by Judy K. Ball
According to Kermit the frog, it’s not easy being green. For the League of Women Voters, it’s not easy being non-partisan, especially in the toxic and polarized political world we navigate today. Yet, being non-partisan is as essential to the League’s nature as being green is to Kermit’s.
Non-partisanship is often misunderstood. In part, this may come from the current and popular idea that, if we disagree, one of us must be wrong.
What does it mean for the League to be non-partisan? Non-partisan means the League supports no political party or candidate. Non-partisan does not mean the League lacks principles, positions, or priorities. In fact, the League advocates and educates about public policy priorities based on formal positions developed through systematic study and adopted by member consensus.
For 2022, the League’s priorities in West Virginia are:
- Voting. Removing barriers to voting and making voting more accessible for West Virginians, based on lessons learned from the 2020 elections.
- Social Justice. Protecting human, civil and constitutional rights; and ensuring equality of opportunity and access to education, health care, employment and housing.
- Environmental Protection. Protecting the planet and the health and safety of all West Virginians, ensuring access to clean drinking water and advocating for a just transition for workers in fossil fuel industries as we seek to address the climate crisis.
In the West Virginia Legislature, opposition to League priorities is frequently bipartisan.
The League also has a long history of voter education. This includes conducting candidate forums to educate voters, with questions to plumb every candidate’s perspective.
All candidates — regardless of party or ideology — are invited and urged to participate. The League of Women Voters of Morgantown-Monongalia County is immensely grateful to every candidate who participated in our recent virtual forums. View recordings at LWVMorgantown.org/YouTube.
However, to be honest, we were disappointed that so few candidates participated:
- 2 (of 5 invitees) for Board of Education,
- 2 (of 3) for County Commission,
- 2 (of 2) for Conservation District Supervisor, 100% attendance!
- 8 (of 17) for House of Delegates,
- 5 (of 6) for State Senate.
For House of Delegates candidates, limited participation forced us to consolidate three planned forums into one. This is particularly unfortunate, since 2022 is the first election with single-member districts, and Monongalia County now has six districts, owing to our population growth.
Why such limited participation? Some candidates responded with understandable reasons for not attending. Some candidates did not respond at all. Most concerning though, we believe some candidates did not participate out of a misguided belief that the League is a partisan organization. We see that as a disservice to the candidates and especially to the voters of Monongalia County.
The League is committed to providing a neutral arena for candidates to share their views. Democracy depends on an informed electorate.
