By Ray Birch
CHARLESTON, W.V.—Before Linda Bodie forged her career in credit unions, the CEO of Element FCU had hoped to make a difference in people’s lives through politics. Now, after making a difference within CUs for more than 30 years, Bodie is resurrecting the dream she had when she was in her 20s.
As CUToday.info reported, Bodie is running as a Democrat for election to the West Virginia House of Delegates.
“This goes way back, the desire to make a difference through an elected office,” Bodie told CUToday.info. “That goal eventually slipped away. But now, with the country having veered toward extremism on either side--how do we get things happening for the good of everyone? And it’s not just one party vilifying the other party. It’s about how do we make a better society for everyone? I thought about this on and off over the years and just had the opportunity this year to really say yes because there was an opening and I was asked to run by a few different people who felt I would be a good candidate.”
Bodie, who has been active in the LBGTQ community in credit unions, asserted West Virgina has a lack of diverse representation among its elected officials.
“We need more moderate voices that want to make our state better, no matter which party you belong to,” she said. “I felt compelled to bring my credit union spirit and philosophy to the legislative process and I hope I can make a difference.”
A Super-Majority in More Than One Way
West Virginia, Bodie said, has a super majority in more than just its Republican representation.
“A super majority also in the number of men compared to women in office,” she said. “West Virginia has the lowest percentage of females in elected office in the country. We have the lowest percentage of females representatives in a state legislatures.”
Bodie hopes, too, her campaign might spark interest from more credit union leaders in running for state offices—so more CU voices can be directly involved with legislation, as opposed to just lobbying officials.
(Kerri Smith, the South Carolina regional president for Self-Help Credit Union, is running for a seat in that state’s legislature. Smith, a Republican, is running for State House District 28.)
“We need more diverse perspectives,” she said. “Being in the credit union space we're always navigating those different viewpoints and perspectives, and we are in the middle. We are the ones who create solutions and that's the part that I'm hoping to bring—more diverse voices instead of just hearing the same thing over and over.”
Four Pillars of Campaign
Bodie said her campaign is built on four pillars:
- Transforming education for a brighter future
- A good economy with good paying jobs
- Financial wellness, literacy, and inclusion for every West Virginian
- Equality, equity, and wellness for all
“I’m Linda Bodie, and I’m excited to run for the House of Delegates in the 55th District,” Bodie says on her website at www.bodie4wv.com. “I’m a lifelong resident of West Virginia with 25+ years of experience in community service and economic development. My dedication to our state’s prosperity and well-being is relentless. I understand the unique challenges West Virginian’s face and believe that together, we can create sustainable solutions for a brighter future.”
Early Lessons Learned
Bodie told CUToday.info she has already learned a lot about what it takes to run for political office. She said she had been seriously thinking about the move last year and made the decision in early January of 2024.
“When I started this, I didn't know if I could run, being a credit union CEO,” she said. “I didn't know if there were any issues with this in the credit union space.”
Bodie believes more credit union leaders can make a difference for the movement and for consumers by winning positions in their state legislatures.
“I have always wondered why more credit union people are not running for office, because we're the perfect people to be representatives in our states and our municipalities,” she said.
‘Time to Get Message Together’
What is immediately ahead of Bodie is the West Virginia Primary Elections on May 14. She is a Democrat on the ballot to represent District 55.
“I don't have an opponent on the primary ballot, but I will have a contested election during the general election in November,” she said. “I'll be on the ballot against the other party’s representative, JB Akers.”
“Since the May primary is uncontested, I have a little bit of time to get my message together, get my team together, begin campaigning,” she said. “I've already reached out to people about getting donations, gathering volunteers… It's a process when you've never done it before. It's very interesting to learn how you navigate the political landscape and what it takes to actually run for office.
“You definitely need to know your state's rules, and you can get a lot of help from the state’s offices. But it’s just the registration process, and getting a treasurer set up, getting a financial institution account reporting your contributions…,” she continued. “I'm sure it's very different for every state, but just learning how to do it. The party that you're running for, too, has people who will help you. I'm just learning a lot, and it's very different.
How will Bodie manage running for office, and holding office if she wins, and run the $60-million Element FCU, as well?
“Just like with anything else new that that comes into my life, I'm going to have to give up some things in order to make space. That's what I've done my entire life,” she said. “I’ve always been able to balance things that I'm passionate about.”
Numerous Accomplishments
Bodie was most recently inducted into America’s Credit Union Museum’s “Herstory” exhibit. She has also been profiled in CUToday.info for numerous other accomplishments, including pioneering new technologies and success at a smaller ($59.8-million) credit union, and for her work; for being named a Herb Wegner Memorial Award winner for Outstanding Achievement, and for her work with CU*Pride.