Wake County Democratic Party News
Exciting news for Wake County Democrats
Submitted by Wake County on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 8:43pm.Congratulations to Dan Blue III!
On Thursday, January 19, 2012 Wake County Democratic Party held a County Executive Committee Meeting for the sole purpose of electing a new chair to replace out-going chair, Mack Paul. Former Raleigh Vice Chair, Dan Blue III was elected Chair of Wake County Democratic Party by acclamation. Dan is an attorney with Blue Stephen & Fellers. He lives in Raleigh with his wife Traci and daughter Kennedy. He serves on the boards of DHIC, Inc and The Salvation Army.
Welcome Gene Davis!
Wake Dems were on a roll Thursday electing a new Raleigh Vice Chair. Gene Davis was elected by acclamation to replace Dan Blue III. Gene serves on the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency Board, the North Carolina Housing Coordination and Policy Council, and the Raleigh Arts Commission. Gene and his wife, Mary Kaitland are active with Wake County Habitat for Humanity and live in Raleigh.
Great Read by Chris Fitzsimon
Submitted by Wake County on Fri, 01/06/2012 - 9:47pm.The newly revealed arrogance
by Chris Fitzsimon
It is hard to know where to start in describing the fiasco that was the
North Carolina General Assembly Wednesday night and early Thursday
morning.
The word that comes quickly to mind is arrogance. And not just because
the Republican leadership abused their power, went back on their word,
cut off debate, and refused to disclose what would be discussed at a
special session held at 12:45 in the morning when they announced it just
90 minutes before.
And it is not just because they physically blocked a reporter from
asking questions about their ridiculous manipulation of the legislative
process or used irrelevant examples of past legislative actions to
defend the way they held the General Assembly hostage to their partisan
whims, at one point even showing a college football game on the voting
board in the House during the recess, while legislative leaders hatched
their schemes in their corner offices.
It's certainly not only because they stretched and bent and finally
broke the truth in their claims that the problem was that Governor
Perdue had refused to appoint a new Republican member of the House
chosen to replace a member who resigned.
Perdue correctly pointed out that she could not make the appointment
until the new member, former Representative Trudy Walend, filled out her
Statement of Economic Interest that is required by law.
And it wasn't the usual falsehoods spread during the substantive
debates, in this case the fear-mongering statements by Senator Thom
Goolsby that the Racial Justice Act would release convicted murderers
from death row. That's simply false and Goolsby knows it.
It wasn't even the staggeringly disingenuous claims made by House
Majority Leader Paul Stam, the prince of disingenuousness.
Stam told the House during the 1:00 a.m. debate about overriding
Perdue's veto of a bill that would end the payroll deduction for
teachers to pay their dues to the N.C. Association of Educators that it
was about taking politics out of the classroom.
That's an odd point to make since House Speaker Thom Tillis was overhead
earlier in the session on a microphone he didn't realize was on saying
that the bill was all about punishing the NCAE for the groups political
activity.
All those things, as shocking and arrogant as they seemed Wednesday
night and in the early hours of Thursday morning, really shouldn't have
been that surprising to anyone who has been watching the leadership of
this General Assembly since they formerly assumed control almost 12
months ago.
They been making and breaking promises about Medicaid and teaching
fellows and early childhood programs for months.
They have been routinely cutting off debate, holding hastily called
meetings where no public input is allowed, refusing to disclose what
will be considered in their endless special sessions.
They have demonstrated time and time again their willingness to abuse
the legislative process to serve their partisan and extreme ideological
aims.
As disturbing as it is, the arrogance inherent in all of that is not new
among this group of legislative leaders. It just reached a new level
this week.
And something else shined through too, a different sort of arrogance.
They simply think people don't care, that they can do anything they want
in their fiefdom on Jones Street and it won't matter to the people they
are supposed to represent.
But they are wrong.
When folks look back at the downfall of this out-of-touch, far-right,
ideologically extreme and oppressive legislative leadership, it is
likely that the disgusting behavior this week in the middle of the night
will have played a major role in their demise.
WISHING YOU A MAGICAL HOLIDAY SEASON!
Submitted by Wake County on Thu, 12/22/2011 - 8:06pm.We're thinking of you this time of year,
Wishing you happiness, joy, and cheer.
May all your days be warm and bright,
And your nights enhanced by holiday light.
Enjoy your delectable holiday foods,
As parties and gifts create holiday moods.
Favorite people play a meaningful part,
While treasured rituals warm your heart.
You are special to us in many ways,
So we wish you Happy Holidays!
By Joanna Fuchs
County Executive Committee Meeting
Submitted by Wake County on Fri, 12/02/2011 - 3:44pm.The Wake County Democratic Party Executive Committee will meet on January 19, 2012. The meeting will take place at the NCAE Building located on S. Salisbury Street in downtown Raleigh.
The meeting will begin at 6:30pm.
The program will include discussions about the 2012 elections, 2012 precinct organization, 2012 Valentine Fundraiser and the election of a new county Chair.
Any registered Democrat in Wake County is eligible to run for County Chair.
More information to come.
Wake County Won
Submitted by Wake County on Thu, 11/10/2011 - 11:21am.The results from Tuesday's election were truly a victory for all of us in Wake County who care deeply, and passionately, about the future of our schools, our neighborhoods and our county. The victory would not have been possible without you and your hard work.
For all of the talk of money, and special interest groups, I firmly believe that it was the work of more than six hundred committed volunteers and our dedicated staff that made the difference in the end. Without them, we could not possibly have contacted tens of thousands of voters over the last six months. All of our success is a testament to you and a testament of what WE can do as a Party when we work together and organize.
Kevin Hill's victory seals the deal on the Wake County Board of Education. For the first time in two years, we will have consensus driven, sensible, pragmatic, principled and experienced leaders in the majority. They will work to deliver plans and policies that make sense for all of our children.
The success of our coordinated effort can also be defined by the victories of Ed Ridpath, Steve Rao, Nancy McFarlane, and many others, who will now bring a new generation of leadership to Wake County. Throughout the county, we knocked on doors and made phone calls for every candidate that was endorsed by the Democratic Party. Today most of those candidates are preparing to take office and make a real difference for Wake County.
In 2009, the Republicans said that the victories they achieved would set the stage for 2010. That may have been, true but we can say today that we have provided a blueprint for 2012. Our victory last night showed that when Democratic candidates align themselves with the values of Wake County, including access to high quality education and prudent quality of life investments, they will succeed. Republicans who adhered to an extreme national Tea Party agenda became easy targets. We can proudly say that our success in Wake County heralds the beginning of the end of the Tea Party movement.
The challenge is to keep Wake County's momentum going into the critically important election next year. We laid the groundwork for victory in 2012. We now have a huge volunteer base that is ready to work for the President, the Governor and all of our candidates next year. The importance of Wake County in that effort can not be overstated. Please consider donating today to help give the County Party the resources it will need to meet the challenges, and opportunities, in 2012 by giving $20, $40 or whatever you can afford at www.wakedems.org.
Thank you for all that you did for our County, and our future, and I look forward to working alongside all of you in the future.
Best,
Mack Paul
VOTE TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8TH
Submitted by Wake County on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 4:08pm.SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 3 RUN OFF:
Kevin Hill (I)
APEX:
TOWN COUNCIL: Bill Jensen (I)
FUQUAY-VARINA:
MAYOR - John W. Byrne (I)
TOWN COUNCIL: William (Bill) Harris (I)
TOWN COUNCIL: Ed Ridpath
TOWN COUNCIL: Jason Ora Wunsch
GARNER:
MAYOR: Ronnie Williams (I)
TOWN COUNCIL: Ken Marshburn (I)
TOWN COUNCIL: Amaka Flynn
TOWN COUNCIL: Jackie Johns (I)
HOLLY SPRINGS:
TOWN COUNCIL: Otis G. Byrd
TOWN COUNCIL: Ken Henke
TOWN COUNCIL: Ray Riordan
TOWN COUNCIL: Arthur (Pete) Utley, Jr.
KNIGHTDALE:
MAYOR: Jun Lee
TOWN COUNCIL: James Roberson (I)
MORRISVILLE:
COUNCIL AT LARGE: Pete M. Martin (I)
COUNCIL AT LARGE: Steve S. Rao
COUNCIL DISTRICT 1: Linda Lyons (I)
WAKE FOREST:
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS: Ben Clapsaddle
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS: Sherry Ward
WENDELL:
MAYOR: Harold Broadwell (I)
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS:
James W. Parham
ZEBULON:
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS: Glenn York
How can YOU help with the District 3 run off and the Municipal elections on Nov. 8th?
Submitted by Wake County on Thu, 10/20/2011 - 10:20am.All the work you did for the October 11th election worked - lets do it for the November 8th election too!!
Commit to give at least 4 hours of your time between now and election day.
Offices:For Phone Banking and Canvassing
115 1/2 E Hargett St., Raleigh:
Open 5pm - 9pm Monday - Thursday, 10am - 6pm Saturday, 1pm - 6pm Sunday
2180 N. Salem St #102, Apex: Open 5pm - 9pm Monday - Thursday (and during the day if volunteers are available to staff the office), 10am - 6pm Saturday, 1pm - 6pm Sunday
5932 Six Forks Rd., Suite A, Raleigh: Open 10am - 9pm Monday -Thursday, 10am - 6pm Saturday, 1pm - 6pm Sunday
Fuquay: No district office hours, but can be coordinated through Cheryl Ellis at iluvpink2010@live.com
Endorsed Candidates for November 8th election
Submitted by Wake County on Wed, 10/19/2011 - 7:41am.SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 3 RUN OFF:
Kevin Hill (I)
APEX:
TOWN COUNCIL: Bill Jensen (I)
FUQUAY-VARINA:
MAYOR - John W. Byrne (I)
TOWN COUNCIL: William (Bill) Harris (I)
TOWN COUNCIL: Ed Ridpath
TOWN COUNCIL: Jason Ora Wunsch
GARNER:
MAYOR: Ronnie Williams (I)
TOWN COUNCIL: Ken Marshburn (I)
TOWN COUNCIL: Amaka Flynn
TOWN COUNCIL: Jackie Johns (I)
HOLLY SPRINGS:
TOWN COUNCIL: Otis G. Byrd
TOWN COUNCIL: Ken Henke
TOWN COUNCIL: Ray Riordan
TOWN COUNCIL: Arthur (Pete) Utley, Jr.
KNIGHTDALE:
MAYOR: Jun Lee
TOWN COUNCIL: James Roberson (I)
MORRISVILLE:
COUNCIL AT LARGE: Pete M. Martin (I)
COUNCIL AT LARGE: Steve S. Rao
COUNCIL DISTRICT 1: Linda Lyons (I)
WAKE FOREST:
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS: Ben Clapsaddle
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS: Sherry Ward
WENDELL:
MAYOR: Harold Broadwell (I)
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS:
James W. Parham
ZEBULON:
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS: Glenn York
Endorsed Candidates for October 11th
Submitted by Wake County on Mon, 10/10/2011 - 1:32pm.ENDORSED CANDIDATES FOR SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS:
District 03 – Kevin Hill (I)
District 04 – Keith Sutton (I)
District 05 – Jim Martin
District 06 – Christine Kushner
District 08 – Susan Evans
ENDORSED CANDIDATES FOR CITY OF RALEIGH MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS:
Raleigh Mayor - Nancy McFarlane
District A – Randy Stagner
District C – Eugene Weeks (I)
District D – Thomas Crowder (I)
Raleigh At Large, Vote for both:
Russ Stephenson (I)AND Mary-Ann Baldwin (I)
ENDORSED CANDIDATES FOR TOWN OF CARY MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS:
Cary Mayor - Harold Weinbrecht (I)
District B - Jeff Foxx
District D - Gale Adcock (I)
Cary At Large - Lori Bush
VOTE YES FOR RALEIGH HOUSING & TRANSPORTATION BONDS.
News and Observer endorsements!!!
Submitted by Wake County on Fri, 09/30/2011 - 9:44am.This morning I opened up the News and Observer to discover that they had endorsed all five of the Democratic Party endorsed candidates for School Board. The N&O editorial board wrote: “...there is a world of difference between candidates in each of the five districts with seats to be filled in the Oct. 11 balloting. In each case, it could not be clearer which candidate would do more to advance the well-being of Wake's schools and students, and thus of the community at large...” To read the editorial: http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/09/30/1527653/whats-at-stake-in-wakes-s...
We agree with their endorsement of Kevin Hill, Susan Evans, Christine Kushner, Keith Sutton and Jim Martin. The choice is clear and we believe that on October 11 the voters of Wake County will make a definitive choice on the side of the candidates who will move our county forward by providing leadership, stability and consensus.
The N&O praised each of our candidates while urging voters to support them on October 11:
Kevin Hill: “The choice in this North Raleigh district is plain: Incumbent Kevin Hill has been a strong advocate for all the values that distinguished Wake's schools for many years... His unflappable leadership as a constructive critic of the board majority has been invaluable, and he richly deserves another term.”
Keith Sutton: “Sutton should be returned by the voters of this district, which lies east of downtown Raleigh. He can be counted upon to support an assignment plan that lets inner-city kids choose to go to a high-achieving school.”
Jim Martin: “Martin knows education, he knows the Wake schools and he understands what must be done to keep them strong. He rightly emphasizes the role of uniformly excellent schools in enhancing the county's attractiveness as a place to live, work and do business.”
Christine Kushner: “The candidate who is best equipped to follow in Morrison's footsteps is Christine Kushner, a parent who has been actively involved in the schools and who has a well-developed vision of how to make them better. Her own accomplishments, as a former Morehead Scholar and as a communicator and health policy analyst, bolster her credentials as someone who can recognize where Wake's schools need to improve as well as changes to avoid.”
Susan Evans: “Evans goes right to the heart of the decision that voters in these five school board districts will make. Her grasp of what's at stake - together with her pledge to operate in an open-minded, respectful manner befitting a board that answers to all county residents, whatever their family situation or political leanings - marks her as an ideal replacement for an incumbent who has disappointed in so many ways.”
Please forward this email to your friends and family. We need everyone to understand the importance of October 11. We also need your support to put the candidates over the top. Please contribute your time, your money or both to our effort. You can sign up or donate at http://www.movingwakeforward.com.
Thank you for all you do,
Mack Paul
PS - Your contribution of $50, or more, will provide you with a ticket to the final coordinated campaign fundraiser, which is hosted by Greg Hatem, next Tuesday.
