of Pritt's campaign staff. In 1999, Pritt began to date once more actor and politician, Jesse Johnson, whom she had dated before in the 1980s. They date after their renewed interest for over a decade and remain good friends. [1]

Today, she is the president of Better Balance LLC, a West Virginia-based educational and wellness consulting firm.[1][4] Her work has enabled her to travel abroad to Cusco, Peru, and "the first all-green hospital" in Kolkata, India.[4] Pritt owns property in Buzzard Rock Mountain,[13][53] where she grew up.[51]

Electoral history

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West Virginia Senate District 17, Position B election, 1988[55]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charlotte Pritt 38,229 54.08
Republican Charles Jones 32,464 45.92
Total votes 70,693 100.00
West Virginia Democratic gubernatorial primary, 1992[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gaston Caperton 142,261 42.68
Democratic Charlotte Pritt 115,498 34.65
Democratic Mario Palumbo 66,984 20.10
Democratic Larry Butcher 4,994 1.50
Democratic Rodger Belknap 3,590 1.08
Total votes 333,327 100.00
West Virginia gubernatorial election, 1992[56]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gaston Caperton 368,302 56.01
Republican Cleve Benedict 240,390 36.56
Nonpartisan Charlotte Pritt (write-in) 48,873 7.43
Total votes 657,565 100.00
West Virginia Democratic gubernatorial primary, 1996[57]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charlotte Pritt 130,107 39.54
Democratic Joe Manchin 107,124 32.56
Democratic Jim Lees 64,100 19.48
Democratic Larrie Bailey 15,733 4.78
Democratic Bobbie Edward Myers 3,038 0.92
Democratic Lyle Sattes 2,931 0.89
Democratic Bob Henry Baber 1,456 0.44
Democratic Louis J. Davis 1,351 0.41
Democratic Frank Rochetti 1,330 0.40
Democratic Richard E. Koon 1,154 0.35
Democratic Fred Schell 733 0.22
Total votes 329,057 100.00
West Virginia gubernatorial election, 1996[58]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Cecil H. Underwood 324,518 51.63
Democratic Charlotte Pritt 287,870 45.80
Libertarian Wallace Johnson 16,171 2.57
Total votes 628,559 100.00
West Virginia Secretary of State Democratic primary, 2000[59]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joe Manchin 141,839 51.08
Democratic Charlotte Pritt 80,148 28.86
Democratic Mike Oliverio 35,424 12.76
Democratic Bobby Nelson 20,259 7.30
Total votes 277,670 100.00
West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2016[60]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Justice 350,408 49.09
Republican Bill Cole 301,987 42.30
Mountain Charlotte Pritt 42,068 5.89
Libertarian David Moran 15,354 2.15
Constitution Phil Hudok 4,041 0.57
Total votes 713,858 100.00

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Fritz, Douglas (2016-08-17). "Charlotte Pritt". WVNS-TV. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  2. ^ "Collection: Political Campaigns and Elections Material | West Virginia University Archives Space". West Virginia University. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  3. ^ "Charlotte Pritt, longtime ago W.Va. gubernatorial candidate, to enter this year's race". WSAZ News Channel 3. 30 July 2016. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Ask The Candidates 2016". West Virginia Executive. 2016-08-26.
  5. ^ a b Nobel, Justin (2018-04-30). "Revolt in West Virginia's Coal Country". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  6. ^ a b c Gutman, David (29 July 2016). "One-time Democratic nominee Charlotte Pritt joins WV governor race with Mountain Party". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  7. ^ a b c Kercheval, Hoppy (2016-07-20). "Back to the future: The return of Charlotte Pritt". WV MetroNews. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  8. ^ Ferguson, F. Brian (1995-12-28). "Listening to father led Charlotte Pritt into politics". The Charleston Gazette.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Stevenson, Richard W. (2015-05-26). "A Democrat Is Struggling in a Democratic Haven, West Virginia". New York Times. Archived from the original on 2015-05-26. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  10. ^ a b c "About GSDC". Welcome to... Sissonville, WV. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  11. ^ "Almanac". National Journal. 11 November 1999. Archived from the original on 2012-09-10. Retrieved 2012-09-12.
  12. ^ "Back in the Statehouse After 4 Decades Away". The New York Times. 10 December 1996.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h Fleishman, Jeffrey (14 January 1996). "Coal Miner's Daughter Seeks Governor's Mansion". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  14. ^ a b c d e f Baker, Donald P. (1996-10-16). "Democratic Split Tightens W. Virginia Race". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017.
  15. ^ a b c "WV Governor - D Primary 1992". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  16. ^ "W.Va. Gov. Beats Democratic Challengers; Rep. Mollohan Wins New Term". AP News. 1992-05-13. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  17. ^ "WV Governor 1992". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  18. ^ "WV Governor - D Primary 1996". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  19. ^ Smith, Phyllis (7 November 2016). "W.Va. gubernatorial candidate Charlotte Pritt campaigns in Vienna". WTAP-TV. Archived from the original on February 6, 2021. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  20. ^ "Photos: President Bill Clinton visits Huntington, Ashland on Aug. 25, 1996 - Image Slide #4". The Herald-Dispatch. 2016-08-29. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  21. ^ Shaw, Donald (2020-01-07). "Democratic Party Backs ALEC-Tied Rep Against Progressive Challenger". Sludge. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  22. ^ a b Hill, Matthew (6 March 2006). "Former governor testifies in Pritt suit". Beckley Register-Herald. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  23. ^ Cooper, Ryan (2018-12-07). "For God's sake, keep Joe Manchin from overseeing climate policy". theweek.com. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  24. ^ "WV Governor 1996". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  25. ^ Hill, Matthew (13 March 2006). "Jury sides with defendants in Pritt lawsuit". Beckley Register-Herald. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  26. ^ Rausch, John David Jr.; Rozell, Mark J.; Wilson, Harry L. (1999-12-01). "When Women Lose". Women & Politics. 20 (4): 1–21. doi:10.1300/J014v20n04_01. ISSN 0195-7732. PMID 22624191.
  27. ^ Kruse, Michael; Everett, Burgess (8 May 2020). "Manchin in the Middle". POLITICO Magazine. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  28. ^ "WV Secretary of State - D Primary 2000". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  29. ^ "Mountain Party Drafts Charlotte Pritt for Governor - Mountain Party WV". 27 July 2016.
  30. ^ a b c McElhinny, Brad (2016-09-20). "Charlotte Pritt says supporting Bill Cole is news to her". WV MetroNews. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  31. ^ Board, Glynis (2016-11-04). "Charlotte Pritt: The Mountain Party's Maverick". WVPB. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  32. ^ "West Virginia Election Results 2016". The New York Times. 2018-06-15. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  33. ^ Nyden, Paul J. (2012-07-28). "Pritt named chairwoman of Mountain Party". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Wvgazette.com. Retrieved 2017-05-27.
  34. ^ "Campaign Trails: Mountain Party endorses independent candidate, elects new leader". The Herald-Dispatch. 26 July 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-07-26. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  35. ^ a b c d Richards, Parker (2017-08-10). "West Virginia's One Progressive Party". The American Prospect. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  36. ^ Emf, Electro Magnetic Fieldsgrass Roots Handbook: A Guide For Emf Activists. Diane Publishing Company. 2004-08-30. p. 99. ISBN 978-0-7881-3842-3.
  37. ^ "West Virginia Senator Charlotte Pritt Endorses the Occupy Movement". World News. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  38. ^ "U.S. Senate candidate: Paula Jean Swearengin (D)". AP NEWS. 2018-03-27. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  39. ^ Blest, Paul (2017-08-07). "Can You Win in Trump Country with a Bernie Sanders Platform?". VICE. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  40. ^ Zuckerman, Jake (19 April 2017). "WV governor signs medical marijuana into law". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  41. ^ Network, Action. "Indivisible March for West Virginia". actionnetwork.org. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  42. ^ a b Holdren, Wendy (23 August 2017). "Dr. Kostenko sentenced to 20 years in prison". Beckley Register-Herald. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  43. ^ "Raleigh doctor gets 20 years for giving out painkillers". 23 August 2017.
  44. ^ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Charlotte Pritt". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  45. ^ Pritt, Charlotte (2020-06-04). "I voted absentee ballot for Tulsi Gabbard this morning and will write her name in at the general!". Twitter.
  46. ^ "Senate Tracker: Democrat Swearengin Takes On Sen. Moore Capito In West Virginia". WBUR-FM. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  47. ^ Pritt, Charlotte (2020-10-28). "Wanted to write Tulsi in but my vote would not have counted in WV so I voted Howie for Pres and Paula Jean for Senate". Twitter.
  48. ^ Pritt, Charlotte (2020-11-16). "Drop charges against Assange! Pardon Snowden! Abolish the unconstitutional FISA court! Clean up Intel! Stop illegal wars! Time for a US reset!". Twitter.
  49. ^ Shields, JP (2020-07-30). "New Documentary Series GLOBAL MOSAIC Connects U.S. Audiences to World Issues Featuring Local Communities from Texas to the Congo Turning Challenges into Opportunities". KCET. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  50. ^ "Water For Life: Is Clean Water A Human Right?". PBS.
  51. ^ a b Toner, Robin (1996-05-16). "POLITICS: POLITICAL BRIEFS;THE CAMPAIGNS FOR GOVERNOR AND CONGRESS". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
  52. ^ Pritt, Julia (2018-11-15). "FYS Interview about the role of work with Charlotte Pritt by Julia Pritt". StoryCorps Archive. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  53. ^ a b Hindman, Tom; Cade, Kevin (1996-07-10). "The Girl from Buzzard Rock". Charleston Daily Mail.
  54. ^ "Charlotte Jean Pritt's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  55. ^ "WV State Senate 17 1988". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  56. ^ "WV Governor 1992". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  57. ^ "WV Governor - D Primary 1996". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  58. ^ "WV Governor 1996". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  59. ^ "WV Secretary of State - D Primary 2000". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  60. ^ "Statewide Results General Election November 8, 2016". West Virginia Secretary of State. State of West Virginia. Archived from the original on 25 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
[edit]
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of West Virginia
1996 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Mountain nominee for Governor of West Virginia
2016 		Succeeded by
Daniel Lutz
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