2012 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY ELECTION
for WATAUGA COUNTY, NC
 MAY 8TH


SHORTCUT: Click here to see how I will cast my ballot.

IMPORTANT

NOTE to Readers:  Candidates are listed and discussed in ballot order.  Click on individual names for detailed information about the candidates or Click HERE for shortcuts to all candidate information/discussions on this site.

NOTE to New River 1 Precinct Voters:   Your polling location has permanently changed.  On election day, you vote at the Boone Town Council Chambers on Blowing Rock Road.

NOTE to Boone 3 Precinct Voters:   Your polling location has temporarily changed.  Due to ongoing renovations at Farthing Auditorium, on election day you  vote at the Agricultural Conference Center on King Street (near Poplar Grove Road). You can also vote "transfer" on Election Day at the Student Union or at the Board of Elections on King Street.

NOTE to Beech Mountain Precinct Voters:  Your polling location has permanently changed.  On election day, you now vote at the Buckeye Recreation Center in Beech Mountain.

THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY BALLOT (how I will cast my ballot):

PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE (you may pick one):
Barack Obama

US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (you may pick one):
Elisabeth Motsinger

NC GOVERNOR (you may pick one):
Walter Dalton (very reluctantly)

NC LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR (you may pick one):
Eric Mansfield

COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE (you may pick one):
Scott Bryant

COMMISSIONER OF LABOR (you may pick one):
Marlowe Foster

NC TREASURER (you may pick one):
Janet Cowell

WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION (you may pick three):
Jay Fenwick
Barbara Kinsey
Brenda Reese

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT:
AGAINST

The Disclaimer: What is Pam's Picks?
“Pam’s Picks” is simply one person’s opinion about the 2012 Democratic Primary election races.  I am a Watauga County resident and have long held interest in local politics. I have researched candidate campaign platforms and records where available. I have also supplied candidate web site references and Facebook links 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:  general voting information (when and where) and information on candidates whose names will appear on the May 8th Democratic Primary ballot (the candidates are presented in the order they will appear on your ballot). 

SHORTCUTS to The Information On This Site:
Click here for the Pam's Picks disclaimer.
Click here for voting information (where and when you vote and who can vote this ballot).
Click here for your precinct location.
Click here for a full discussion of my endorsement for US House of Representatives.
Click here for a full discussion of my endorsement for NC Governor.
Click here for a full discussion of my endorsement for NC Lieutenant Governor.
Click here for a full discussion of my endorsement for NC Commissioner of Agriculture.
Click here for a full discussion of my endorsement for NC Commissioner of Labor.
Click here for a full discussion of my endorsement for NC Treasurer.
Click here for a full discussion of my endorsements for Watauga County Board of Education
Click here for a full discussion of the Constitutional Amendment.

VOTING INFORMATION
Who Can Vote this ballot?: All registered Democrats and Unaffiliated voters who reside in Watauga County. This includes ASU students who live in dormitories on campus as well as those who live in off-campus housing.

When and Where to Vote: Election Day proper is Tuesday, May 8th, BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEN TO VOTE!   Early “one-stop voting” is available in 3 locations this year at varying hours and dates:

The Watauga County Board of Elections (inside the Courthouse)
Thursday, April 19 (weekdays from 8AM-5PM) - Saturday, May 5 (8AM-1PM)

The Multi-Cultural Center in ASU's Student Union (Across from CrossRoads coffee shop)
Monday, April 30- Friday, May 4 (10AM-5PM)

Boone Town Council Chambers (Blowing Rock Road)
Monday, April 30- Friday, May 4 (8AM-5PM)

Not Registered to Vote?: You can “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 with a local address, 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 that includes a local address).  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 Fire Department
Beaver Dam: Beaver Dam Fire Department
Beech Mountain: Buckeye Recreation Center
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, Blue Ridge Ballroom
Boone 3: 
Agricultural Conference Center on King Street (or by "Transfer" in ASU's Student Union)
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 Elementary School
New River 1:  Boone Town Hall on Blowing Rock Road
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

Polls are open on Election Day, May 8th, from 6:30AM-7:30PM.

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

CANDIDATE INFORMATION SOURCES:
Information for my candidate discussions below comes from individual candidate information, candidate voting records, press reports, non-partisan and partisan analysis, Project Vote Smart, and other sources.

PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE: (you may vote for one)

If you're wanting to send a "message" to the President about your dissatisfaction with one issue or another, have at, but the short and sweet of it is, there is no primary challenger.

 Barack Obama:  http://www.barackobama.com and "Barack Obama" on Facebook

No Preference:

US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: (you may vote for one)

Elisabeth Motsinger:  www.nc5th.us and "Elisabeth Motsinger" on Facebook

Ms. Motsinger has more than 20 years of experience as a health care provider and, with her husband John, has three children. Prior to Motsinger’s election to the Forsyth School Board in 2006, no Democrat had won a seat at-large or outside the urban core. She was the only Democratic incumbent running county-wide in Forsyth to win re-election in 2010.

According to her website, Motsinger’s key issues are “affordable and effective health care,” “threats to our natural resources,” strong education, and economic fairness. She has participated in the Occupy Winston-Salem movement and, last September, she and her husband were arrested along with more than 240 other protestors during a rally against the Keystone XL pipeline. Mostinger has marched for gay and lesbian rights and is opposed to Amendment 1.

I like Ms. Motsinger’s website. It is extremely low tech, but she uses words like “core values,” “America’s founders,” “values,” and “Liberty.” And this:

“The Constitution is a living document because it demands that we continually consider what more we need to do. Justice requires us to think not only of ourselves, but also of others, as persons of equal worth as we strive for a more perfect Union.”

It’s high time Democrats called the Republicans out on their absurd portrayal of Democrats as unpatriotic and anti-Constitution. Says Mostinger:  “People I meet who are progressive are very, very patriotic and are very heartbroken when they see their country operating in ways that are less than what is possible,” she said. “And I think most progressives’ lives are very much driven by their values and so that language belongs to us and I want us to use it — I want us to claim it.”

Motsinger says she can beat Virginia Foxx because, among other things, she is female and is “a veteran winner of unwinnable races.”

The Winston-Salem Journal weighed in on Motsinger’s campaign back in January:

 “… the potential for a Motsinger-Foxx race in the fall would no doubt give voters a stark choice on the issues. Foxx is a tea party-backed, small-government conservative, while Motsinger is a liberal activist and pro-environment protester…. And, in the case of Motsinger, a more polar opposite probably could not be found.”


Bruce G. Peller: http://brucepeller.com/wp/ and “Dr Bruce Peller” on Facebook

Peller was born and raised in NYC. He has lived with his wife, Paula, in North Carolina since 1979. Peller is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine, and received an MBA in Health Care Administration from the Wharton Graduate School of Business. Along with many others in their profession, Dr. Peller and his wife provide dental care for low income children and their families and are volunteers with the “Give Kids a Smile” program and the “Community Care Center.”  Peller also volunteers with “Project Homeless Connect,” a program to provide dental care for the homeless in the triad area.

Says Peller, “The citizens of the fifth district are hurting. My family and I see the struggles every day in our dental practice. We see first-hand the need for healthcare that is accessible, attainable, and affordable every day of our lives. We understand the hardships being endured by our neighbors.”

According to Peller’s website, he is against Amendment 1, supports the Dream Act, supports bringing the troops home from Afghanistan immediately, and supports ending federal subsidies and tax loopholes for oil companies. He supports the Affordable Care Act but believes it needs improvement and supports additional funding for public schools. He is opposed to Amendment 1 and attended a Watauga fundraiser against the Amendment in March.

Peller says he can win this race if he reaches out to voters across the "political spectrum." “Many believe that the fifth district is uncompetitive for our party. But let me tell you that I will not lose this campaign by being outworked nor outspent. I can win this campaign because I am willing to work with people across the political spectrum to make forward looking leadership a reality for the citizens of the fifth district.”

NC GOVERNOR: (you may vote for one)

Truth is, color me not impressed with any of the Democratic primary candidates for Governor this year. The two Democratic primary front runners for this seat are Dalton and Etheridge, and neither is progressive enough for me. You can see Project Vote Smart's detailed ratings for Etheridge here. You can see Project Vote Smart's detailed ratings for Walter Dalton here.

I wish Bev Perdue had stayed in the race. The President is going to be strong in the state this year, and I believe she had the best shot at defeating Republican Tea Party darling Pat McCrory.

But here’s the thing. The Democrats must win the Governor’s seat next year to continue to hold a firewall against radical Republican legislation and, even more importantly, to keep control of the state and county Boards of Elections. The Governor’s Party controls Boards of Elections, and should the Republicans take the Governorship, you can bet on major voter suppression activity: fewer early voting days and polling places; Voter ID bills; and voting locations moved off college campuses and democratic strongholds and into unfriendly and hard to access areas.

For this reason, I decided to hold my nose and cast a vote for the Democratic primary candidate most likely to defeat the Slick & Magnificent Pat McCrory in November. That is my bottomline and, in the end, the major (and only) criteria for my final decision.

In a Public Policy Poll released on March 11th:

Q8 If the candidates for Governor were Democrat
Walter Dalton and Republican Pat McCrory,
who would you vote for?

Walter Dalton .................................................. 35%
Pat McCrory.................................................... 46%
Undecided....................................................... 19%

Q9 If the candidates for Governor were Democrat
Bob Etheridge and Republican Pat McCrory,
who would you vote for?
Bob Etheridge ................................................. 36%
Pat McCrory.................................................... 46%
Undecided....................................................... 18%

So both Dalton and Etheridge stand about an equal chance of defeating McCrory.

In the end, here's how I decided my final endorsement for Governor:

Dalton is not charismatic and doesn't strike me as a leader who can fire up voters. While strong on education, he is too beholden to industry, especially the billboard industry. Dalton is strongest in Charlotte, the West, and in the Triad. He has less of a record for McCrory to attack and has built a solid network of donors and support in the state over the years. He is 63 years old, young enough to challenge McCrory's 56 years.

Etheridge is dogged by a You Tube video that will turn off (and has already turned off) young (and other) voters. He seems to have a mean streak (a good thing). Etheridge is strongest in the Triangle and northeastern and southeastern North Carolina. He is slightly more progressive than Dalton. His campaign doesn't seem as well organized as Dalton's, and he has a long record of votes for McCrory to use as fodder against him. He is 70 years old, which I believe won't wear well against McCrory's relative youth.

Walter H. Dalton: http://www.daltonfornc.com/ and "Walter Dalton" on Facebook

Dalton is married with two children and is from Rutherfordton. After serving for six terms as a state senator, he was elected Lieutenant Governor in 2008. Dalton is the “establishment candidate” for Governor, and his list of endorsements is a who’s who of Democratic Raleigh movers and shakers.

Dalton’s website boasts some impressive credentials. In education, Dalton has worked to increase funding for community colleges and universities and led efforts to raise teacher standards and pay and reduce class sizes. In business, Dalton set up a loan fund for small businesses. In health care, Dalton “helped secure funding for rural health centers, free clinics, health departments and small rural hospitals to improve access to health care and preventative medicine.” On environmental issues, Dalton worked to protect the Clean Water Management Trust Fund and enlarged state park areas and wildlife game lands.

According to Project VoteSmart, Dalton’s “political courage is still being tested.” His responses to a National Political Awareness Test in 1998 are telling however. In the survey, Dalton said he would strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes and sex offenders. He would increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers, provide tax incentives to attract out-of-state businesses to relocate to North Carolina, and support increased state funding for economic development programs in rural areas of North Carolina.  He would also increase funds for public school teachers but supports sex education programs that stress abstinence.
 
There are serious problems with Dalton’s record in my view. According to the survey, Dalton supports "self-audit" legislation which allows industries to audit themselves and clean up pollution. Similar programs are called “mandatory review/voluntary compliance,” and they never, ever work. No business is going to clean up pollution without strict laws requiring it. The rest of Dalton's environmental stands are not promising either. For instance, he believes there should be analysis to determine the economic impact of proposed environmental regulations before they are implemented. That means few, if any, environmental regulations. He has also stated he will support fracking in North Carolina if it can be done safely. Newsflash: it can't.

Then there's his Billboard Industry problem.

The billboard industry is one of the most persistent special-interest lobbying groups in North Carolina. This year, the billboard lobbyists managed to get passed through the Republican legislature the ability to cut wide swathes of  trees along North Carolina's public highways so motorists can see their signs. Conservation groups strongly opposed the bill for many reasons, not the least of which is because it repeals all local control of billboards. (In fact, Dalton's ratings from the Conservation Council of NC have been among the lowest of any Senate Democrat.)

An analysis by Democracy North Carolina shows that Dalton is one of the largest political recipients of billboard money in the State, having received $16,950 from the billboard industry over the past four years: "It was then-Sen. and now Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, a Democrat who presides over the Senate, who sponsored legislation several years ago limiting local governments longtime ability to ban billboards by requiring them to reimburse billboard owners if they did so and if they didn't already have billboard control ordinances."

Dalton's Senate record is pro-business and fiscally conservative,"with strong support for education and university spending, but skimpy allocations to social services funding and an inclination to keep taxes down on the wealthy." Dalton broke with the Democratic caucus in 2001 to vote against the Clean Smokestacks Act. Meanwhile, he supported another bill that would have "allowed new factories to be built without first receiving air-quality permits from state environmental regulators."

Just after his announcement as a candidate for Governor, on January 27th, Dalton expressed his opposition to Amendment 1 even though he co-sponsored a 2005 Republican bill calling for a constitutional referendum on the "Defense of Marriage Amendment." Dalton points out that he didn't co-sponsor a half-dozen other DOMA bills, and says he doesn't support it now. Dalton's most recent score from the National League of Conservation Voters is 65%.

Dalton does have some good progressive credentials. The Housing Coalition of N.C. named him Legislator of the Year in '06 for creating a pilot program to deal with mortgage foreclosures, and he is very strong on education.

Gary M. Dunn: http://www.garydunnforgovernorofnorthcarolina.com/ and no Facebook Page Found. 

Dunn is 58 years old and is currently a student at UNCC. He is married with 6 children and ran for Governor in 1992 as a Republican. He believes the Democratic Party is now the best Party to affect change.

He has invited North Carolinians to come by his house any time to discuss his candidacy and the issues. You really should check out Dunn’s website. I found it very interesting and informative.

Dunn believes in simpler voting, easier access to the decision makers, and fewer layers of bureaucracy. He believes if a sales tax increase is necessary, it should put to a vote of the people. He is supportive of abortion rights and proposes that any person living in the United States “under the shadow of the current Immigration Laws” can become an American. He supports legalization of marijuana and opposes Amendment 1. He believes North Carolina should promote slow and steady growth and encourages more self-employment because self-employed individuals bring home almost three times more money than those working for others:

“History has shown that Isolation and Taxation only hurt the countries that propagate them.  I will encourage job growth and put forth an agenda that will attract jobs to North Carolina; but not at the cost of exporting ownership and profits.  Courting new business is a matter of negotiation, and to buy into the idea that some companies will want an unreasonable concession, which is just selling out.  Maybe we don’t want their low end jobs or to be exploited.”

And on Pat McCrory: “My opinion is that Mayor McCrory is like Chinese medicine, or chicken soup or homeopathic medicine;  “It can’t hurt, and it might do some good” but what we need in this serious economic climate is major medical, we have major problems, and they need major resolve, and I intend to bring this with me to Raleigh.”

Dunn writes at length about what approach he would take in moving North Carolina forward as Governor: “Admittedly, I am not the smartest, most well informed person on every subject, no one can be.  I know this and so I intend to take every major problem and divide it into the smallest manageable units and then find experts in that particular field, maybe even some of the graduate students, or professors and ask them for advice based on well founded and documented studies or research; then take that and offer policy opinion, and allow voters to decide."

Bob Etheridge: http://www.bobetheridgeforgovernor.com/index.cfm and "Bob Etheridge" on Facebook.

Etheridge is a Sampson County native and became the first member of his family to graduate from college.  He earned his B.S. Degree in Business Administration from Campbell University in 1965. Etheridge served two years in the U.S. Army and has honorary degrees from Campbell University, Fayetteville State University, Pfeiffer College, and Shaw University. He has served as a County Commissioner, in the North Carolina General Assembly, and as Superintendent of North Carolina's public schools. Etheridge was first elected to Congress in 1996. He served 14 years in the US House before being unseated by Republican newcomer Renee Ellmers in 2010.

Etheridge was defeated by Ellmers most likely for two reasons: (1) his vote in favor of the Affordable Health Care Act, and (2) he was filmed attacking a Tea Party operative by grabbing his neck and demanding, ""Who are you?"  Even though Etheridge apologized the next day, the You Tube of the attack had already gone viral and Ellmers used the video mercilessly against him in ads.

Etheridge's website is sorely lacking. There is no discussion on issues or much else for that matter.

Etheridge is 70 years old, and, should he be elected, would be the oldest person ever elected as Governor of North Carolina. He insists his "dogged and resolute" nature will win him the seat.

Etheridge says he supports fracking if more testing is done and it can be done safely; he is opposed to Amendment 1 (although he hedged when first asked); and he will not say whether he supports off-shore drilling off North Carolina's coasts. He does not support any changes in the state's gas tax. Dalton and Faison already have criticized him in the primary for supporting a 2003 trade bill.

Etheridge's voting record is all over the place.  While in Congress, Etheridge voted for a proposed federal constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in 2004 and 2006 and voted both in favor of and against DADT repeal in 2010. He voted in favor of unemployment benefits extension; against requiring a timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan; in favor of campaign finance laws; and in favor of the "Affordable Health Care Act." Etheridge received a 50% rating from NARAL in 2009; a 100% rating from NOW in 2008; a 71% rating from Planned Parenthood in 2010; a 25% rating from Freedomworks (Karl Rove outfit) in 2007; and a 50% rating from the League of Women Voters in 2007 related to civil liberties. Etheridge received an average career score of 79% by  the National League of Conservation Voters.

According to a recent interview, Etheridge says his focus as Governor will be on education:

"Etheridge's cornerstone is education. He believes if you support education you will create jobs, not just in the public sector but also in the private sector. Etheridge didn't agree with the General Assembly's cutting of the teachers and assistants. 'You can't cut your way out of problems," Etheridge said. "You need to invest in the things that will create jobs and that's education and young folks'."

Bill Faison: http://www.billfaison.com/ and "Bill Faison" on Facebook

Faison has six children and is twice divorced. He is currently a member of the North Carolina General Assembly and has represented the state's 50th House district since 2005. He lives in Cedar Grove in Northern Orange County, and is a single father and practices law with Faison & Gillespie in Durham, North Carolina, specializing in medical malpractice claims. Faison is very wealthy. His campaign had more than $500,000 as of Dec. 31, almost all of it in the form of personal loans. 

Faison, like Etheridge, has a crappy website with nothing much more than a video address and a direct link to his legislative website.

Faison supports raising the state's sales tax and using the proceeds for state and school job creation. As a legislator, Faison has championed high speed internet access in rural areas. He strongly opposes fracking and claims to be the only candidate "talking about the issues that matter" and pushing for a JOBS plan. He says the GOP leadership is wasting time and money on divisive social issues rather than dealing with economic ones.

Early on, Faison was accused by some of pushing Perdue out of the race, a charge he strongly denies. The truth is Faison slammed Gov. Beverly Perdue, claiming she was inactive about high unemployment and spending cuts by the Republican-led Legislature:

"The Orange County state House member traveled like a statewide candidate, speaking to Democratic groups and their allies. While the medical malpractice attorney said he wouldn't run for governor unless Perdue stepped aside, he also predicted publicly she would quit the race."

Faison was the first out of the gate to oppose Amendment 1:

"...this amendment is not about marriage. What they're trying to is use scare tactics to drive out their base. So I voted against on the floor of the House, because it is completely unnecessary and attempt to divide our society. And when I go to the ballot box in May, I'll vote against it again."

Faison is passionate and hot-headed, and I generally like that in a man, but I'm not sure it will work for beating McCrory.Plus that he's got some personal baggage to straighten out.  In 2010, Faison's second wife took out a complaint seeking financial support and alimony, alleging marital infidelity and emotional maltreatment. Faison has denied having an affair and other allegations and says he's had to make some hard choices: "We are together and moving forward to do the right thing, and ultimately the truth is the thing that's going to win out, no matter what's said by who, where or how."

Gardenia M. Henley: http://www.gardeniamhenley.com/and "Gardenia Henley" on Facebook

Henley is from Winston-Salem and is a veteran of the US Air Force. She could teach a few other candidates a thing or two about website construction. She was an Adjunct Professor of Taxation at Strayer University in Arlington, Va. and is a retired (22 years) Inspector General Auditor in Charge, from the Department of State’s, Agency for International Development, (USAID). In this position, she was responsible for preventing and detecting, fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement in the Executive Branch of Government.  Henley is currently on the board of the Winston-Salem Sister Cities, tasked with creating and strengthening partnerships between U.S. and international communities "in order to increase global cooperation, promote cultural understanding, and stimulate economic development."

If elected, Henley promises to assess the state's education lottery; ensure oversight and strong funding for state schools; increase health care access and affordability; support economic development initiatives; fight gangs and drugs in neighborhoods; fight against government fraud and mismanagement; and initiate a Buy Local Act.

I like her.

Bruce Blackmon: No website found.

Blackmon is a 90 year old retired physician from Buies Creek. Blackmon has authored a  book outlining an endowment fund proposal for local, state and federal governments. It is called "More Cash Less Taxes – World Peace."  Blackmon has one campaign platform, and he used a Raleigh forum to talk about it:

Blackmon wants to create "a state endowment that he said would reach billions of dollars in less than 40 years by investing 5 percent of the net income from the North Carolina Education Lottery. The idea, he said, would ease budget pressures for generations to come. 'The thing I want to do is see you get where you don’t have to wrestle all the time with budget money and do other things,' Blackmon told the administrators."

Blackmon says if we can establish the endowment fund now, we will eventually eliminate the need for state taxes altogether.  You can watch Blackmon's You Tube video explaining his plan here.

Blackmon says that while polling shows him to be unfamiliar to 87% of North Carolina voters, "If they are interested in cutting taxes then they need to vote for me. "

NC LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR: (you may vote for one)

Eric L. Mansfield: http://www.ericmansfieldnc.com/  and "Eric Mansfield for Lieutenant Governor" on Facebook

Mansfield was born in Louisiana, grew up in Columbus, Georgia, and was raised by a single mother who was an educator. In high school, Mansfield worked to obtain an ROTC Scholarship and was able to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C. He deferred his Army service to attend Morehouse School of Medicine and relocated to New Orleans to attend Surgical and Otolaryngology Residency at Tulane University School of Medicine. Upon completion of training, Mansfield relocated to Ft. Bragg, NC, and was assigned to Womack Army Medical Center, acting as the Battalion Medical Officer for the 2-505 Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) in the 82nd Airborne Division.

Mansfield also served as the Chief of Otolaryngology Services at Womack Army Medical Center from 1998-2001. During this time, he deployed to Kosovo with the 2/505 PIR. After separating from the military, he stayed in Fayetteville, opened Cape Fear Otolaryngology, an Ear, Nose and Throat practice.

Mansfield just completed his Masters in Public Health at UNC Chapel Hill. He was elected to represent Cumberland County in the NC Senate in 2010. Mansfield is also an ordained Baptist minister, but he said in a live-chat on BlueNC that he does not support Amendment 1, though he does think in traditional terms of marriage as between a man and a woman. He says he will fight for economic growth by investing in infrastructure and strong educational opportunities.

While Coleman is heavily favored to win the Democratic primary, Mansfield recently picked up a very important and impressive progressive endorsement: "Nina Szlosberg-Landis, a member of the N.C. Department of Transportation board, [a strong environmentalist], and a big Obama fundraiser, is planning to host a fundraising event for Mansfield's lieutenant governor campaign the evening of April 11. In an email to friends, Szlosberg-Landis called Mansfield the 'progressive choice' for the state's No. 2 post."

Others supporting Mansfield's campaign include former Ambassador Jeanette Hyde, Ken Lewis and 16 state lawmakers.
Linda D. Coleman: http://www.lindacoleman.org/  and "Linda Coleman for Lieutenant Governor" on Facebook

Coleman was born in Greenville, NC, earned her bachelor of arts from N.C. A&T State University and a master’s in public administration from the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. She has served as Chairman of the Wake County Board of Commissioners, was elected three times to the North Carolina House of Representatives, and was appointed by Governor Perdue to lead the State Personnel Office based on her experience as a human resource manager for the NC Department of Administration and Agriculture and Personnel Director for NC Community Colleges.

Coleman has elaborate positions on a number of policy issues, with particular emphasis on improving education in the state. She is leading in the polls for this office and has been endorsed by the AFL-CIO, Lillian’s List of North Carolina, and former Congresswoman Eva Clayton, among others.

Back in March, Coleman stumbled when asked her position on Amendment 1:

“She said she opposed the amendment, but struggled to explain her position on the current law [which bans same-sex marriages]. Coleman said she supports civil unions but not gay marriage. She thinks the current law banning gay marriage and civil unions needs to be changed, though she initially said she supported the law. The nuances of her position came to light in a conference call with reporters …. Coleman started by vociferously denouncing ‘forces of prejudice’ and calling the marriage amendment a distraction. But she also said she supported the current state law outlawing gay marriage …. Pressed to explain her apparent contradictory stance, Coleman said she supports civil unions. Questioned further, she said she opposes the current law, even though she said otherwise earlier in the call. ‘We need to change the law to allow people to live together,’ she said.”

The State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC) has said that it might spend up to $1 million to support Coleman and oppose Mansfield. What's up with that? Apparently it is some left over sour grapes from the 2010 primary. Mansfield beat SEANC's handpicked successor to former Sen. Larry Shaw in Cumberland County in the primary.


COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE: (you may vote for one)

Walter Smith: http://www.votewaltersmith.com/

Smith owns and operates a poultry farm in Yadkin County. He taught high school agriculture and spent over 30 years with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency, administering federal farm programs. He’s also served as Mayor of Boonville. Among his top issues, he lists the establishment of a “hotline” for anyone trying to negotiate the 21 different agencies in the NC Dept. of Agriculture; saving family farms by encouraging more young people into farming; aggressive marketing of NC farm products; food & consumer safety; and “going green” (he says he will “actively promote Green farms and businesses and help them to find markets for their products”).

On the threats posed by large corporate farms, Smith wrote:

“Once enough of the mega farms gain control of the prime farmland they will be able to control prices and the cost of food and agricultural products could soar. The easiest way to keep the farms in business is to find crops that can be grown on small acreages that are profitable.”
 
Scott Bryant: http://votescottbryant.com/

Bryant is a cattle farmer from Chatham County. He lists 20 years of experience in law enforcement with the Chatham & Lee County Sheriffs’ Departments. He takes a strident (almost Tea Party) tone on his website:

“Farmers across the state are tired of having the bureaucrats in Raleigh tell them how to farm. We need a Commissioner who will listen to our farmers and work on their behalf – not protecting the pencil pushers in the corner offices at Agriculture on Edenton Street.”

Despite that combativeness, when he lists his campaign platform, he pretty much sounds like everyone else. Among his top issues are: “a new intensity to market NC agriculture”; cutting government red tape; food & drug safety; “Local, Green, Sustainable Farming”; rural NC revitalization; etc.

Back in February, Bryant caused some waves when he called for the Director of Animal Health programs entangled in the Butterball animal-cruelty case to be allowed to resign or be fired. An animal-rights group secretly shot video at the Butterball farm in Hoke County that captured workers kicking, dragging and throwing turkeys. Hoke officials raided the farm in December after contacting the state agriculture office for advice. Dr. Sarah Mason with the agriculture department alerted a veterinarian who works at Butterball about the video, and she subsequently pleaded guilty to impeding the investigation and making false statements, and was put on probation. The Agriculture Department under incumbent Republican Commissioner Steve Troxler suspended her for two weeks.

“Let’s face it, a two-week suspension for Dr. Mason is totally inappropriate, and it sends the wrong message to the people of North Carolina,” Bryant said. Bryant also raised the question of whether Mason's contact with Butterball had anything to do with the fact that its political action committee contributed to Steve Troxler’s re-election campaign (campaign finance records show the Butterball PAC gave Troxler $1,000 in 2008).

COMMISSIONER OF LABOR: (you may vote for one)

Marlowe Foster: http://marlowefoster.com

After obtaining his BA in Political Science and his Master’s in Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University, Foster relocated to North Carolina. He has served on numerous boards and committees, including the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Z. Smith Reynolds Advisory Panel and the North Carolina State Banking Commission; Senior Services Board of Trustees, the North Carolina Progress Board, and the American Lung Association Board of Directors (NC Chapter).

For over 10 years Bryant has worked in “governmental relations” for Pfizer Inc. and for Lowe’s Home Improvement. Foster’s website does list workplace safety as a No. 1 issue, but he does not address at all the bad record of incumbent Republican Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry on workplace safety issues. Instead, Foster emphasizes the Community College system for its potential as a workforce retrainer and strikes a conciliatory note about being “a partner to business.” (Cherie Berry’s “partnership” with business has led to some very bad labor practices.)

Foster touts an impressive list of endorsers, including Sen. Linda Garrou of Winston-Salem, Fayetteville House member Rick Glazier, Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines, among others. But after interviewing two of the three candidates running for Labor Commissioner – John Brooks and Marlowe Foster – the NC State AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education (COPE) decided not to endorse a candidate in the Democratic primary for Labor Commissioner.
 
Ty Richardson: http://www.tyrichardsonlaborcommissioner2012.com

In polling done by PPP at the first of March, Richardson was actually leading in this race with 26% expressing a preference for him. But a whopping 52% of those polled said they were undecided.

Richardson ran previously for Labor Commissioner in the Democratic Primary of 2008, coming in 3rd out of 4 candidates. Since then, Richardson was charged with driving while impaired on Dec. 29, 2011, the fifth time he has been charged with driving while impaired since 1989, according to court records. In 1989, he was convicted of a lesser charge of reckless driving to endanger. A 1991 DWI charge was dismissed. He was convicted of driving while impaired in 1994. In 1999, he was convicted of reckless driving with wanton disregard for safety and driving with an open container of alcohol after drinking.
 
John C. Brooks: (No website or Facebook page found)

John C. Brooks, 75, served as North Carolina Commissioner of Labor from 1977 to 1993.  Brooks lost the 1992 Democratic primary for Commissioner of Labor to Harry Payne. Brooks holds a law degree from the University of Chicago law school. He has worked as an attorney, clerked for N.C. Supreme Court Justice William H. Bobbitt, served on the staff of Governor Terry Sanford, and worked as an administrative officer for the North Carolina General Assembly. In 2008, at age 71, Brooks filed as a Democrat to run for Commissioner of Labor again. Brooks placed second in the May 2008 primary, but because no candidate garnered more than 40 percent of the vote, he was allowed to call for a runoff with first-place finisher Mary Fant Donnan. In the runoff, Brooks lost to Donnan and Donnan ultimately lost to Cherie Berry.

Brooks' tenure as North Carolina Commissioner of Labor included the 1991 fire at a chicken-processing plant in Hamlet that killed 25 workers. Brooks fined the plant $808,150, which was the largest such penalty in state history, but which was nonetheless criticized as insufficient.

NC TREASURER: (you may vote for one)

Ron Elmer:Ron Elmer http://elmerfor.www70.a2hosting.com/ and "Ron Elmer for Treasurer" on Facebook

On his campaign website, Elmer makes a hard-core case for why he, a professional financial manager, would make a better state Treasurer than our incumbent Democratic Treasurer Janet Cowell. Moreover, Elmer is direct and pointed about Cowell’s failings:

“The investment performance of North Carolina’s Retirement System has lagged 78% of all public pensions during Treasurer Janet Cowell’s tenure primarily due to exploding amounts of fees paid to Wall Street investment managers.  By the end of Treasurer Cowell’s term she will have dispensed more than $1 Billion out of the retirement system to pay lucrative fees to Wall Street investment managers who do the investment management for her. Some of these investment managers are the same managers that helped get Treasurer Cowell elected in 2008 by generously contributing to her campaign fund after Cowell held at least one campaign fund-raising event in New York City.”

Elmer presents evidence that the state’s pension fund is waaay “underperforming” because of Cowell’s administration. He offers a fairly detailed plan for “in-sourcing” the financial management of the state’s money, rather than paying super-expensive Wall Street types for the service.

Elmer’s liabilities are fairly obvious: he’s a political novice, a rank newcomer to running for office, his opponent is the first woman to hold the office of state Treasurer, and he’s trailing her badly in polls.

In light of Elmer's accusations against Cowell, I looked at two independent reviews of the State Retirement System. One was conducted in September 2011 by the Program Evaluation Division of the NC General Assembly. This study compared North Carolina's State Retirement System to other state retirement systems. While the study found the state's retirement plan features are typical to or less generous than other state retirement plans (a legislative matter, not one determined by the State Treasurer's Office), it also found that the state's retirement system was 6th out of 84 plans in 2009 and concluded that the state's retirement system had "strong performance."

The second study was conducted by Ennis, Knupp & Associates, Inc. in 2010. The study found it is true the state pension fund is falling short of its benchmarks:

"North Carolina uses an investment return rate of 7.25 percent when calculating how much the state needs to contribute to the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System each year, even though its average annual return for the last 10 years is less than half that — about 3.4 percent, according to the latest annual report."

The state's pension fund is 99.3% funded. The problem is, however, more the result of nationwide economic downturn than in Cowell's personal performance.

Whatever else he has accomplished, Elmer has very likely given Cowell’s Republican opponent in November a good line of attack.

Janet Cowell: http://www.cowellfortreasurer.com/ and "Janet Cowell for State Treasurer" on Facebook

Cowell graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with Honors and went on to earn a Master of Business Administration degree from the Wharton School of Business as well as a Master’s degree in International Studies from the Lauder Institute. She worked as a financial analyst with HSBC Bank and Lehman Brothers in New York and international offices before making her home in North Carolina in 1997.

Living in Raleigh, Cowell provided business consulting to various Fortune 500 companies and served as an adjunct professor at two colleges in the state. In 2001, Cowell was elected to Raleigh City Council (serving two terms), was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2004, and won the race for Treasurer in 2008.

On her campaign website, Cowell brags that under her leadership North Carolina has maintained a triple-A Bond rating for strong financial and debt management practices and is recognized as one of only seven states to earn the rating by Standard and Poor’s, Moody’s Investment Services, and Fitch Ratings. She is likely to face a strong Republican challenger in Frank Roche in November. Roche has recently earned attention as a conservative talk radio yakker and as a 2010 4th Congressional Dist. 2nd-place finisher in the Republican primary to take on incumbent Dem. David Price, but he also holds a Master’s degree in Economics and is “a trained financial market economist with over 20 years experience in capital markets focused on the currency market.”

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION: (you may vote for three)

Candidates run for the Watauga County School Board as "non-partisan." Of course, I've come to discover there's really no such thing as "non-partisan" elections.  There are 3 Democratic candidates, 3 Republican candidates, and 1 Tea Party candidate running for school board this year. I've provided their party affiliations beside their names.

There are a total of seven candidates running for school board in the primary. The top six vote getters will advance to the November general election.

Jay Fenwick (Democrat): "Jay Fenwick for Education" on Facebook

Fenwick, his wife, and three children have lived in Watauga County (Todd) for 18 years, and he has been actively involved with local schools for many years in many ways.

Fenwick has been a member of the Green Valley PTA and served on the Green Valley School Improvement Team and teacher hiring committees. In 2005, Fenwick became a board member of the Watauga Education Foundation and served as president from 2009-2011. He is currently a computer science professor at ASU assisting "teachers at Bethel and Green Valley schools with elective courses that target STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) curricula."

Fenwick says of his goals if elected to the School Board, "Why do energetic 4th graders who jump enthusiastically out of their seats to answer a teacher’s question become 5th graders that seem disinterested in learning? I will encourage creative ways to inspire our children to keep a love for learning. Why are resources for gifted and artistic programs being cut and eliminated? I commit to addressing the problems of decreased state support to our schools. Why are teachers overburdened with requirements to the point of losing the passion for teaching? I will strive for sensible accountability that aids rather than hinders teaching."

Deborah B. Greene (Tea Party): "Deborah Greene" on Facebook

Greene is owner of Integrated Pensions, which provides consulting and financial services to businesses, and she and her husband are owners of Backward E Farm.

I have to admit grudging admiration for Greene's political skills, even though we rarely find ourselves on the same side of any issue. We're both flamethrowers and have had a relatively friendly relationship over the past several years. Greene was opposed to the new high school (I supported it), but she was right about some of the good-old-boy wheeling and dealing in getting the new school built and the old one appraised.  She's wrong headed about mandating that everyone live by her personal religious beliefs while at the same time saying the government should stay out of people's lives.  And she's wrong in complaining about too much government while simultaneously raking in $5,715 in North Carolina "safety net" Farm subsidies from 1995 - 2010. 

But know this: Deborah Greene is no friend to public education.

Greene, who home-schooled her child, is now running for an office that promotes public schools while at the same time pushing a vote to discriminate against an entire set of North Carolinians.  Greene was recently appointed to head up the get-out-the-vote efforts to pass Amendment 1 in Watauga County. The local Tea Party (and Greene) supports Amendment 1 in spite of their protestations when progressives are in power of too much government in people's lives. Greene's comments posted on local blogs indicate she feels compelled by God to see that the Amendment passes.

In March of 2011, the Board of Commissioners decided to put to county-wide referendum an up or down vote on a quarter-cent sales tax increase. When large numbers of public school teachers, parents and students attended the public hearing to request that the tax increase go to local schools, the Commissioners abruptly cancelled the referendum. Greene's hands were all over that.

I requested the public records associated with the proposed tax increase and subsequent withdrawal of the referendum.  You can read those documents here by clicking on the PDF link. While Greene publicly claims she hasn't communicated with the Tea Party by email in over two years and that she is is not affiliated with any Party, the emails from Greene to the Republican commissioners and the Boone Tea Party in the record very much prove otherwise. In fact, they prove her substantial efforts on behalf of the Tea Party and Republican candidates, ie: "We have worked way to hard to get Republican control." She also complains that the public hearing on the tax increase might really be about education funding: "Are you going to allow this public hearing to become a hearing about the education budget or are you going to adhere to the subject?"

Ron Henries (Republican):

Henries is a retired teacher and principal of 25 years from Hardin Park, Bethel and Cove Creek Schools.  He previously served on the Watauga County School Board for a 4-year term. Henries now teaches education classes at Appalachian State University and is Vice Chairman of the Board for Special Olympics of North Carolina.

In a 2006 interview with High Country Press, Henries expressed support for the building of a new high school, increased teacher supplements, and innovative programs.

"With federal, state and local dollars being stretched to the limit, it is imperative that we use every dollar to maximize student learning and success. Having operated a school budget for 17 years, I believe I can help the Board of Education in setting priorities that will enhance student learning."

Barbara Kinsey (Democrat):

Barbara Kinsey is the recent widow of Winston Kinsey, who served on the Watauga County Board of Commissioners for 6 years, both passionate about school excellence in Watauga County.

Kinsey received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Latin from Baylor University in Texas, and a Master of Arts from ASU. She taught English and Latin in the public schools and at ASU for over 38 years, and was named Wilkes County teacher of the year in 1982. Kinsey has also served as the president of the Watauga County Association of Educators and was chosen as one of the first teacher trainers for the North Carolina Teacher Academy.

Kinsey says, "My lifetime passion has been two-fold: to help provide for our own family a safe, loving environment which promotes life-long learning; and to engage in the profession of teaching young people how to learn and how to enjoy the experience of learning. Watauga County Schools have traditionally excelled in such endeavors, and, as a school board member, I hope to help continue that excellence and to help teachers further explore and take advantage of best teaching practices for the 21st Century."

Fred C. Oliver (Republican):

Oliver founded and ran Cary Internal Medicine & Diabetes Center for 22 years, retiring from his practice in 2001. He became a full-time Watauga County resident in 2003.

I have absolutely no idea what interest Oliver has in running for school board. I can locate no candidate filing statement nor website. He is an active member of the Watauga Gun Club and was recently appointed to the North Carolina Nursing Scholars Commission by the Republican State Legislature.

Brandon K. Petrea (Republican): "Brandon Petrea for School Board" on Facebook

Petrea is another "why in the world is he running" candidate. He is 27 years old, attended Watauga High School, and is the frozen foods manager at Ingles. He is listed as having registered to vote in Watauga County in 2002, but has never voted. His current voting status is listed as "inactive."

Petrea's  campaign Facebook page doesn't see much action, but his personal Facebook page is revealing.  His favorite book is "The Bible."  Petrea's personal interests include "Let's see if there are 5 million people on FB who believe in God! Press Like if you do!"; "Keep CHRIST in CHRISTmas ... Who's with me?"; and "God's last name is not "Dammit." Press Like if you agree!"

Brenda Reese (Democrat):

Reese points out that her life has been devoted to education in public schools. She has worked at Eastway Daycare and Kindergarten in Charlotte; Elk Park Elementary School in Avery County; and Lacy  Classical Magnet School in Raleigh.  As a school administrator in Watauga County, Reese served  as Director of Exceptional Children and Federal Programs and as Principal at Mabel Elementary School. She currently is Principal at Freedom Trail Elementary School in Avery County. Resse's late husband, Andy Reese, served on the Watauga Board of Education for many years.

Reese says, "I believe strongly that all students deserve the best education possible.... Technology in the twenty-first century is changing how our world functions at such a rapid pace that we can no longer only give lip service to the concept of twenty-first century skills.  Our students and staffs must analyze, problem solve, make connections, synthesize, collaborate....all at a faster pace...collaborate...all a faster pace than every before in order to make sense of the barrage of information coming at them in a faster and faster pace.  The best way to assure students and staff members can function in this type of setting is to employ the best educators the system can locate."

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT: (you may vote "for" or "against")

The North Carolina State Constitution is a beautiful and inspirational document. It was first created in 1776 after the American Declaration of Independence and re-written after the Civil War. It establishes the rights of the people and is the highest legal authority for the state.

Our state Constitution guarantees the right to a free public education, the right to vote without financial charge, the right to freedom of speech, and equal protection under the law.  It allows for regulation of corporations and doesn’t allow for monopolies. It holds that we are all created “equal,” prevents the sale of a person’s private home because of debt, and mandates that government should be “instituted solely for the good of the whole.”  It prohibits slavery and does not allow for excessive bail. It establishes that North Carolina’s air and water belong to the people of the state, and that “it shall be the policy of this State to conserve and protect its lands and waters for the benefit of all its citizenry.”

Only the federal law of the land can overrule our State’s Constitution, and it has done so twice. Federal law prohibits disqualifying from office “any person who shall deny the being of the Almighty God,” and requiring that a person be literate in English before registering to vote. (This violates the Voting Rights Act.)

The people of North Carolina can amend their Constitution in one of two ways. One of those ways is through legislative action, followed by a vote of the people through referendum.

The result of the 2010 elections put the Republicans in charge of our state legislature for the first time in 140 years. One of their key legislative activities was to put forward a hastily drafted, poorly written amendment to the state’s Constitution to enshrine discrimination into our state’s Constitution and put the rights of a minority up for a vote. The Amendment, now before the people of the state on the May 8th primary ballot, is worded as follows:

"Constitutional amendment to provide that marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State."

There is a second sentence to the Amendment not included on the ballot. It reads:

"This section does not prohibit a private party from entering into contracts with another private party; nor does this section prohibit courts from adjudicating the rights of private parties pursuant to such contracts."

It’s important to remember that same-sex marriage is already illegal in the State, and regardless of whether the Amendment passes or fails in May, same-sex marriage will remain illegal in the state.

Supporters of the Amendment claim they are trying to “protect the definition of marriage” from being overturned by activist judges, but legal scholars of all political persuasions say should the Amendment pass, it will actually put the definition of marriage squarely in the hands of activist judges.

That’s because of the Amendment's phrase “domestic legal union,” which is not currently defined by our state courts and which opens up a huge can of worms for all 222,000 North Carolina unmarried couples (of which just 10% are gay or lesbian) should the Amendment pass, including:

(1) All civil unions, gay or straight, will be banned
(2) Domestic violence protections and stalking laws between all unmarried couples are endangered
(3) Child custody laws between all unmarried couples are at risk and back in front of the courts
(4) Unmarried seniors avoiding marriage because of financial reasons will have their civil unions outlawed
(5) Hospital visitation rights by those who are not in a traditional marriage will become problems for the courts
(6) Some major employers of the state have suggested the Amendment will violate their hiring policies

Most polls, including the most recent by PPP of likely voters, show the people of the state support the Amendment (58%) but don’t understand it (69%). When voters are informed that the amendment bans both gay marriage and civil unions, only 41% of voters support it, while 42% are opposed.

So here we are. Looking to enshrine an Amendment to our State Constitution that takes rights away from the people, harms middle-class families and all unmarried couples, guarantees years and years of litigation in front of activist judges, and violates the Constitution’s “all people are created equal” clause. (That's just one reason why Republicans only get control of the state legislature once every 140 years.)

What a sham and a shame.

Why is this so pressing to our state legislature and to some religious activists? Because what this Amendment is really all about is imposing some people’s religious doctrines over others by force of law.

“Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council (designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center) has dropped into North Carolina to demand that “every Bible-believing Christian” vote yes. And Richard Land, top lobbyist for the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (designated a right-wing theocratic group by me) told local seminarians that voters must adopt Amendment One to send a message to the Supreme Court."

There you have the true intent of this Amendment. So much for freedom of religion: mine is right, yours is wrong.

Not all religious people support this travesty. The Rev. Charles Francis Wilson said the issue is about civil rights and the separation of religion and government.

“To be sure, there are those who have clear, sincere religious convictions that define marriage as only being between one man and one woman, and these rights will be preserved even if the proposed amendment is defeated,” observed Wilson, a retired Southern Baptist minister and president of the local chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. “Faith groups that hold such convictions will continue to practice their religion as they choose. It is not appropriate, however, for those religious convictions to be written into law that applies to all citizens.” “How can we even think,” he concluded, “of discriminating against our own citizens who pay taxes, contribute to our society, worship in our congregations, serve in the military and represent us as elected officials? We are not talking of some kind of alien creatures; we are talking of our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, and our law-abiding neighbors. In the United States, such discrimination is anathema.”

I believe it is wrong to force others to live anyone else’s religion. I believe it’s immoral to discriminate against others. I believe it is against God to judge others, and I believe it is wrong to rape our beautiful and meaningful Constitution with this garbage.