I've been called a maverick all my life. When the national media tagged me that way during my Senate career, I'm not sure it was meant as a compliment -- even though I always took it as one. I've never been partisan, and as a result Democratic leaders have always looked askance at me. However, my independence left me free to break out of the political pack and win a few big ones for the people.

The term maverick comes from a man named Samuel A. Maverick. He was a pioneer cattle rancher who died in 1870. Unlike other cattlemen, he refused to brand his cattle. I suppose that in a world of branded cattle, the lack of a brand is distinctive enough. Maverick just didn't want to brand them -- a truly maverick concept.

A few days ago, this newspaper printed a cartoon featuring Dick Cheney and other Republican leaders saying they knew that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was a maverick, but it was OK because she was their maverick.

Sorry, fellas, you've missed the point. Once you brand her, she's not a maverick anymore. Also, there's one trait about a maverick that Republicans may not fully appreciate, as John McCain himself on occasion has demonstrated. You may buy a maverick, but they just don't stay bought. The instinct to independently serve the public interest is just too strong.

In my time as a Democratic senator of Alaska, I fought and opposed my own party almost as frequently as the Republican Party. I agree with our Founding Fathers that partisanship of our major parties does more damage than help to our political system. But, there is a price to pay for stepping away from conventional parties. You are psychologically ostracized by your peers and media observers who run with the herd. Mavericks learn to take the peer pressure, and in some cases defamation, knowing full well their leadership will improve the lives of those they lead and serve.

West By God Virginia is blessed to have a homegrown maverick, Jesse Johnson, who is seeking the all-important office of governor. Although I don't have much faith that either presidential nominee will change Washington, I'm excited by the opportunity for real change in West Virginia, a state where I have some longstanding knowledge because of my service under Senate Public Works Chairman Jennings Randolph and Bob Byrd, whom I nominated for the Whip leadership position. Yes, I'm that old.

I'm proud of Jesse Johnson. He's his own man -- a real maverick. Jesse has the courage and integrity to put the interest of the people above political party and special interests. That's the kind of a person West Virginia should have for governor.

Jesse grew up in the West Virginia hills and knows its problems first-hand. The main thrust of his campaign is dealing with the problem of mountaintop removal and its impact on the state's water resources and scenic beauty. He is not opposed to the coal industry, but he is opposed to absentee owners ripping off the state's resources and leaving their physical and unemployment mess behind.

The South Charleston Tech Center is another case in point. Dow is letting the center die on the vine. Jesse wants to see it become a world-class coal research center undergirded by the universities of West Virginia. California, Massachusetts and North Carolina have created fantastic research centers. So can West Virginia. All it takes is leadership and vision -- not the same old tired hack politics where the party and personal interest are more important than the interest of the people.

Johnson's an innovator eager to work with other innovators ready to turn West Virginia around. I hope West Virginians get to know him over the next eight weeks. I hope you get to hear some of his innovative ideas that I know will save your state, your environment, your economy and your characteristic independence.

Drop in on Jesse Johnson's Web site (Jesse4WVgov.org) and keep going back. New ideas will spring up on the site periodically throughout the campaign. And take a good look at Johnson. You will see he's one maverick who hasn't hung out in the back rooms with special interests or sold out the public's interests to get someone else's cash. Politically, Jesse Johnson is one maverick who hasn't got a brand on him!

Former Sen. Gravel, D-Alaska, visited Charleston to endorse Mountain Party nominee Jesse Johnson for governor.

The term maverick comes from a man named Samuel A. Maverick. He was a pioneer cattle rancher who died in 1870. Unlike other cattlemen, he refused to brand his cattle. I suppose that in a world of branded cattle, the lack of a brand is distinctive enough. Maverick just didn't want to brand them -- a truly maverick concept.

A few days ago, this newspaper printed a cartoon featuring Dick Cheney and other Republican leaders saying they knew that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was a maverick, but it was OK because she was their maverick.

Sorry, fellas, you've missed the point. Once you brand her, she's not a maverick anymore. Also, there's one trait about a maverick that Republicans may not fully appreciate, as John McCain himself on occasion has demonstrated. You may buy a maverick, but they just don't stay bought. The instinct to independently serve the public interest is just too strong.

In my time as a Democratic senator of Alaska, I fought and opposed my own party almost as frequently as the Republican Party. I agree with our Founding Fathers that partisanship of our major parties does more damage than help to our political system. But, there is a price to pay for stepping away from conventional parties. You are psychologically ostracized by your peers and media observers who run with the herd. Mavericks learn to take the peer pressure, and in some cases defamation, knowing full well their leadership will improve the lives of those they lead and serve.

West By God Virginia is blessed to have a homegrown maverick, Jesse Johnson, who is seeking the all-important office of governor. Although I don't have much faith that either presidential nominee will change Washington, I'm excited by the opportunity for real change in West Virginia, a state where I have some longstanding knowledge because of my service under Senate Public Works Chairman Jennings Randolph and Bob Byrd, whom I nominated for the Whip leadership position. Yes, I'm that old.

I'm proud of Jesse Johnson. He's his own man -- a real maverick. Jesse has the courage and integrity to put the interest of the people above political party and special interests. That's the kind of a person West Virginia should have for governor.

Jesse grew up in the West Virginia hills and knows its problems first-hand. The main thrust of his campaign is dealing with the problem of mountaintop removal and its impact on the state's water resources and scenic beauty. He is not opposed to the coal industry, but he is opposed to absentee owners ripping off the state's resources and leaving their physical and unemployment mess behind.

The South Charleston Tech Center is another case in point. Dow is letting the center die on the vine. Jesse wants to see it become a world-class coal research center undergirded by the universities of West Virginia. California, Massachusetts and North Carolina have created fantastic research centers. So can West Virginia. All it takes is leadership and vision -- not the same old tired hack politics where the party and personal interest are more important than the interest of the people.

Johnson's an innovator eager to work with other innovators ready to turn West Virginia around. I hope West Virginians get to know him over the next eight weeks. I hope you get to hear some of his innovative ideas that I know will save your state, your environment, your economy and your characteristic independence.

Drop in on Jesse Johnson's Web site (Jesse4WVgov.org) and keep going back. New ideas will spring up on the site periodically throughout the campaign. And take a good look at Johnson. You will see he's one maverick who hasn't hung out in the back rooms with special interests or sold out the public's interests to get someone else's cash. Politically, Jesse Johnson is one maverick who hasn't got a brand on him!

Former Sen. Gravel, D-Alaska, visited Charleston to endorse Mountain Party nominee Jesse Johnson for governor.