Pam's Picks: Political Candidate Endorsements and Discussion

May 6, 2008 Democratic Primary Ballot, Watauga County

HOW I WILL CAST MY VOTES IN THE MAY 6th PRIMARY (in ballot order):

President of the United States: Barack Obama (read why)
US Senate: Jim Neal
US Congress, District #5: Roy Carter
Governor: Bev Perdue (reluctantly)
Lieutenant Governor: Dan Besse
State Auditor: Beth A. Wood
Commissioner of Insurance: Wayne Goodwin
Commissioner of Labor: Robin Anderson
Superintendent of Instruction: June Atkinson
State Treasurer: Janet Cowell
County Commissioner, District 1: Tim Futrelle
Court of Appeals Judge, Race #1: James A. (Jim) Wynn
Court of Appeals Judge, Race #2: Kristin Ruth

(Click here to read "Right Back At Ya" comments to this issue)

The Disclaimer
“Pam’s Picks” is simply one person’s opinions about the upcoming Democratic Party Primary races for Watauga County. I am a Watauga County resident and have long held interest in local politics. I have researched candidate campaign platforms and records where available. You can do the same. I have supplied candidate web site references below where available. For additional information, you can follow the provided links or contact candidates directly with your questions.

What's in Pam's Picks?
Below you will find specific voting information (when and where) as well as information on the national, state, local, and judicial candidates whose names will appear on the 2008 Watauga County Democratic ballot. The candidates are presented in the order they will appear on your ballot.

VOTING INFORMATION

Who Can Vote this ballot?: Democratic and Unaffiliated registered voters who reside in Watauga County. This includes ASU students who live in dormitories on campus as well as those who live in the county in off-campus housing. Unaffiliated voters must request a Democratic ballot.

When and Where to Vote: Election Day proper is Tuesday, May 6, BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEN TO VOTE! Early “one-stop voting” begins Thursday, April 17 and ends Saturday, May 3. You can vote “one stop” any weekday between the hours of 8am and 5pm through Friday, May 2 or on Saturday, May 3 from 8 am until 1pm. Watauga County “one-stop” voters can cast their ballots at either of two places: The County Courthouse (straight ahead inside the main doors off King Street) OR the Agricultural Conference Center off Poplar Grove Road (preferred).

Not Registered to Vote?: You can now “Same Day Register and Vote.” During early one-stop voting ONLY, you can both register and vote at the same time. YOU CANNOT SAME-DAY REGISTER ON ELECTION DAY PROPER. To register and same-day vote, you will need to present identification that shows proof of Watauga County residency (i.e., one or more of the following: a driver’s license, a document from ASU showing current name and address --pink piece of paper that lists your dorm, a lease agreement, a paycheck stub, a bank statement, or a utility bill in your name). If you are a student, it’s a good idea to take your ASU Student ID as well.

If you vote on Election Day, where do you vote?”:
Bald Mountain: Todd Volunteer Fire Department
Beaver Dam:  Beaver Dam Fire Department
Beech Mountain:  Beech Mountain Fire Department
Blowing Rock:  Blowing Rock Town Hall
Blue Ridge:  Laurel Fork Baptist Church
Boone 1:  Watauga County Administration Building, beside the Courthouse
Boone 2:  ASU Student Union, Table Rock Room
Boone 3:  Farthing Auditorium
Brushy Fork:  Oak Grove Baptist Church
Cove Creek:  Western Watauga Community Center
Elk: Stewart Simmons Fire Department
Laurel Creek: Cove Creek Fire Department
Meat Camp:  Green Valley School
New River 1: Watauga High School
New River 2:  Three Forks Baptist Association
New River 3:  National Guard Armory
North Fork:  Edgar Eller's Garage
Shawneehaw:  Matney Community Center
Stony Fork: Deep Gap Fire Department
Watauga: Foscoe Fire Department

Need More Information?”: Call the Watauga County Board of Elections at 265-8061.

CANDIDATE DISCUSSION (in ballot order):

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

I am not providing a discussion on the individual Presidential candidates, since readers of Pam’s Picks probably already know more than they ever wanted to about these candidates' backgrounds and qualifications, etc.

Instead I want to explain my choice this year.

I LIKE Hillary Clinton, yes I really LIKE HER, and I want so much to see a woman in the White House during my lifetime. So. Much. I was not unhappy in the beginning of this primary season that she was viewed by most as the presumptive nominee.

Fact is, I favor Clinton’s health care plan over Obama’s, but I favor Obama’s from-the-start opposition to the war in Iraq over Clintons’ finally-coming-around stand. Other than that, there is simply not much difference in these two candidates’ stands on issues, and I believe either would make an excellent leader, most certainly a far cry from what we’ve got.

Many women I know and admire so much continue to tell me in grocery stores, at political meetings, and everywhere else that they are unwavering in their support for Hillary Clinton, and I appreciate and respect how they feel.

It was a slow road for me to eventually support Obama.

But in the end I believe it is Barack Obama who brings hope of clear and compelling change, not just change from the nightmare Bush years, but change and hope to new generations of young Democrats and Independents and even some Republicans, including my almost 80-year-old mother who has been so moved by Obama that she is considering casting her first vote for a Democrat since Lyndon Johnson. Obama’s amazing ability to connect with new and older voters is something we sorely need.

I guess the final decision came for me in his speech on race in response to Reverend Wright’s fire and brimstone preaching. No mudslinging or defensiveness. Instead, Obama took the opportunity to try to bring all of us to higher plane and real discussion.

I believe we as Democrats, and we as a nation, have a real opportunity to move forward with new energy, new ideas, and a new face. I believe we as a Party have the opportunity (opportunity we have squandered in the past) to show that the little people have as much or more power as those with the big bucks. Just this morning, the talking heads reported that the average contribution to Obama’s campaign is $93.

That’s a lot of little people, and that is the promise Obama brings to me.

When all is said and done, however, I pledge to not only stand behind the eventual nominee, but to commit 100% effort on his or her behalf. I hope you will too. We cannot afford to lose this chance to take our country back.

Hillary Clinton: http://www.hillaryclinton.com/
As of this writing, $33,174,862 on hand

Mike Gravel: http://www.gravel2008.us/
As of this writing, $-2,733 on hand

Barack Obama: http://www.barackobama.com/
As of this writing, $38,833,089 on hand

US SENATE

Kay Hagan: http://www.kayhagan.com/
As of this writing, $515,697 on hand

Hagan is from Shelby (more recently Greensboro) and has been a North Carolina State Senator for nine years. Prior to her election to the NC state legislature, Hagan was a full-time mom and an attorney. She has been named one of North Carolina’s “Ten Most Effective Senators” and has served as Co-Chair of the Budget Committee during her last three terms as Senator.

Hagan was recruited by the Democratic establishment to run against Liddy Dole. She is considered an “insider” candidate.

Hagan touts as some of her most important Senate accomplishments: increased coverage of Health Choice for Children; support for efforts to pay for equipment for the military; new tools for economic development; tough predatory lending laws; and increases in teacher pay.

In the NC Senate, she voted to lower taxes on the wealthiest North Carolinians. She also voted in favor of providing incentives to corporations that provide jobs, supported the state lottery, and voted for a two-year moratorium on executions. She helped shave back a proposed increase in the cigarette tax. Read more about Hagan here.

If elected to the US Senate, Hagan promises to focus on tax cuts for middle-class families; close loopholes for corporations; “fix problems” with “No Child Left Behind”; reduce home heating oil prices; increase funding for new energy resources; extend health-care coverage to children and to veterans; oppose unfunded mandates; strengthen our borders and crack down on employers of illegal workers.

Hagan favors an expansion of S-Chip, but only if it does not tax tobacco companies. She says that “the decision to invade Iraq without a plan, without the proper number of troops, and without proper equipment to keep our troops safe was mismanagement of the highest order.” She supports a “responsible withdrawal,” whatever that means (ed).

Hagan is unsure whether or not she would have voted to confirm US Attorney General Judge Mukasey. She supports retroactive immunity for felony violations of the current US FISA law: “Ms. Hagan explained that she was against Telcos spying on Americans, but that she would have voted FOR the bill, and granted them immunity, but that future law breaking would not be tolerated.”

Duskin C. Lassiter: www.duskinlassiter4ussenate.com
As of this writing, $139 on hand

Lassiter is a self-employed businessman. He complains of the “same old policies that don’t work,” and his YouTube video suggests support for some policy changes similar to the New Deal.

Lassiter promises to replace the “Free Trade Agreement with a Balanced Trade Agreement and to put an end to off-shoring American jobs”; bring back pension plans; raise the federal minimum wage to $12 per hour; provide health care for all; turn hospitals into non-profit organizations; install renewable energy sources in Iraq; remove our forces from Iraq when Iraq's police and soldiers are trained; “build dozens of coal to gasoline refineries with the latest emission controls”; improve water quality; and “protect the border from criminals and terrorists” and enforce employment laws.

Lassiter supports the right to bear arms, opposes toll roads, and believes people should be allowed to vote on annexation that directly affects them.

Jim Neal: http://jimnealforsenate.com/
As of this writing, $139,105 on hand

Neal is from Greensboro. Following graduation from UNC, he joined Goldman Sachs as a financial analyst. He later returned to school and earned an MBA from the University of Chicago and has since worked for various financial clients, including Bear Sterns and EF Hutton.

For the past 20 years, Neal has focused his career on information technology and healthcare companies, and founded the Agema Group, a financial advisory firm based in Chapel Hill.

Neal has served as a member of the Board of Governors of the New School; as a national finance committee member for Wes Clark for President and the Kerry-Edwards campaigns; and as a national fundraiser for U.S. Senate candidate Erskine Bowles in 2004. He has also served in various volunteers roles for the homeless and mentally ill.

Neal promises that if elected to the US Senate, he will use technology to manage health care; expand insurance to all Americans; improve preventative medicine; protect Social Security from privatization; focus on energy independence; withdraw from Iraq; increase job security for middle-class families; protect clean water and air; focus on “hometown wealth” and rural entrepreneurship; promote an increase in Pell grants and “targeted federal research grants”; “scrap No Child Left Behind”; and push for more focus on community colleges.

When asked if he would have voted to confirm US Attorney General Judge Mukasey, Neal said, “Hell, no! I wouldn't support anybody who has to parse words about whether or not water-boarding is torture.” Neal is also opposed to immunity for telecom companies.

“Our current leadership is asleep at the switch. There are crucial decisions that need to be made by experienced professionals. As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned how one manages change to make the difference between falling behind and leaping ahead of the competition.”

Jim Neal visited Boone and was smart and appealing. He claims he will win based on grassroots support in spite of Hagan’s money and insider endorsements. At a recent Young Democrats Convention, James Carville suggested that Kay Hagan was the only viable candidate, not knowing Neal was in the room. Neal responded, “We have primaries here in North Carolina. We don't have coronations.”

Read more about Neal here.

Howard Staley: http://www.howardstaley.com/
As of this writing, $100 on hand

Staley moved to North Carolina in 1981 and lives in Chatham County. He graduated from Rutgers University with a B.A. and from Temple University College of Podiatric Medicine. He has practiced as a Podiatrist in North Carolina since 1981.

If elected to the US Senate, Staley promises to: prevent further illegal entry across our borders; address the root causes of economic decline; use government to help provide basic needs such as food, housing and medical assistance; oppose trading carbon emissions; move the US towards leadership in energy conservation; support nuclear power as a means of cleaner energy; push tax credits for energy conservation; work towards the prevention of homelessness; support abortion rights; and find means to address the nation’s health-care crisis:

“The Insurance oligopoly has taken control of your health care…. Health insurance started as a non-profit risk pool, but has been kidnapped by profit centered corporations. These corporations then invent myriad restrictions and bureaucracy to thwart hospitals and providers from reimbursement, at the same time they deny coverage for the sickest of our population. Health care is about 20% of Gross National Product, and insurance companies take about 15% of this for themselves. That is 3% of GNP, while leaving almost 20% of the population without insurance.”

US CONGRESS DISTRICT 5

At a recent Democratic Women’s luncheon, both candidates spoke and took questions from the audience. This was the first time I had met Hamby. Both candidates were excellent. My primary reason for endorsing Carter is that he seems to have gotten a good organization off the ground early for taking on Foxx in November. He also has significant support among newer and younger voters and seems to have solidified various county operations.

Roy Carter: http://www.roycarterforcongress.com
As of this writing, $3,514 on hand

Carter is a Western NC native. He was a coach and teacher for 40 years (recently retired) and has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, among other things.

Team Carter has been on Virginia Foxx’s ass like a tick on a dog. He has called her out for voting against improvement of Headstart; for her continuing support of the War in Iraq; for her vote against a water resources and conservation bill; for refusing to sign a bi-partisan letter to help North Carolina farmers get federal disaster assistance; for voting against an energy bill that would provide an increase in federal automobile fuel-efficiency; for voting against the State Children’s Health Insurance Program; and for not standing up for (but rather standing in the way of) landowners in Blowing Rock fighting George Bush’s “Healthy Forest Initiative,” which allows clear-cutting of our lands for timber companies’ profits. Carter also recently held a press conference against mountaintop removal.

Carter says, if elected to congress, he will not “sell his soul” to big industries and lobbies; promises to push for withdrawal from Iraq; expand student aid; and advocate for community building and economic development.

I confess to being somewhat frustrated by Carter’s lack of funds in the bank and, while I appreciate Carter’s excellent internet focus (Facebook, etc.) in a reaching out to young voters, I am disappointed that some of his funding has not been used for activities that involve direct contact with voters (i.e. a mailing, some radio or TV, etc.)

Diane Hamby: http://www.dianehambyforcongress.com
I cannot locate her campaign report on the FEC website.

Hamby is from Statesville, has 33 years of business experience, and is a partner in D & T Painting Co. She has been Chairwoman of American Renaissance Schools; active in her church and in the Iredell County Democratic Party; a member of the Catawba River Task Force; and a past Iredell County Commissioner. She has been a successful local activist, fighting a hazardous waste incinerator among other things, and has started two public charter schools.

Hamby also has harsh words for Foxx:

“Last week President Bush demonstrated in a press conference that he and his administration were out of touch and unaware of how high gas prices were rising. The next day, instead of standing up for what is right, Virginia Foxx voted to protect big oil’s monopoly on the energy market in the United States. Virginia Foxx also stood silently by while the U.S. Air Force gave a $40 billion contract to Northrop Grumman, which will send jobs overseas instead of the U.S. Company Boeing. Giving the contract to Boeing would have kept nearly 20,000 more jobs in America.”

…and…

“What is Ms. Foxx thinking? The president’s budget tops three trillion dollars. This does not do the right thing for your family and mine. There are definite winners and losers. The top, top earners, those 300,000 people who have more than the 150 million of us below them, won.”

If elected to the US Congress, Hamby says she supports a plan to remove troops as quickly and safely as possible; plans to cut heath-care administrative costs and national health care; new energy technology and environmental protections; and a plan to secure our borders and implement a better guest worker program.

While I am very impressed with Hamby, I feel she got out of the gate too late with her campaign.

GOVERNOR

The mudslinging has been fast and furious between candidates Moore and Perdue. Moore correctly accuses Perdue of ducking debates, and Perdue correctly accuses Moore of misrepresenting her record. The negative advertising is most probably the result of polling which shows this to be pretty much a dead even race (April 1, Public Policy Polling, Perdue at 38 percent support, and Moore at 37 percent, margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.)

One minute I have believed Perdue to be the better candidate for Governor, and the next minute I have believed Moore would be a better choice. I even looked closely at the other candidate for this race, Dennis Nielsen, thinking I might just bank my vote there. (here's why I didn’t.)

Those who oppose Perdue, who has been a state office-holder for many years as a Senator or as Lieutenant Governor, complain that she is too much a "part of the old boy network.” No doubt. I can’t imagine how any woman her age who has advanced to her position got there without getting into some of those closed rooms (I call it “going toe-to-toe with the old boys”). More convincing an argument against Perdue is that she waffles on issues, swinging support based on polling. My research indicates this seems true. I have also been displeased enough personally with some of Perdue’s environmental votes to attend functions and call her out on them. Having said that, Perdue has stayed in touch with me, has asked for my opinion, and has asked me for my vote and support. That counts for something, and I believe she would be a visible and approachable Governor (better than what we’ve got now).

Those who oppose Moore, who is currently State Treasurer, cite his negative advertising against Perdue as being inappropriate. I don’t buy this. He was behind in the polls. He ran negative advertising. He closed the gap. Makes sense to me. This is politics, afterall, and it was clearly an effective strategy. (If you can’t play with the big dogs, then stay on the porch.) The more convincing arguments against Moore to me are that he does seem to have some rather suspicious ties to Wall Street cronies (to the tune of $1.5 million into his campaign coffers), and I don’t like his opposition to the death penalty moratorium. I haven’t heard a word from Moore, haven’t seen him anywhere in the area, and haven’t heard of his whereabouts. That doesn’t bode well for an accessible governor to me.

They’ve both got “issues,” but in the end I came down on the side of an approachable woman in the Governor’s Mansion with impressive endorsements. You might decide that’s not enough.

Here’s more for your consumption:

Richard H. Moore: www.richardmoore.org/

Richard Moore is a native of Granville County and is State Treasurer (second term). Moore’s background is impressive. He was an honors graduate of Wake Forest University and the School of Law with a graduate degree in Accounting and Finance from the London School of Economics. Prior to his service as Treasurer, he was a federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of North Carolina and a NC House Representative and Secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety.

As an NC House member, Moore sponsored bills to reform government; expand child care tax credits; help small businesses provide health care coverage; and increase unemployment benefits. As State Treasurer, Moore claims to have modernized the state’s investment strategies and to have generated over $4 billion in additional investment returns for retirees. Moore has also been a strong advocate for an increase in minimum wage and claims to want to work for better ways to protect shareholder rights against Wall Street abuses. (Perdue disputes this claim, stating that Moore has taken more than $1.5 million for his campaign from Wall Street investors.)

Moore has also been a leader for environmental issues, especially global climate change, farmland preservation, and clean air and water. In 2006, Moore received an Eisenhower Fellowship to study business and financial systems in China. Recently, Moore introduced a new economic stimulus plan for North Carolina. The plan would raise the minimum wage to $8.25 per hour, cut property taxes for seniors, make community college tuition-free for high school graduates, improve access to child care, and cut taxes for small businesses.

Moore also supports reforming DOT (who doesn’t?) and higher pay for science and math teachers. Moore did not support the state lottery. As for health care, Moore supports universal health care for children and a reduction in costly medical errors. He opposes the death penalty moratorium.

Moore has endorsed Barack Obama for President. He has been endorsed by a group of female legislators; a group of former teachers; UNITE HERE; and EqualityNC.

Dennis Nielsen: http://www.votenielsen.com/

Colonel Nielsen lives in Nashville, NC, and is a retired military officer with 35 years of service in the United States Air Force. During Nielsen’s service in the military he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Nielsen graduated from the University of Nebraska with a degree in Law Enforcement. He has published a number of articles including; “Zero’s Not a Number but a New Way of Thinking,” “Virtual Safety,” and “Vision the Ability to See.”

Nielsen is a businessman who has operated several small businesses. He has also served the YMCA, animal rescue organizations, and he maintains a web site to assist veterans and current military members.

Neilsen is opposed to toll roads and political campaign mailers. He says DOT is a complete failure: “What is the fix for this and other state agencies that are improperly lead? Easy, I will ask all the Directors of the major agencies in the state for their resignations and then decide who should stay and who should go.” He would eliminate the property tax for seniors 65 and older who own and occupy their own homes and who have an annual adjusted gross income of less than $40,000; wants to eliminate vehicle inspections; promises to reduce the car tax; provide tax credits to those who home school their children; and reduce the time to approve concealed weapons carry from 90 to 15 days and allow concealed carry permit holders to carry in more places.

Bev Perdue: http://www.bevperdue.com/

Bev Perdue is from Southwest Virginia and has lived most of her adult life in New Bern. She currently serves as NC Lieutenant Governor. She is a former school teacher and health care professional and earned a Ph.D. in Education Administration. She became the first woman ever elected to the state House from her part of the state and the first woman ever elected Lt. Governor in North Carolina.

Perdue has helped raise teacher salaries and improve technology in the schools. She also led passage of the CHIPs program to start coverage of uninsured children. Perdue has fought especially hard for seniors in the state, including the creation of a prescription drug program for seniors. She supports universal coverage of children and expanded coverage for uninsured families. Perdue helped increase the state’s minimum wage and has worked to crack down on internet sex predators. She supported the state’s Clean Smokestacks Act and clean water legislation that worked to restore degraded and/or polluted waters. She initiated the NC Green Business Fund.

If elected Governor, Perdue’s goals are to make insurance more affordable and accessible to North Carolina's families and small businesses; improve education; focus on water conservation; implement a Cool Cities Assistance Initiative to aid North Carolina municipalities with grants and funds to help them meet their greenhouse gas emissions reduction plans; protect the state’s military bases from closure; provide affordable housing incentives and transportation reform; and offer better economic incentives.

Perdue has also proposed an “NC OpenBook Plan,” which would put all state contracts and grants of more than $10,000 on the internet. She supports the death penalty moratorium and supported the state lottery.

Perdue recently endorsed Barack Obama. She has been endorsed by EMILY's List, the N.C. Association of Educators, the National Association of Social Workers, the United Transportation Union, the National Women's Political Caucus, the N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers, the Communications Workers of America, the N.C. Troopers Association, the N.C. Sheriff Police Alliance, the N.C. Association of Nurse Anesthetists, the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, former U.S. Rep. Eva Clayton and the N.C. Teamsters.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Walter H. Dalton: http://www.walterdalton.org/

Dalton is from Rutherford County. He received a Business Administration and later law degree from UNC and went to work in banking. Dalton is now serving his 6th term in the NC Senate and was appointed Co-Chair of Education and Co-Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Dalton supported tax incentives for new industries. He is currently a board member of the Rural Economic Development Center, the North Carolina Economic Development Board, and the North Carolina Tourism Board.

Dalton led the effort to add Chimney Rock to our state park system. He also worked to add gameland to the South Mountain State Park, enlarge Lake James State Park, and create Hickory Nut Gorge State Park. The Parks and Recreation Associations and the Housing Coalition named Walter Dalton as their legislator of the year.

Dalton holds out his Innovative Education Act as an example of his commitment to education as well as his Live and Earn Program; More at Four Program; continual increases for Smart Start; his commitment to reducing class sizes and increase in teachers’ salaries; and his work for community college systems.

Dalton is a job promoter and has worked for legislation that provides incentives to recruit new industries. He cites, among others, helping PPG Fiber Glass Products to save $500,000 a year on its gas bill; 600 new jobs at Wal-Mart and 250 jobs at Sara Lee. He passed legislation to help rural areas make water and sewer improvements to bring in jobs.

Dalton also developed a high-risk health insurance pool and was the lead sponsor of legislation that gave small businesses tax credits to provide health insurance for their employees. He also co-sponsored the bill to permanently cap the gas tax; cosponsored the Clean Water Act; voted for passage of the Clean Smokestacks Act; required the state vehicle fleet to reduce dependency on fossil fuels by 20%; and fought to increase funding for law enforcement officers and agencies.

Dalton voted for the Death Penalty Moratorium and is pro choice.

Hampton Dellinger: http://www.hdforltgov.com/

Jerry and I met Hampton Delinger a couple of years ago in Blowing Rock. He is a very bright and appealing candidate.

Dellinger lives in Durham. He attended Yale Law School and served in the Governor's Office (Chief Legal Counsel) and the Department of Justice (Deputy Attorney General and Special Counsel). He serves as Recording-Secretary of the NC Business Laws and the Economy Commission and is a member of the NC Governor's Advisory Council on Hispanic/Latino Affairs.

Hampton says he has fought improper governmental bidding contracts; has assisted with judicial selection processes; has worked for the NZZCP in Baltimore to help with finances and leadership; and has published numerous reviews and other publications.

Hampton is running for Lt. Governor to “eliminate racial disparities in schools, health outcomes, and our criminal justice system”; reduce gaps in income for low-wealth counties; insist on affordable and comprehensive health care for all; safeguard our state’s environment; address the state’s backlogs; free counties from Medicaid financial burdens; increase law enforcement technology; and commit resources to mass transit. Hampton also proposes to enact an “Education Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for the 21st Century.”

Hampton wants to help the state’s seniors by “restoring a tax credit for the purchase of long-term care insurance, establishing a simple system for rating the quality of adult care homes, moving mentally ill residents out of such homes, boosting financial support for services that help people stay in their own homes, and offering better protection against scams and abuse.”

Dellinger opposes the Navy’s proposed OLF site because it violates environmental stewardship, and he wants to raise the state’s compulsory school age beyond 16.

Pat Smathers: http://www.patsmathers2008.com/

Smathers came early on to the Watauga County Democratic Party to present himself and his campaign. He and his family are impressive people.

Smathers was born in Canton and is a hardcore Democrat. He graduated from Duke University with a B.A. in political science and went on to study law at Wake Forest University. He received his J.D. in 1979. After law school, Smathers joined the North Carolina National Guard. He is also a recent graduate of U.S. Army College with a master's in strategic studies. He retired in August 2007 as a lieutenant colonel.

Smathers ran for mayor of Canton in 1999 on a rejuvenation platform, and has been an excellent activist Mayor. Devastating hurricane floods struck his hometown in 2004, and Smathers partnered with fellow community leaders and state government to repair and strengthen the community. He is resourceful and creative.

Smathers says if elected, he will empower and support local community leaders; endorse a return to good governance; address joblessness, affordable housing, and health care; make education a top priority; and “preserve and protect our natural landscape in a way that enhances our state's economic development. We must think creatively about mass transportation, waste disposal and alternative energy sources, so we can ensure our citizens will enjoy clean air and water for generations to come.”

Dan Besse: http://www.danbesse2008.org/

Besse is from Hickory (more recently Winston-Salem). He graduated from UNC with a law degree in 1980.

I’m big on Besse and am very honored to have the opportunity to endorse his candidacy. I first became familiar with Besse some years ago in one of my asphalt plant fights. He was on the State Environmental Management Commission where he was an advocate for some of the strongest state wetlands conservation policies and where he fought for strong policies for cleaner water and air. He was the only sure member of the EMC we could count on to remember that the air and water resources of NC belong (according to the state constitution) to the people of the state, not to the polluters.

As an attorney, Besse has been a consultant for citizen conservation and other environmental groups since 1978. Some of his clients have included the Conservation Council of North Carolina, North Carolina Coastal Federation, N.C. Public Interest Research Group, and Piedmont Conservation Voters.

Besse’s environmental commitment is strong and impressive. He walks the walk. He works tirelessly with state efforts to address global warming; to promote development of cleaner transportation alternatives; and to push for tougher penalty rules for sedimentation violations.

Among other positions, Besse has been a Winston-Salem City Council Member; is a member of the N.C. Climate Action Plan Advisory Group; is Chairman of the Piedmont Triad Early Action Compact; is a representative on the National League of Cities: Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Policy and Advocacy Committee; is a commissioner on the N.C. Environmental Management Commission; and is a member of the N.C. Coastal Resources Commission.

Besse says if elected he will, among other things, enforce the state’s laws on controlling air and water pollution; require sufficient penalties against violators; improve the effectiveness of our erosion and sediment control efforts; conserve our rivers, lakes, wetlands and natural areas; coordinate transportation and land use plans; and expand and protect greenways.

Besse also says he will place an emphasis on expanding and ensuring access to health care; promote preventative health care; look for ways to slow down the rapid increases in health care costs; make a full commitment to equal educational opportunities for all NC children; aggressively work to develop home-grown biofuels; and develop a comprehensive study of our future energy needs.

STATE AUDITOR

Beth A. Wood: http://www.bethwoodcampaign.com

Wood is from New Bern and is a former employee of the auditor's office (10 years). Wood earned an associate’s degree as a dental hygienist from Wayne Community College in Goldsboro and worked as dental hygienist for 10 years. Wood received her accounting degree from East Carolina University in 1984.

According to Wood’s web site, “during her tenure in the State Auditor’s Office, Beth was instrumental in bringing the state’s compliance supplements up to federal standards, ensuring that federal grants are being used as intended. She was a leader in redesigning the Auditor’s Office training program to make training more relevant to state auditors’ work. And she helped develop employee evaluations that better reflected the job performance of Auditor’s Office employees.”

Among others, Wood has been endorsed by former State Auditor Ralph A. Campbell, Jr., and The North Carolina State AFL-CIO.

Fred Aikens: http://www.fredaikens.com/

Aikens is a native of Wilmington and a 1968 graduate of Williston Senior High School. He is a retired Army Colonel in the North Carolina National Guard and currently serves on the Wake County Citizens' Facilities Advisory Committee; the Hannah Keith Scholarship Fund; and the NC Legislative Black Caucus Foundation. He was also former Deputy Secretary of the NC Department of Correction; Chief Deputy Secretary for the NC Department of Transportation; and former Senior Fiscal Analyst, NC General Assembly.

“As State Auditor, I will increase the number of performance audits of agencies and intensify our efforts to identify wasteful and inefficient operations. I will create a special team of auditing professionals who can assess the operations of state agencies, identify inefficiencies, and help agency officials restore accountability. My top priority will be to ensure transparency, accountability, and responsibility to our State Government and the tax dollars that it spends. I will report directly to the people of North Carolina and the General Assembly.”

Aikens has received endorsements from the Charlotte/Mecklenburg Black Political Caucus and the Wake County Voter Education Coalition.

COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE

Wayne Goodwin: http://www.waynegoodwin.org/

Goodwin is a native of Hamlet and graduated from UNC with a degree in Political Science and, later, with a law degree. He worked in private legal practice for 13 years. Goodwin then served eight years as an NC State House member.

Goodwin served under Insurance Commissioner Jim Long as Assistant Commissioner of Insurance. In August 2007, the General Assembly appointed Goodwin to serve on the e-NC Authority Commission, where he will focus on enhancing job growth and economic development related to the expansion of the Internet in today's marketplace.

If elected, Goodwin pledges to keep insurance rates low for consumers and businesses; oppose attempts by the insurance industry to strip the Insurance Commissioner of his authority; support the mission of the “Safe Kids Program”; oppose the federalization of insurance; improve technology; expand the Seniors Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP); and continue to expose fraud.

Goodwin has managed to pile up numerous endorsements, including Insurance Commissioner Jim Long; the N.C. State AFL-CIO; the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE); NC Fire & Rescue Association; and Ralph Campbell, former State Auditor.

David C. Smith: http://www.electdavidsmith.com/

Smith is a native of Banner Elk and a graduate of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. Smith earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from UNC and completed his law degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law's competitive Evening Program in 1999. Smith was a policy and research advisor to Lieutenant Governor Dennis A. Wicker and served as policy director for the State Health Plan Purchasing Alliance Board. He remains actively involved with the NC Department of Insurance on issues affecting small groups and agents within the state.

In addition, Smith has worked with small businesses on affordable health insurance; serves as President-Elect of the North Carolina Association of Health Underwriters; serves as Secretary of the Board of Trustees for Duke School for Children, is a member of the Technology Advisory Committee for the North Carolina Bar Association; and previously served as Chairman of the Durham Area Transit Authority.

“I pledge to be independent and to fight for the best interests of our citizens to maintain our state's low automobile rates and to make sure that the process of rate review is more efficient. I pledge to make health insurance and health care reform a top priority of the Department of Insurance. And I pledge to fight against those who prey on our state with false insurance claims or bad practices.”

COMMISSIONER OF LABOR

The winner of this Democratic primary will challenge Republican Cherie Berry, a two-term incumbent, in November. Looks like we’ve got some really good candidates to take her on.

Mary Fant Donnan: http://www.maryfantdonnan.com

Donnan is a program officer for the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation in Winston-Salem. She grew up in southwestern Virginia, is a graduate of Davidson College, and received her Masters degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Adelaide in South Australia. Donnan also served as policy analyst and director of research and policy at the North Carolina Department of Labor: “Mary worked for the Department of Labor; focusing on workforce and economic development. One particular initiative she led developed a statewide project on Individual Development Accounts - a strategy for moving low-income families to self-sufficiency through homeownership, small business development and education.”

Donnan has served on the boards of the North Carolina Community Development Initiative and Partners for Homeownership

Donnan has been endorsed by Harry Payne, former NC Commissioner of Labor and the North Carolina AFL-CIO.

Ty Richardson: (no web site found)

Richardson is from Middlesex and graduated from St. Augustine's College in Raleigh with a degree in physical education. He was a member of the Marine Corps and then worked in the N.C. Department of Crime Control and Public Safety for the division of emergency management. Richardson worked on Jim Hunt’s and Howard Lee’s statewide campaigns.

His bid for labor commissioner is his first political race.

Robin Anderson: http://www.andersonforlabor.org/

Anderson is a lawyer who specializes in wage payment and workplace discrimination litigation and who chairs the state Personnel Commission. She has raised more money than her Democratic opponents and has been endorsed by the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

This woman is a go-getter activist. She has set some strong sights on Republican incumbent Berry: “… it's going to take a strong candidate to beat her. I have the experience that is necessary. I'm not afraid to talk about her failures, and will hit these issues head on." Anderson accuses Berry of not enforcing compliance of labor laws for businesses: “… I will remove the handcuffs and back the investigators in their efforts to enforce compliance of the law against businesses that don't play by the rules. … Cherie Berry has said that a company won't change its ways because of fines. When a company willfully violates the laws, those laws need to be enforced."

On April 3rd, Anderson “called for increased transparency in the Department of Labor’s posting of reports on workplace safety violations found by OSHA”:

“The people of North Carolina deserve to know if the factories and plants that process the food they buy are mistreating employees or putting them in unsafe working conditions….The Charlotte Observer noted that it took Freedom of Information Act requests to learn details of several deadly accidents, including a chlorine leak that killed a man in 2003. “This kind of safety information should be readily available to the public.”

John C. Brooks: (no web site found)

Brooks is a former state labor commissioner. He graduated with a bachelor's degree from UNC and then earned a law degree from the University of Chicago in 1962. He also worked as a clerk for N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Bobbitt.

SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

Detailed interviews with these two candidates can be read here.

June Atkinson:  http://www.juneatkinson.com

Atkinson holds a Bachelors Degree from Radford University, a Master's Degree from Virginia Tech, and a doctorate from North Carolina State University in educational leadership and policy. Atkinson has served as North Carolina State Superintendent of Public Instruction since August 2005. Among other recognitions, Atkinson has been awarded the Women of Achievement Award; and the Inclusive Leadership Award, North Carolina Association of Educators. She is past President of the National Business Education Association and National Association of State Directors of Career and Technical Education.

According to her web site, during the next four years, Atkinson wants to ensure every child graduates from high school with a diploma; reads well, has access to technology for improving learning, and has a teacher who is paid well and appreciated.

Eddie Davis: (no website found)

Davis is the president of the N.C. Association of Educators and, naturally, received their endorsement for this seat. Davis graduated from P.W. Moore High School in Elizabeth City in 1967 and has been a teacher in various public schools since. He was appointed by Gov. Jim Hunt to an eight-year term on the State Board of Education.

If elected to this office, he says he will concentrate on efforts to close the minority achievement gap: “I want to lead a crusade, a revolution that would change the face of education — a movement that would use education as a primary tool to eliminate poverty, dispel inequities, and create excitement about learning and learning for a lifetime.”

STATE TREASURER

I was really impressed with a lot Weisel had to say about his experience and platform, but it was a blog discussion on BlueNC that firmed up my support for Cowell.

Janet Cowell: http://janetcowell.com/

Cowell graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and, later, with a Master’s Degree in Business from the Wharton School of Business and a Masters in International Studies from the Lauder Institute. Cowell has been a securities analyst at the Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation; an investment report writer for Lehman Brothers; a securities analyst; and a consultant for several Fortune 500 companies. She was also a former member of the Raleigh City Council and the State Senate.

In the State Senate, Cowell boasts a record of cutting government waste, investing in new technology, and empowering local governments. She was also named Environmental Legislator of the Year by the Conservation Council of North Carolina.

If elected, Cowell says she will, among other things, earn consistent returns on investments; protect Full Funding of the Pension System; and reach out to minorities and historically underutilized businesses.

Michael Weisel: http://www.weisel2008.org

Weisel lives in Raleigh and is a member of the State Banking Commission. He also served as a Vice President of Wells Fargo Bank; as vice president and portfolio manager for Kemper Financial Services; and as Trustee for the North Carolina Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement Systems. Currently, Weisel is “an attorney with Bailey and Dixon, L.L.P. in Raleigh where he specializes in business law, securities arbitration, corporate finance, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, commercial real estate, campaign and elections law, and government relations.”

Weisel has been actively involved in Democratic politics for many years and chairs Wake County Smart Start, Inc.

If elected, Weisel promises, among other things, to ensure the State Treasurer is a “fiscal watchdog,” protect North Carolina's Retirees' Pensions; be independent of political pressure; fight predatory lending; and increase the transparency and customer service of the treasurer's office.

David Young: http://www.davidyoung2008.com/

Young is from Greensboro (now residing in Asheville), is a graduate of UNC, and is a small business owner (Fugazy Travel). He has served on the Buncombe County Board of County Commissioners and helped establish Buncombe County Economic Development Commission. Young also serves as a member of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. Young started his career in banking with BB&T.

If elected, Young promises to wisely manage the state's financial resources; maintain North Carolina's AAA bond rating; honor the state's commitments to its state employees; and use the resources of the state to create opportunities in education, health care, and economic development.

WATAUGA COUNTY COMISSIONER, DISTRICT 1

Mary Moretz, Democratic incumbent for County Commissioner in this district, has decided not to seek re-election. The winner of this primary will become the commissioner-elect for this district since the Republican Party did not file an opposition candidate.

Tim Futrelle: http://www.timfutrelle.com/

Futrelle is 33 years old. This is his first run for political office. He grew up on the farmlands of rural eastern North Carolina and has worked in the service industry for over 15 years. Currently, Futrelle is continuing his education in Pre-Law Studies at Appalachian State University while continuing working. He has held numerous leadership positions in the local and district Democratic Party organizations including precinct vice chair (local) and as a vice-chair of the 5th District Democratic Executive Committee. He has also actively and successfully managed and organized other Democratic campaigns.

“I believe in the Democratic Party tradition of representing the needs and values of regular working people. My work to promote positive change in the county has prepared me to make a broader commitment to the people of Watauga County.”

Futrelle identifies as his key issues: water quality and availability issues; seeing that a new Watauga High School is built, “and built with forethought”; affordable housing; commitment to a new County growth plan; and a continuing commitment to law enforcement needs.

Doug McGuinn: http://dougmcguinn.powweb.com/

McGuinn is 60 years old. He was born in Rutherford County and attended Gardner Webb Junior College and East Carolina University, where he received his B.A. and M.A. degrees. McGuinn has been an adjunct instructor at the Watauga campus of Caldwell Community College and at the Ashe County campus of Wilkes Community College. This is his second run for this seat, having lost to Moretz in a primary in 2006.

"Governments, all the way down to the local level, want to micromanage our lives by passing needless laws and regulations, dictating to us, for example, what we can or cannot do with our property, what color we can or cannot paint our houses, what we can or cannot have in our yards, etc. If elected, I will vote AGAINST any attempt to add even more regulations and control over our lives, and do my best to oppose any of the county government's further attempts to micromanage our lives."

McGuinn also promises a focus on the common person, the local Farmer's Market, affordable housing, and alternative energies.

Go here for more information.

NONPARTISAN JUDICIAL RACES

The party affiliations of these candidates will not be provided on your ballot, but I have provided them below. It was difficult to find out much information about the judges, but I have presented what I could locate.

COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE, RACE #1 (Wynn Seat)

The top two votegetters will proceed to the November ballot.

Jewel Ann Farlow (Republican): (No website found)

Dean R. Poirier (Republican): http://poirier4justice.com

Poirier is a graduate of UNC School of Law and is an Appeals Referee with the North Carolina Employment Security Commission and an Adjunct Instructor of Law at Mount Olive College, North Carolina Wesleyan College, Kaplan University and Liberty University. Poirier is opposed to “Judicial Activism.”

James A. (Jim) Wynn (Democrat): (No website found)

Wynn used to practice law in Wilson and is the incumbent judge for this seat. He served on the N.C. Court of appeals from 1990-98 and again from 1999 to the present. President Clinton nominated Wynn for a seat on the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, but Wynn’s nomination was blocked by Senate Repubicans.

COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE, RACE #2 (Tyson Seat)

The two top votegetters will proceed to the November ballot.

Sam J. Ervin, IV (Democrat): (no website found)

Ervin is the grandson of the late Senator Sam Ervin who became well known during the Watergate hearings. He is from Morgantown and currently serves on the NC Utilities Commission.

Janet Pueschel (Republican): (no website found)

Kristen Ruth (Democrat): http://www.judgeruth.com

Ruth is now serving her third term as a Trial Court judge in Raleigh. Ruth has been awarded the North Carolina Child Support Council’s Distinguished Service of Excellence Award; the national American Business Woman of the Year; and the Commissioner’s Judge of the Year Award presented by the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement in Washington, DC. Ruth currently serves on the board for Carolina Dispute Settlement Services, among other committees.

John M. Tyson (Republican): http://judgejohntyson.com

Tyson is the incumbent judge for this seat. He is a VERY conservative judge and needs to go—I have read many of his opinions over the years. He is endorsed by the North Carolina Forestry Association PAC; the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation PAC; the Legal Defense Fund of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys; and by Build PAC of the North Carolina Homebuilder’s Association.

Selected Feedback to this Issue of Pam's Picks

"...tell Pam if I have to listen to the Gov grimace "Hi, y'all" for the next eight years, I am holding her personally responsible."

"I'm with you except I'm a Hillary Boy... I like Obama's motivational style but Hill is more of a technocrat and with the GWB fiasco, we need a wonkette. I will, however, gladly support either in the general."

"As a teacher and active member of NCAE I would encourage you to rethink your vote for June Atkinson and vote for Eddie Davis instead."

"thanks a million for this -- its great. However, I'm still for Hillary. Soothing rhetoric will not run the white house. I will support Obama if he is nominated but I'm for Clinton."

"Anybody but Foxx. Is there any way we can vote against her in this primary election?"

"What makes you think you can get away with posting this kind of garbage? You dems are ruining the country. It's been done before, you know."

"I don't know how you can say it was okay for Richard Moore to attack Ms. Perdue the way he has. It was good you endorsed her, but it's not okay to say that negative advertising is acceptable or effective."

"Pam, thanks for sending this around again this year. I like to get this and want to stay on the list, but could you shorten it up a bit? It is SO LONG. There's too much to read."

"Pam. This is good. I'm glad you endorsed Wayne Goodwin. He is awesome. But couldn't you have listed all of his endorsements instead of cutting them down and then just supplying a link?"

"Thank you for Pam's Picks, but I do not think you should provide the Party affiliation of the judges. The parties are not listed on the ballot for good reason. Think about it."

"...You mean you're not going to pick someone endorsed by the Build PAC of the North Carolina Homebuilder’s Association? What you smoking, girl ;)"

"I'm not sure you're allowed to link to other blogs without permission. Did you get permission?"

"Pam, your endorsement of Dan Besse is great! But your bio info didn't do him justice. You need to beef that section up."

"Hello. Can you tell me where I can find the Republican primary ballot?"

"Where is Edgar Eller's garage? Maybe you could provide links to Mapquest?"

"Thank you for this list. Can I take a copy of these candidates into the voting booth with me or do I have to memorize them all?"

"Let (Pam) know that I am glad there is another feminist of a certain age for Obama."

"I want to thank you so much for posting the list of candidates. If I had waited, I could have saved myself a good deal of time. The evening before I got the message about your list I must have
spent an hour or more searching the Internet for a list of N.C. candidates."

"Hi, a friend of mine sent me your list, but I am a Republican and you say I can't vote this ballot. Do you have any recommendations for the Republican ballot?"

"Hey! Someone put your picks up on Facebook! Awesome!"

"I forwarded your list to a friend of mine, she wants to know who you are. What should I say?"

"I thought we were just voting for President. You mean I can vote for all these candidates? Or just one?"

"I, too have been unable to make a choice between Hillary (Yes, I like her, too)... for Obama right now. Tomorrow, who knows? "

"A "Pam's Republican primary picks" feature might be a good resource for helping conflicted Republicans "cross over" and/or combat the extreme elements of their party. I think a lot of long-time Republicans like my mom are in agony this year because they despise their party's leaders and candidates but they don't much like the familiar image of Democrats either and can't see themselves ever being a Democrat or having anything in common with Democrats. We've got to find a way to make it all right for them to vote for Democrats and still feel ok about themselves."