Angela Russell (politician)

Angela Veta Russell[1] (born 1943) is an American politician and civil rights activist who served in the Montana House of Representatives from the 99th district as a member of the Democratic Party. Russell participated in the Selma to Montgomery marches and Native American activism. She is a member of the Crow Tribe of Montana.

Angela Russell
Angela Russell in 1960
Member of the Montana House of Representatives
from the 99th district
In office
1987–1995
Preceded byRamona Howe
Personal details
Born1943 (age 79–80)
Political partyDemocratic Party
EducationUniversity of Montana (BA)
Tulane University (MA)

Early life

Angela Veta Russell was born in 1943. She graduated from Hardin High School in 1961. She graduated from the University of Montana with a bachelor's degree in anthropology and sociology, and later graduated in 1974, from Tulane University with a master’s degree in social work and counseling.[2]

Career

Activism

In 1965, Russell participated in the Selma to Montgomery marches.[3] While attending Montana State University she served as executive secretary of the Northwest Regional Indian Youth Conference.[4][1] In 1972, Russell was elected to the Crow Tribe's health, education, and welfare committee from the off-reservation district with 14 votes.[5]

During the 1970s and 1980s she served as a member and chair of the Montana Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights.[6][7]

Elections

In 1986, Russell filed to run for the Democratic nomination for a seat in the Montana House of Representatives from the 99th district.[8] During the primary Patrick Hill, her only opponent, withdrew while incumbent Representative Ramona Howe chose to not seek reelection.[9] She won in the general election against Republican nominee Reinhold Jabs.[10]

On March 4, 1988, Russell filed to run for reelection to the Montana House of Representatives and won in the general election without opposition.[11][12] In 1990, she filed for reelection and defeated Republican nominee Ellis Murdock in the general election.[13][14] On March 18, 1992, she filed for reelection and defeated Republican nominee Murdock in the general election.[15][16]

On March 23, 1994, Russell filed to run for a seat in the Montana Senate from the 3rd district, but was defeated in the general election by Republican nominee Reiny Jabs.[17][18][19]

Tenure

During the 1987–1989 session of the Montana House of Representatives Russell served on the Natural Resources, and Human Service and Aging committees.[20] In 1988, she was appointed to serve as the chair of the Labor committee.[21]

In 1989, she became the chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus in the Montana House of Representatives.[22] In 1994, she was appointed as one of eighteen members of the Montana Human Rights Advisory Council by Governor Marc Racicot.[23]

Legislation to designate English as the official language of Montana was introduced in 1987. Russell criticized the legislation stating that "native peoples perceive it as racist" and that for Native Americans "our language is the conduit, the lifeblood of our history".[24] In 1991, she introduced legislation to create a holiday to honor Martin Luther King Jr.[25]

Later life

From 2004 to 2009, Angela served as a Crow Tribal Court Judge.[2] In 2015, Russell was appointed by Governor Steve Bullock to the Montana Board of Crime Control.[26] In 2019, she was appointed to the Montana Board of Crime Control by Bullock.[27]

During the 2018 United States Senate election in Montana Russell supported incumbent Senator Jon Tester and criticized A.J. Not Afraid, the chairman of the Crow Tribe of Montana, for endorsing Matt Rosendale.[28]

References
  1. "MSU Announces Top Students". Billings Gazette. March 5, 1964. p. 23. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Angela Russell". University of Arizona. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020.
  3. "Plan rejected". The Philadelphia Inquirer. January 19, 1991. p. 3. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Carroll Sophomore Is Chairman of Indian Committee". Independent Record. May 23, 1962. p. 11. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Crows elect committee". Billings Gazette. April 7, 1972. p. 18. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Civil rights group will meet Saturday". Great Falls Tribune. March 7, 1979. p. 7. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Report: State's minorities are worse off". Billings Gazette. September 11, 1982. p. 9. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Russell files in 1986". Billings Gazette. March 18, 1986. p. 7. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "1986 filings". Billings Gazette. March 21, 1986. p. 12. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "1986 election results". Great Falls Tribune. November 6, 1986. p. 5. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "List of legislative candidates grows". Missoulian. March 5, 1988. p. 22. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "1988 election results". Billings Gazette. November 9, 1988. p. 24. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "O'Keefe files for Legislature". Independent Record. March 6, 1990. p. 5. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "1990 election results". Billings Gazette. November 8, 1990. p. 24. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "O'Keefe files for Legislature". Billings Gazette. March 20, 1992. p. 5. Archived from the original on August 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "1992 election results". Billings Gazette. November 5, 1990. p. 15. Archived from the original on August 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. "1994 filed to run". Billings Gazette. March 24, 1994. p. 15. Archived from the original on August 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. "Election 1994". Billings Gazette. November 8, 1994. p. 11. Archived from the original on August 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "List of legislators". Great Falls Tribune. November 11, 1994. p. 13. Archived from the original on August 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "House committee assignments given". Billings Gazette. December 6, 1986. p. 12. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. "Bardanouve back at Appropriations helm". Independent Record. December 8, 1988. p. 11. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. "Chair of the Women's Caucus". Billings Gazette. March 25, 1989. p. 17. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. "Governor creates rights council". Billings Gazette. January 18, 1994. p. 10. Archived from the original on August 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. "Language measure 'racist,' panel told". The Montana Standard. January 14, 1987. p. 7. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. "Montana may join other states honoring King". Billings Gazette. January 21, 1991. p. 3. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. "Governor Steve Bullock today announced the following appointments". Montana Department of Corrections. February 20, 2015. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020.
  27. "Governor appoints 31 Montanans to statewide boards and commissions". Independent Record. April 12, 2019. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020.
  28. "Crow Tribe members protest chairman's endorsement of Matt Rosendale". KTVQ. November 1, 2018. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020.
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