On November 8, 2011, Virginia House member Lacey Putney was re-elected with 42% in a 3-way race. See this story. He had opponents from both major parties. He has been elected and re-elected as an independent every two years (in odd years), starting in 1971. He is age 83. Before he was an independent, he was a Democrat.
As an Independent, I have long admired Delegate Putney’s electoral accomplishments even if I don’t always agree with him philosophically. But he has demonstrated that as an Independent (and even as a 3rd partisan) one can win on the local level and continue to be re-elected. While I understand the rationale that 3rd parties need to field their Presidential ticket every 4 years, and often need to field a candidate for Governor or U.S. Senator to keep ballot access, if Independents and 3rd partisans would put more emphasis on local races – legislative, county, city, township, etc., there would in time be more victories. Just in the elections of this last week, several 3rd partisans of different parties were elected under their banner though some were elected in non-partisan elections. Even in holding a non-partisan office, the forum is still there for the office holder to promote his party’s philosophy, and even as an Independent, one can likewise demonstrate philosophically that there is a difference between an Independent and a Republican or a Democrat. Congratulations to Mr. Putney!
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One more EVIL minority rule gerrymander election in VA.
First 1618 — gerrymander plantation districts along the James River.
Nearly a mere 400 years of gerrymander elections in VA.