[2] A contractor from Marble, North Carolina, West served 8.5 term in the state House.

Representative West represented Brasstown, North Carolina, which held an annual "Possum Drop"[6] on New Year's Eve, which involved capturing a wild opossum, enclosing it in a clear plastic box, suspending it high in the air, and lowering it to the ground with the countdown to midnight.

During the suspension and lowering, fireworks are set off, muskets are fired, crowds of people scream, and loud music is played.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals filed a lawsuit in October 2013 attempting to outlaw the practice, claiming it makes it likely that the possum will die from stress-related ailments within days or weeks.

[9] West jokingly noted when asked by another committee member that the marsupial community was in support of the bill.