Russ Potts
Encyclopedia
H. Russell "Russ" Potts Jr. (born March 4, 1939) was a Republican
state senator in Virginia
from Winchester
. He was an independent
candidate for governor
in 2005, receiving 2.22 percent of the vote in a race won by Democrat
Tim Kaine
. He chaired the Senate Education and Health Committee in the Virginia General Assembly
. He represented the same Senate district that was once represented by Harry Byrd, Sr.
, Potts graduated from the University of Maryland
with a major in journalism and a minor in political science. Potts is a former sports editor
for the Winchester Star
and has worked athletic positions with the University of Maryland and Southern Methodist University
. He was also once vice president
of the Chicago White Sox
. Since 1982 Potts has owned Russ Potts Productions Inc., a small business
in sports promoting; the company claims to have "promoted more sporting events than any other entity in North America." Potts is a devout member of the Methodist Church.
and tax
es have led some Republicans to label him a Republican In Name Only
. Virginia pundits
disagreed on how he would affect the November gubernatorial election, and both the Kilgore and Kaine campaigns announced his candidacy to be in their favor — the former because of Potts relatively liberal views, and the latter for his appeal to moderate Republicans. Potts was considered an underdog to both of these candidates, trailing behind them in popular and financial support.
.
City Republican Committee declared that it no longer recognizes Potts as a member and called on him to resign his Senate seat. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18445-2005Mar8.html Some Republicans believed Potts' gubernatorial campaign as an "independent Republican" would split the Republican vote between Potts and Jerry Kilgore, but most polls have shown Potts' votes coming from both Kaine and Kilgore. Lloyd Ross, founder of the Tuesday Morning
retail chain and frequent contributor to Republican campaigns, donated $300,000 to the Potts campaign. http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031782137916&path=!news&s=1045855934842
In April 2005, Lieutenant Governor and Democratic
gubernatorial candidate Tim Kaine
, in his role as president of the Senate, refused to entertain a motion to strip Potts of his committee assignments. His ruling was upheld on a 27-9 vote. http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=84778&ran=56535
Kilgore refused to debate Russ Potts, a decision which columnist Barnie Day said could strengthen Potts' underdog
appeal and was a poor decision by Kilgore. http://www.augustafreepress.com/stories/storyReader$35212 It is unclear whether or not this had any effect on the outcome of the election.
Although Potts was excluded from the final debate, he agreed to be sequestered in an office at Richmond's WTVR-TV
during Sunday evening's debate and was not allowed to hear any of the questions nor any of the answers offered by his opponents. Minutes after the debate ended, Potts was taken into WTVR-TV studios where the station played back the debate in real time and recorded Potts' answers to each of the debate questions. WTVR-TV announced plans to air key segments of the 'virtual debate' on seven consecutive nights at 11 p.m., beginning Sunday October 16 through Saturday October 22. Each segment focuses on one or two debate topics and presents the complete, timed answers from Mr. Kaine, Mr. Kilgore and Mr. Potts. The station also announced plans to present a composite one-hour virtual debate among the three candidates at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 23.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
state senator in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
from Winchester
Winchester, Virginia
Winchester is an independent city located in the northwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the USA. The city's population was 26,203 according to the 2010 Census...
. He was an independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
candidate for governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
in 2005, receiving 2.22 percent of the vote in a race won by Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Tim Kaine
Tim Kaine
Timothy Michael "Tim" Kaine is a Virginia politician. Kaine served as the 70th Governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010, and was the chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2009 to 2011...
. He chaired the Senate Education and Health Committee in the Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
. He represented the same Senate district that was once represented by Harry Byrd, Sr.
Background
Born in Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, Potts graduated from the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
with a major in journalism and a minor in political science. Potts is a former sports editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
for the Winchester Star
Winchester Star
The Winchester Star is a daily newspaper based in Winchester, Virginia covering the Shenandoah Valley area. Subscribers may choose from either the print edition or a downloadable edition of the newspaper....
and has worked athletic positions with the University of Maryland and Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
. He was also once vice president
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. Since 1982 Potts has owned Russ Potts Productions Inc., a small business
Small business
A small business is a business that is privately owned and operated, with a small number of employees and relatively low volume of sales. Small businesses are normally privately owned corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships...
in sports promoting; the company claims to have "promoted more sporting events than any other entity in North America." Potts is a devout member of the Methodist Church.
Political views
Potts most frequently refers to himself as a "moderate Republican," and has criticized the Republican Party for being too far right politically to be in touch with the people it represents. Potts' moderate views on abortionAbortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
and tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
es have led some Republicans to label him a Republican In Name Only
Republican In Name Only
Republican In Name Only is a pejorative term that refers to a member of the Republican Party of the United States whose political views or actions are considered insufficiently conservative or otherwise not conforming to party positions...
. Virginia pundits
Pundit (politics)
A pundit is someone who offers to mass media his or her opinion or commentary on a particular subject area on which they are knowledgeable. The term has been increasingly applied to popular media personalities...
disagreed on how he would affect the November gubernatorial election, and both the Kilgore and Kaine campaigns announced his candidacy to be in their favor — the former because of Potts relatively liberal views, and the latter for his appeal to moderate Republicans. Potts was considered an underdog to both of these candidates, trailing behind them in popular and financial support.
2005 campaign for governor
Potts ran as an independent in the Virginia gubernatorial election, 2005Virginia gubernatorial election, 2005
The Virginia gubernatorial election of 2005 was a race for the Governor of Virginia, United States, held on November 8, 2005, and won by Democrat Tim Kaine. Virginia is the only state in the United States to prohibit governors from serving successive terms, so the popular incumbent, Mark R...
.
Republican opposition
On March 7, 2005, the WinchesterWinchester, Virginia
Winchester is an independent city located in the northwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the USA. The city's population was 26,203 according to the 2010 Census...
City Republican Committee declared that it no longer recognizes Potts as a member and called on him to resign his Senate seat. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18445-2005Mar8.html Some Republicans believed Potts' gubernatorial campaign as an "independent Republican" would split the Republican vote between Potts and Jerry Kilgore, but most polls have shown Potts' votes coming from both Kaine and Kilgore. Lloyd Ross, founder of the Tuesday Morning
Tuesday Morning
Tuesday Morning is a discount gift and home accessory chain with its headquarters in Dallas, Texas. Founded in 1974, the chain is known for its deep discounts on gifts and accessories seen in more upscale department stores...
retail chain and frequent contributor to Republican campaigns, donated $300,000 to the Potts campaign. http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031782137916&path=!news&s=1045855934842
In April 2005, Lieutenant Governor and Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
gubernatorial candidate Tim Kaine
Tim Kaine
Timothy Michael "Tim" Kaine is a Virginia politician. Kaine served as the 70th Governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010, and was the chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2009 to 2011...
, in his role as president of the Senate, refused to entertain a motion to strip Potts of his committee assignments. His ruling was upheld on a 27-9 vote. http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=84778&ran=56535
Kilgore refused to debate Russ Potts, a decision which columnist Barnie Day said could strengthen Potts' underdog
Underdog (competition)
An underdog is a person or group in a competition, frequently in electoral politics, sports and creative works, who is popularly expected to lose. The party, team or individual expected to win is called the favorite or top dog. In the rare case where an underdog wins, the outcome is an upset. These...
appeal and was a poor decision by Kilgore. http://www.augustafreepress.com/stories/storyReader$35212 It is unclear whether or not this had any effect on the outcome of the election.
Debates
Russ Potts polled 9% in a Mason-Dixon poll, but then dropped to 6% in a September poll. He needed to poll 15% in two separate polls to qualify for participation in the October Kaine-Kilgore debate. This poll was taken before Potts' TV ads premiered.Although Potts was excluded from the final debate, he agreed to be sequestered in an office at Richmond's WTVR-TV
WTVR-TV
WTVR-TV, virtual channel 6, is a CBS television affiliate based in Richmond, Virginia owned by Local TV, the broadcasting arm of Oak Hill Capital Partners...
during Sunday evening's debate and was not allowed to hear any of the questions nor any of the answers offered by his opponents. Minutes after the debate ended, Potts was taken into WTVR-TV studios where the station played back the debate in real time and recorded Potts' answers to each of the debate questions. WTVR-TV announced plans to air key segments of the 'virtual debate' on seven consecutive nights at 11 p.m., beginning Sunday October 16 through Saturday October 22. Each segment focuses on one or two debate topics and presents the complete, timed answers from Mr. Kaine, Mr. Kilgore and Mr. Potts. The station also announced plans to present a composite one-hour virtual debate among the three candidates at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 23.
Kilgore attempt to split Democratic vote
In the last week of the campaign, Jerry Kilgore's campaign sent out a direct mail piece contrasting Potts with Tim Kaine and encouraging "progressive" voters to support Potts. The piece was billed as a "2005 Official Democrat and Progressive Voter Guide," but a notice in small print, turned 90 degrees to the rest of the piece and placed next to a picture so as to resemble a photo credit, noted that it was paid for by "Virginians for Jerry Kilgore". http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/11/6/121643/883 The State Board of Elections imposed a $100 fine for the violation. http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2005/112005/11082005/143998External links
- Official website
- StopPotts
- Senate of Virginia - Senator Russ Potts official government site
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Harry Russell 'Russ' Potts Jr. (VA) profile
- Follow the Money - H Russell Potts Jr
- Washington Post - Senate District 27 Race