Galbraith's campaign manager resigns, says he still supports former campaign

The volunteer campaign manager of the Independent gubernatorial slate of Gatewood Galbraith and Dea Riley resigned from the campaign early this morning, saying a new job will limit his time to volunteer.

Ralph Long is a former state employee who managed the early part of the Galbraith campaign. He previously wrote a political blog, which he says he may start again, if time allows.

But Long told Pure Politics there was “no disagreement, no hidden agenda” with his resignation, as is often the case when high-level staffers resign from campaigns.

Instead, Long said he received a job offer from a friend, something he couldn’t turn down even if it meant leaving the Galbraith campaign completely.

“I wish them all the best,” Long told Pure Politics. “But I’m not sure I’ll have time to be involved.”

Riley said Long was instrumental in her campaign coming up with the required 5,000 signatures needed for the Independent slate to qualify for the November ballot.

She repeated there was no disagreement between Long and either candidate.

But when it comes to bringing on another campaign manager, whether it would be to hire one or to appoint another volunteer, Riley said the campaign currently is proceeding in the mindset of going without.

“We’ve told our supporters that we’re going to proceed without one,” Riley said.

Galbraith’s campaign has yet to file those signatures to officially be on the ballot, but announced in June they had the 5,000 signatures needed and would continue to collect signatures until the deadline.

-Reporting by Kenny Colston