Stories From the Ballot Box: History and Reflections from Jefferson County

Did you know West Virginia was the first state to seat an African American woman in its state legislature? Which presidential candidate was billed as having the largest political rally in Jefferson County history? Are you aware West Virginia's former Commissioner of Agriculture held the position longer than any other person in the history of the country? Answers to these questions and much more can be found in Stories from the Ballot Box, the first examination of 21st Century elections in Jefferson County. Written in a conversational and casual manner, Koonce reflects upon the candidates and elections that have shaped recent County history. Also contained within is an in-depth look at the role of female candidates in early Jefferson County and West Virginia elections, as well as a discussion of African American elected officials in the area.

Author: Howard Koonce
Publisher: Ellerslie Books
Published: 08/16/2021
Pages: 236
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.71lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9781087904887

About the Author
Koonce, Howard: - Howard Stafford Leigh Koonce is a life-long resident of Jefferson County and can trace his family roots in the area back to the late 18th century. He was educated at Saint Maria Goretti High School, the Presidential Classroom, and Shepherd University. Professionally he has worked as a freelance journalist, bookseller, private tutor, non-profit organizer, and political organizer. His short fiction has appeared in The Charleston Anvil, Sans Merci, and Mind Murals, while his journalism has been featured in West Virginia Graffiti, The Observer, The Spirit of Jefferson, and The Shepherdstown Chronicle. He spent time on Capitol Hill as a Congressional Intern for Senator Jay Rockefeller, and later worked for a PAC in DC. Leigh is obsessed with political history, Scooby-Doo cartoons, Archie comics, the Shetland Islands, and the cats and dogs of Shepherdstown and the surrounding areas.