THE POTA COSTON FILES
Age: 56
Residence: Tyrone
Native of: Elkins, W. Va.
Education: Graduate of Marshall University in West Virginia.
Career: She retired in 2008 after 29 years in federal law enforcement with the Internal Revenue Service.
Family: Married to Bernie Coston for 32 years. The couple has one son, Bernard II. He is 28 years old.
Hobbies: She loves to travel, exercise and work with children.
Interesting fact: Her first name means “friend,” “mayor” and “leader” in various languages, according to research done by a family member.
Pota Coston is used to dismantling barriers.
In the early 1980s, she was the first black person and the first woman to serve as a special agent for the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation division in West Virginia. A decade later, she followed that up by becoming the first female manager in the IRS’ Detroit office.
In January, Coston will be sworn in as the first black county commissioner in Fayette County’s 193-year history. Only a couple of other women have held the post, and there hasn’t been a Democrat on the commission for more than 20 years.
Coston’s historic feat is due, in large part, to the county’s new voting system. For the first time, Fayette elected candidates by district rather than countywide or at-large, a method used until federal judge Timothy Batten ended the practice earlier this year.
Batten may not have the final word.
Next month, Fayette goes to court to challenge district voting. County officials believe at-large voting lets residents choose all of the members of the commission and school board instead of just the one in their district. They say the new voting system was artificially formed to create a mostly black district: District 5. Coston represents District 5. But NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorneys, which sued Fayette on behalf of a group of black residents, say at-large voting kept blacks from serving on the commission or school board. Both sides will argue their case before an appeals court judge on Dec. 10.
Reporter Tammy Joyner talked with Coston about her new role as commissioner.
Q. Why did you run for office?
A. I had 29 years in federal law enforcement. I’ve always been involved in public service pretty much my adult life. So I believe in public service. I was talking to a couple of friends, and they encouraged me to run in Tyrone. They felt I had the leadership and experience to run. So that motivated me to run in 2011. I ran for Tyrone town council twice but didn’t get elected. I got 40 percent of vote in 2011, and I ran last year and lost by six votes. After losing in both of those campaigns, they encouraged me to run for county commissioner.
Q. What do you hope to accomplish as commissioner?
A. I ran on a platform of protecting and increasing our home values and growing our economy and bringing jobs. I want to partner with the Board of Education to maintain our quality schools. That’s what attracted me and others to Fayette County. I also ran on a platform of renewing our focus on public safety. That’s another reason people moved to Fayette County — our low crime rate. And we want to keep it that way.
Q. Do you believe the controversy over the county’s voting system will make your job as commissioner harder?
A. I had a broad base of support, in terms of age, gender and race. There were a lot of people who wanted change. Even today, people may not live in District 5, but they are congratulating me and they’re happy to see me (win). I will be there to help all the citizens of Fayette County.
Q. Commissioner David Barlow has taken some heat for espousing some controversial views about the Democratic party, President Obama and the county’s new voting system. Do you anticipate any animosity from the board?
A. The commissioners have been welcoming, either through phone calls or text message to congratulate me on winning the election. I’ve worked with several of the commissioners on various boards before coming onto the commission.
Q. You attended the Nov. 13 meeting where Commissioner Barlow made his remarks. What was your initial reaction?
A. Sitting there, I was taken aback by his comments. I’m just going to stay above the fray. It’s all about working together collaboratively and being out there and being a voice for the people who elected me and (to) represent and serve this entire community. I’m all about making people feel welcome and (making sure) there’s a feeling of inclusion.
Q. How do you feel about the county going to court to end the new voting system that helped put you on the commission?
A. We just have to wait and see what happens. I’m just looking forward to coming in in January and representing District 5 and serving all the people in Fayette county. I’m excited.
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