Why I Quit And Why You Will Thank Me Later

My most reliable critic, Naydeen Wolf, called me a "quitter" when I resigned from my various neighborhood watch roles, but that's OK partly because I expected nothing  less than that from somebody who seldom misses a chance to criticize me and partly because it's my fault for not telling my neighborhood watch associates what I plan to do in place of neighborhood watch. You see, I haven't quit at all. No. I'm just getting started and I plan to give Naydeen plenty of reasons to keep criticizing me.

So, to those of you who have been asking why I left neighborhood watch, here it is:

My departure has nothing to do with neighborhood watch. 

I left neighborhood watch because I plan to do some things that could harm or polarize the neighborhood watch program due to my strong identification with it. 

One thing I plan to do is to work behind the scenes to bring back the old, now-defunct Peoples Party so that St. Albans will have a 2-party system again and so that in 2017 all city council members will face a challenge instead of running unopposed as 6 of them did in 2013.

St. Albans won't get better city government until we get better candidates.

No, I will not be a candidate for elected office. I am willing to serve as one of the ward 4 Peoples Party representatives if the resurrected party asks me to do so but I'll be in my 60s in 2017 and I have consistently said that what this city needs is more young adults in office because the young adults still have skin in the game and reasons to care about the future of the town. 

And what some of you may not have noticed is that the 2017 race has really already begun. People whose names you never heard until a few months ago are everywhere now, attending every public gathering and telling all attendees what they want to hear. One unannounced candidate for mayor has already demonstrated the lack of integrity and character to be a ruthless politician and I'm afraid I'm going to have a lot more to say about that. If I do, I can't be your neighborhood watch coordinator or a member of the neighborhood watch advisory board when I say it. You can thank me later. 

I will continue to write letters and send emails to politicians, judges and prosecutors and ask them when they are going to start behaving as if illegal drugs and drug dealers are the serious problem they all say.  


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Higginbotham At Large does not read or publish pseudonymous or anonymous comments. When you click the "submit" button your comment is not yet published it is merely sent to me for my approval or deletion. Commenters who hide behind "handles", nicknames or other pseudonyms will not see their comments published here. If readers won't know who you are, I will delete your comment. No Ring of Gyges for you. I like email addresses that include the submitter's actual name like mine does: JosephHigginbotham@gmail.com.

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Bylaws of the Peoples Party of St. Albans

In yesterday's post I told you that St. Albans only has one political party now. Want to help re-build the old Peoples Party? Read the bylaws and learn how. (Expect what appear to be typos. These are artifacts of the conversion from .pdf to .text by the OCR software.)

BYLAWS OF THE PEOPLES PARTY CITY OF ST. ALBANS 

ST. ALBANS, WEST VIRGINIA 

I. 

NAME 

The name of the organization shall be "Peoples Party." 

II. 

PURPOSE 

The Peoples Party is established to promote public awareness 

of and participation in discussion of the issues of the day, to 

encourage public participation in the electoral and governmental 

processes of the City of St. Albans, to encourage and develop 

interest in seeking public office, and to develop quality 

candidates to seek public office, all for the enhancement of the 

quality of life in the City of St. Albans, Kanawha County, West 

Virginia. 

III. 

NOTICE OF ELECTION 

The Peoples Party shall certify to the City Clerk the names 

and addresses of members of the Executive Committee of the Peoples 

Party on or before February 15, in each year in which a general 

election is to be held. Names so certified by the Peoples Party 

shall be the official and only Executive Committee of the Peoples. 

Party and shall be accompanied by an affidavit of two credible 

persons certifying, under oath, that more than ten (10) days prior 

to the selection of the Executive Committee notice was posted at .. 

every voting precinct .i.n the city, such notice stating the time, 

date, and place where the meeting would be held for the purpose of electing an Executive Committee and proof that the posting of such notice was published in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of St. Albans three (3) days prior to the holding of such meeting. 

IV. 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 

The Executive Committee shall be comprised of two (2) representatives from each Ward in the City, elected by a caucus of each respective Ward at the general party meeting or convention called for that purpose. Each member of the Executive Committee shall be a qualified voter in the City of St. Albans, West Virginia, as that term is defined consistent with the laws of the United States of America, State of West Virginia, and Ordinances of the City of St. Albans. The Executive Committee shall also be comprised of the duly elected officers of the Peoples Party elected at the convention called for that purpose and the officers of the party elected by the party convention shall also be the officers of the Executive Committee. No elected official within the City of St. Albans shall serve on the Executive Committee or as an officer of the Peoples Party. No more than three (3) members of the Executive Committee shall reside in any single Ward. It is the intent of this process to have the Executive Committee represent the diversity of citizenship within the City of St. Albans. 

V. 

OFFICERS 

The officers of the Peoples Party shall be elected by the party convention called for that purpose once every four (4) years and shall be a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer. The Secretary and Treasurer's office may be filled by the election of one individual. The term of office for the Executive Committee and officers shall be four (4) years. 

VI. 

POWERS 

The Executive Committee shall have jurisdiction and power over all matters relating to the Peoples Party and its welfare in the City of St. Albans, West Virginia. It shall specifically have the power and authority to authorize the opening of bank accounts, solicitation and distribution of funds in the promotion of the Peoples Party, consistent with law and upon approval and direction of the Executive Committee. 

VII. 

QUORUM 

The Executive Committee may conduct proper and appropriate business upon any meeting duly called by the Chairperson or as scheduled by the Executive Committee upon three (3) days notice to all members of the Executive Committee and posting of said notice in at least three (3) conspicuous areas in the City of st. Albans, including but not limited to, the front door of City Hall and the Mayor's office. A quorum shall be considered present when anyone 

-~----- ------ 

officer and at least an additional ten (10) members of the Executive Committee are present. 

VIII. 

SELECTION OF POLL WORKERS 

The Executive Committee members from each respective Ward shall select poll workers for city elections and shall present those names to the Executive Committee of the Peoples Party. The Peoples Party shall thereafter certify those names to the City Clerk's office of the City of St. Albans for appropriate appointment, consistent with law. 

IX. 

MEETINGS OF THE PARTY 

The Peoples Party of St. "Albans, as herein formulated, shall meet a minimum of two (2) times a year. Officers and the Executive Committee shall he elected at the January meeting immediately preceding scheduled spring elections during a regular four (4) year election cycle. 

X. 

VACANCIES 

In the case of a vacancy in the office of Chairperson of the 

Party, the Vice Chairperson shall assume such position until the next duly called election in the January meeting immediately preceding the general election in the City of St. Albans. If the Vice Chairperson fails or refuses to serve, then an appropriate meeting of the Peoples Party shall be called consistent with 

notice requirements hereinabove set forth for the sole purpose of election of a new Chairperson. 

Any other vacancy on the Executive Committee shall be filled at the next regularly scheduled or specially called meeting of the Peoples Party. Any such special meeting shall be called by the Chairperson or any six (6) members of the Executive Committee, complying with notice provisions contained herein relating to elections to the Executive Committee. 

XI. 

VACANCIES IN NOMINATION 

Any vacancy happening or existing in the Peoples Party nomination preceding any general election in any office to be voted upon by the voters in the City of St. Albans, by reason of death, withdrawal of a candidate, failure to nominate at the primary, or otherwise, shall be filled by the calling of a special session of the Executive Committee and such vacancy shall be forthwith filled and certified to the City Clerk in compliance with the Ordinances of the City of St. Albans. 

XII. 

AMENDMENTS 

Amendments to these Bylaws may be had at any time upon appropriate notice, consistent with the provisions set forth herein, specifically called for such purpose. Such notice shall contain or suggest the language and meaning of the proposed amendment. 

XIII. 

ADDITIONAL POWERS AND AUTHORITIES 

The Executive Committee is hereby vested with all additional 

power and authority to do whatever is necessary, convenient and 

proper to carry out the purposes and principles of the Peoples 

Party and to comply with all laws and ordinances of the United 

States of America, State of West Virginia, Kanawha County, and the 

City of St. Albans, concerning the duties and responsibilities of 

campaigns, elections, and promotion of candidates. 

These bylaws adopted at a duly called general meeting of the Peoples Party or convention on the Q7dJtljday of J;qNuM V 

7 

2001. 

Taken, sworn to or affirmed, and subscribed before me this 

d5~1... day of 

afM t ,2001. 

My commission expires: 

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Higginbotham At Large does not read or publish pseudonymous or anonymous comments. When you click the "submit" button your comment is not yet published it is merely sent to me for my approval or deletion. Commenters who hide behind "handles", nicknames or other pseudonyms will not see their comments published here. If readers won't know who you are, I will delete your comment. No Ring of Gyges for you. I like email addresses that include the submitter's actual name like mine does: JosephHigginbotham@gmail.com.

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It's Official: St. Albans Has Only One Political Party Now

"St. Albans Peoples Party In Need of People" screamed the April 8 2009 story by WSAZ's Kallie Cart. 

There is still no Peoples Party in St. Albans. 

The last person I knew of who was the leader of the Peoples Party was Twila Harris. So I got in touch with  her and she told me there was no Peoples Party and that she no longer lives in St. Albans.

So I went to City Hall to find out why. I got my answer when City Clerk, Barb Hughes (some of you know her as Barb Cunningham), gave me a copy of the Peoples Party Bylaws: There's work involved in maintaining the existence of a party with authority to get candidates on the ballot. 

And since the People Party officially doesn't exist at all right now, getting some candidates on the ballot in 2017 is no longer a matter of maintenance, it's a matter of literally building a party from the ground up. 

Here are a few of the requirements for building the non-existent Peoples Party:

1. Certify an executive committee comprised of at least two representatives from each ward. No member of the executive committee can be an office holder. All members of the executive committee must live in the city limits of St. Albans and be eligible, registered voters. 
2. Part officers must be elected.
3. The Party must meet at least twice each year.
4. The party must select poll workers. 

Other requirements include the posting of official notices in every precinct of the city, the posting of notices in a newspaper, and more. 

Man, this is all a lot of work for a city infamous for its apathy.

Since there is no Peoples Party executive committee and since there are no Peoples Party meetings, notices, ward representatives or poll workers there is no Peoples Party and there won't be until and unless some people do some work. 

I'm willing. Who's with me? 

Email me at JosephHigginbotham@gmail.com and I'll send you a copy of the Peoples Party Bylaws. Or, you can get it at city hall from Barb Hughes. Or you can stay on the couch while most of St. Albans' city council members run unopposed again in 2017. 


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Higginbotham At Large does not read or publish pseudonymous or anonymous comments. When you click the "submit" button your comment is not yet published it is merely sent to me for my approval or deletion. Commenters who hide behind "handles", nicknames or other pseudonyms will not see their comments published here. If readers won't know who you are, I will delete your comment. No Ring of Gyges for you. I like email addresses that include the submitter's actual name like mine does: JosephHigginbotham@gmail.com.

West Virginia, Saint Albans, St. Albans, Dunbar, Charleston, Kanawha, Speaker bureau, speakers bureau, speaker's bureau, speakers' bureau, guest speaker, 25177, 25143, 25303, 25309, 25301, 25302, 25305, 25311, 25314, 25304, neighborhood watch, animal rights, animal welfare, no-kill, shelters, crime watch, neighborhood crime watch, ward 4,vegan, vegetarian, liberal, liberalism, progressive, branding, naming, home rule, dog tethering,  Peoples Party,