WCDP News

News Item: At the YDNC Convention, Todd Kennedy accepts the awards for Young Democrat of the Year and YDNC Project of the Year. Picture 1: Caption 1: Todd Kennedy with Jerry Meek and YDNC President Zack Hawkins

News Item: Over 20 Young, College, and Teen Democrats from Wake County attended the Young Democrats of North Carolina Convention March 24 in Greensboro. We are happy to announce that Melissa Price was elected Vice-President of YDNC. J.Todd Kennedy, President Emeritus of Wake County Young Democrats was selected as NC Young Democrat of the Year. This award was given to Todd because of his dedication to the Democratic Party as Chair of the YDNC Campaign Committee. Todd worked tirelessly to elect Democrats across NC by targetting our resources on two important races. The rest is history, and now Heath Shuler and Ty Harrell serve in national and state offices.

News Item: A fierce desire to achieve About 400 Tuskegee Airmen will receive the Congressional Gold Medal today. They had two wars to fight: U.S. enemies abroad and racism at home They entered World War II through 1940s Alabama, when even black soldiers had to sit in the colored section of the local movie theaters, and nobody expected them to thrive as pilots. The Tuskegee Airmen drew eager young black men, such as Wake County Commissioner Harold Webb, who spent two years fixing planes for white pilots before he even saw a black flier -- let alone a black officer. "A lot of people didn't believe African-Americans could fly," said Webb, 81. "We were fighting two wars. We were fighting segregation, and we were fighting the Nazis." Today, President Bush and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will present the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the nation's highest civilian honors, to about 400 men who trained and fought in that celebrated squadron. Some of them are from the Triangle. More than 900 airmen passed through Tuskegee Army Airfield from 1942 to 1946, many of whom flew 15,000 sorties over North Africa and Europe and destroying more than 400 enemy planes. Harold Webb, 81 Webb started his flying career at the controls of a Piper Cub, part of a government program to train black college students as civilian pilots. Drafted in 1943, Webb went to Wichita Falls, Texas, as a mechanic for white pilots. It wasn't until two years later that Webb, still a mechanic, first saw black officers: Tuskegee Airmen flying P-51 Mustangs. "That motivated me to do something else," said Webb, a retired teacher and administrator, now a Wake commissioner. He recalls slogging through classes on physics, flight theory and aircraft identification in 1945, seeing fellow pilots leave for missions over Italy as he trained on twin-engine planes. "What we did led to integration," he said. http://www.newsobserver.com/703/story/558670.html

News Item: Apex Mayor Keith Weatherly responded Tuesday to news that a man was keeping a flock of sheep in his downtown Apex house with a lot of jokes. He even appeared on WRAL-FM's "Bill and Sheri in the Morning" show to face "b-a-a-a-h"'s and a bunch of cracks. He responded with what he said was a lighthearted jab at a neighboring town: "Very frankly, you might expect this sort of thing in Holly Springs, but ... it was a surprise to us in Apex." That didn't play well in Holly Springs. "Well, you know, he's a jerk," said Holly Springs Mayor Dick Sears Wednesday morning. http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakepol/index.php How can they joke around like that when there's an occupation going on??

News Item: Welcome to our new Executive Director Melissa Price! Melissa began on Monday, April 9. (Julia will stay through the convention.) We are fortunate to have found someone who combines a real passion for Democratic politics with the skills needed to keep our Party running smoothly. Melissa became involved in politics in high school when she encouraged her mother to run for School Board in Johnston County. She has since served as President of the NC State College Democrats, in leadership roles in the Young Democrats (just elected Vice President of the Young Democrats of North Carolina), and as a campaign volunteer. A recent graduate of NCSU in Political Science and Communications, Melissa has since worked as a campaign consultant. Melissa is a great addition to our Party organization. Please welcome her and give her your support. You may email her at melissaprice@wakedems.org

News Item: Needed: High energy, dedicated, organized and entrepreneurial person able to work with diverse constituency to advance a common agenda; partisan Democrat with a practical perspective and the motivation to work long hours for not enough money for the privilege of beating Republicans in the State's most important Democratic County. We are looking for someone with a background in nonprofit management or political operations. Database and word processing skills are a must, as is the ability to keep smiling. The Wake County Democratic Party needs a new Executive Director. Our current superstar is moving on, and we need someone to pick up the ball and carry it across the goal line. If you are that person, please respond to Keith Karlsson, chair@wakedems.org 828-5656

News Item: A huge Thank You to everyone who helped make the 27th Annual Valentine's Fundraiser the Best Valentine's Ever!

• Thank you to all the sponsors and guests!
• Thank you to all the volunteers who helped out!
• Thank you to everyone who donated food!
• Thank you to Executive Director Julia Lee, Valentine's Chair Sarah Crawford, and Food Chair Joanne Casey!
• Thank you to all of our elected officials who attended!
• Thank you to our special guest NC House Speaker Joe Hackney!
• Thank you to Bill and Mary Coker Joslin for being the Sweethearts of the Wake County Democratic Party!
• Thank you to the Young Democrats of Wake County for hosting the after party!

Picture 1: Caption 1: Bill and Mary Coker Joslin Picture 2: Caption 2: Presentation to the Joslins Picture 3: Caption 3: Some of our many Democratic elected officials Picture 4: Caption 4: NC House Speaker Joe Hackney

News Item: North Carolina Young Dem of the Month: J. Todd Kennedy of Wake County J. Todd Kennedy was chosen as our YD of the month, but his contributions go far beyond any one month. Todd accepted the appointment to chair of the YDNC Campaign Committee in addition to his elected position of Wake County Young Democrat President. He put in countless hours guiding the efforts of a diverse committee to make a difference in our targeted races. Leading committee meetings, traveling from Raleigh to western NC for campaign events, enthusing volunteers, making sure that the preferences of our membership were reflected in our choices, and delegating duties to other committee members were just a few of the activities that demanded his time for nearly six months. Our success would have not been possible were it not for Todd’s dedication, sacrifice, and leadership. A financial contribution will be made to the Wake County Young Democrats in honor of Todd’s efforts. Picture 1: Caption 1: Wake County YD President Todd Kennedy

News Item: The Wake County Democratic Party has endorsed Representative Dan Blue of Wake County for Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives. "Dan Blue is an experienced legislator, a former Speaker,and a man of proven vision and integrity. We will be proud to once again have a member of the Wake County delegation leading the House," said Keith Karlsson, Chair of the Wake County Democratic Party. Blue represented Wake County in the North Carolina House from 1981 to 2002, serving as Speaker from 1991-1994, and was the first African-American to hold the post of Speaker. Blue was chosen by the Wake County Democratic Party's Executive Committee to fill out the unexpired term of the late Representative Bernard Allen and was elected to a full term in November 2006.

News Item: 27th Annual Valentine Fundraiser Friday, February 16, 5:00-8:00pmNCAE Center, 700 S. Salisbury St, Raleigh(inclement weather date February 23)Special Guest: NC House Speaker Joe HackneyIt's a New Year,a new Democratic Congress,a new Democratic era,and another year of continued Democratic momentum in Wake County! But the job is not done. This year we have to defend our majority on the Wake County Board of Education and elect Democrats to municipal office all over the County. In 2008 we will elect a Democratic President, Senator, and Governor. The Wake County Democratic Party is ready to fight for every vote, but to continue our success in 2007 and prepare for 2008, we need your help.The Valentine’s event keeps our doors open for the year.  Join the Wake County Democratic Party in maintaining the momentum in 2007 and getting ready for 2008!Put yourself at the heart of the Democratic Party!  Join us on February 16.Click on the big red heart on the right for more information.