By Kasey Russell

Hi, I’m Kasey Russell, your new West Virginia Environmental Council lobbyist! I am very excited to represent our partner groups and members at the State Capitol at monthly interims and the regular session. I’m originally from Atlanta, Georgia, and attended forestry school at the University of Georgia in Athens. I moved to Morgantown in 1996 (my first husband went to West Virginia University’s law school) and then to Charleston in 1999. I fell in love with the state and happily raised two kids (now 25 and 22) in Charleston. 

I was very active in my kids’ school and their activities; I also ran three statewide nonprofits (at different times) and lobbied at the West Virginia State Capitol for about 13 years. My second husband and I moved south to Brunswick, Georgia, in 2020. Sadly, he passed away in January 2024, and West Virginia is calling me back. I plan to be back in Charleston full-time early next year. 

I have been active in the environmental movement for decades. My focus has included improving recycling, access to walking and biking, local food sources, water and air policies, city parks and green spaces, and forestry practices. I was a member of the Charleston City Council for two terms and served for six years on the Kanawha County Solid Waste Authority. 

I ran the West Virginia Land & Mineral Owners Council for several years and worked for an engineering company specializing in coal, timber, and gas lands. During this time, I introduced my clients to a different, more environmentally and community-friendly way of doing things. I had some success, but more importantly, where I find myself now, I formed long-lasting relationships with all types of people. 

Learning about the WVEC lobbyist position felt like it was my destiny to return to my second home. I look forward to working on issues I’m passionate about, like clean air, clean water, renewable energy, smart use of our resources, etc. I love working with legislators and their staff to find common ground to ensure our priorities are heard. Hopefully, we will be able to influence policy and continue to see that West Virginia is a fantastic place to live, work and play. I can’t wait to get started.