Wake County Democratic Party - Democratic Men

Wake Democratic Men's Club Meeting

Thu, 30 Mar 2006 08:33:00 -0500

Contact:
Richard Rudy, President <wakedemmen@wakedems.org>

Statement:

The Wake Democratic Men's Club (WDMC) will hold its regular dinner meeting on Monday, April 9, 2007 at the Clarion Hotel, 320 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, one block west of Goodwin House.

Registration starts at 6 PM, and a plated dinner is served at 6:30 PM. PLEASE RSVP FOR DINNER AT 919-363-3664 or by email (wakedemmen@wakedems.org).

Our guest speaker for the April 2007 meeting is the Hon. Harold Webb, a member of the Wake County Board of Commissioners. Commissioner Webb will discuss the issues facing Wake County today. He will also speak on his experience as a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. Time permitting, a short Q&A session will follow Commissioner Webb's address.

On March 29, 2007, Commissioner Webb received the Congressional Gold Medal in a ceremony in Washington, DC. Click here and here for news accounts of the award ceremony.

This promises to be a most interesting and informative presentation, so be sure to RSVP as soon as possible!

Phone:
919-363-3664

Website:
http://wakedems.org/wdm

Email:
wakedemmen@wakedems.org

Democratic Men

Sun, 13 Mar 2005 01:17:14 -0500

Contact:
Richard Rudy

Statement:

The Wake County Democratic Men meet once a month (except July and December) to eat dinner and hear speakers of note.

Join the club! You will meet friendly, intelligent, passionate Democrats (both men and women), and local elected officials and judges. Our dues are just $20 per year, and we support the Wake County Democratic Party. Come attend one of our meetings, whether you are a member or not!

Meetings: the second Monday of every month (except July and December), 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Location: Clarion Hotel, "Four Sisters" meeting room on the main level of this high rise in the 300 block of West Hillsborough St., (one block from our Party's office at Goodwin House)
Price: $16 Dinner. Reservations required. Reservations: Richard Rudy at wakedemmen@wakedems.org or 919-363-3664.

Email:
wakedemmen@wakedems.org

WDMC Meeting - 08 May 2006

Sat, 10 Jun 2006 14:57:45 -0400

News Item:

WDMC Monthly Meeting - May 2006
The monthly meeting of the Wake Democratic Men's Club (WDMC) was held on May 8, 2006 at the Clarion Hotel on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh. Registration commenced at 6 PM, followed by a sit-down dinner at 6:30 PM. The meeting was well-attended by Club members, Democratic elected officials and candidates for office, and other interested Democrats.

Club President Richard Rudy convened the meeting shortly after 7 PM. The Hon. Aaron Fussell then led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a short prayer. Next, President Rudy individually recognized all office holders, office seekers, and new Club members in attendance. Each person so recognized was given the opportunity to say a few words to the Club. Upon the conclusion of the "special guest" portion of the meeting, President Rudy introduced our guest speaker, State Treasurer Richard Moore.

Guest Speaker: Treasurer Richard Moore
Our guest speaker this evening was the Honorable Richard Moore, State Treasurer of North Carolina.

Richard Moore brings strong credentials to the State Treasurer's job. He graduated from Wake Forest University and WFU Scool of Law. He holds a graduate degree in Accounting and Finance from the London School of Economics. He served in the NC House of Representatives with fellow WDMC Club members Aaron Fussell and Bob Hensley. Prior to serving as State Treasurer, Richard Moore served as Secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety under former Governor Jim Hunt. Treasurer Moore has applied his knowledge and skills to help help make the North Carolina pension system one of the best (according to an April 2006 Wall Street Journal article) publicly-financed pension systems in the entire United States.

Treasurer Moore thanked Club members for helping build a strong North Caroliona Democratic Party. He emphasized the need for a strong party organization if a candidate is to run a successful statewide campaign. Treasurer Moore then spoke on the following issues.

North Carolina Retirement System
Raising the Minimum Wage

Unclaimed Tax Refunds

North Carolina Retirement System
Treasurer Moore devotes a good chuck of his on-the-job time to this important issue. In tough economic times where tax revenues are down 7% and the General Assembly had crafted a budget based on a 5% increase in tax revenues, the Wall Street Journal, in an April 2006 article, found that North Carolina has one of the top-performing pension funds in the country. As State Treasurer, Richard Moore is the sole fiduciary of our state pension system.

There are 7,000 participants in the pension fund. Employees of all level of government in North Carolina participate in this fund. As a result, Treasurer Moore has tremendous leverage with the managers of mutual funds and money market funds to keep costs down and make financially prudent investments. He noted that since the mid-1980s, the General Assembly has fully funded the pension fund. There is thus no need to borrow money to fund past-due contributions. Treasurer Moore stated that our public pension system is in "great shape," due largely to the efforts of concerned Democrats across the state.

Raising the Minimum Wage
For the past 67 years, a minimum wage has been in effect in North Carolina. This is the "bottom," or lowest wage that most employees may be paid. Unfortunately, as Treasurer Moore pointed out, the current federally-mandated minimum wage of $5.15/hour is no longer a living wage. In other words, the cost of living in our society has eclipsed the ability of the minimum wage to meet that cost. An employee paid at the minimum wage is simply not able to support himself, let alone his family, at even a humble standard of living. A person paid the minimum wage earns only $893/month. A person just can't live on such a small income. There are over 100,000 people in North Carolina earning only the minimum wage. And of these individuals, 20% are the sole wage earners for their families.

With the Republicans in control of Congress and George "Give Big Business Whatever It Wants" Bush as President, it is highly unlikely an increase in the minimum wage will be passed at the federal level. Treasurer Moore stated that 22 other states have raised the minimum wage, and it's time for North Carolina to do the same.

Treasurer Moore has talked to the business community in our great state. He has heard the alarmist mantra "But raising the minimum wage will cost us jobs!" What the business community conveniently ignores is that increasing the minimum wage puts more money into the pockets of our state's low-wage consumers. What would these consumers then likely do with this additional income?? That's right, spend it on products and services offered by the business community! So, it is actually in the best interest of North Carolina businesses of all sizes to support an increase in the minimum wage right here in the Tarheel State.

Another point Treasurer Moore made is that maintaing the minimum wage at its present unrealistically-low level is equivalent to business subsidizing its workers in the form of increased government services. This takes the form of housing vouchers, food stamps, subsidized medical care (e.g. Medicaid), low-interest loans, Pell Grants (for higher education), and a whole host of other income-based programs. These subsidies are funded by our tax dollars, tax dollars all of us - business incuded - pay. Treasurer Moore believes a proposal to increase the minimum wage should have broad bipartisan support. But regrettably, most Republicans in the General Assembly continue to oppose the effort.

Unclaimed Tax Refunds
It's not often that a veritable Santa Claus graces a meeting of the Wake Democatic Men's Club. But, that's exactly what happened at this meeting!

Treasurer Moore informed the Club that his office has stewardship of more than $1 billion dollars - that's billion, or a one followed by nine zeroes - in unclaimed cash. This is money the State of North Carolina owes to various individuals and businesses. In 2005, this fund of unclaimed cash accrued over $30 million dollars in interest. The interest is used to provide financial assistance to North Carolina college students.

On a more personal level, Treasurer Moore said he is "shamelessly" trying to give people their own money back. He has even gone to shopping malls, laptop in hand, trying to locate the rightful recipients. As a matter of fact, it turns out that some illustrious Democrats are owed money! Treasurer Moore read the names of all Club members so owed. Included in this list are Rufus Edmisten, Doug Boyd, Sid Eagles, Monica Bousman, and Gerry Bowles. All that need be done to claim your money, folks, is to fill out a short claim form, of which Treasurer Moore just happened to have an ample supply :-).

We thank State Treasurer Richard Moore for addressing the Club this evening. We are convinced he is a fine steward of the state's monies and are pleased to offer him our unqualified support.

Club Business
President Rudy presented some business items for consideration by the Membership.

Pete Leary informed the Club that as per the Bylaws and announcements at prior meetings, elections for Club offices would be held tonight. Installation of officers and directors will be held in June.
Pete presented the "official" slate of candidates. Nominations were also accepted from the floor, although none were made. The official slate of candidates is as follows.
WDMC Officers 2006-2007
President Richard Rudy (second term)
1st. Vice President Bob Hensley (second term)
2nd. Vice President Pete Leary
3rd. Vice President Heman Clark, Lifetime Honorary VP
3rd. Vice President Brian Anderson
Secretary Jay Sable
Acting Treasurer Brian Anderson

WDMC Board of Director Members 2006-2009
Nixon Alexander
Boyd Bennett
Ronny Condrey
John Shaw
Ed Terrell

Brian Anderson will be looking for a Club member to serve as Club Treasurer on a permanent basis.
The slate of candidates was unanimously approved via voice vote.
Installation of Club Officers and Directors will occur at the Club's June 12, 2006 monthly meeting.
President Rudy informed those in attendance that while 50 people RSVP'd to him that they'd be enjoying the pre-meeting sit-down dinner tonight, only 35 people actually showed up and paid for dinner. This is not good, folks. The Club needs to pay the Clarion Hotel for the cost of all dinners reserved. The shortfall resulting from the non-attendees is paid from Club funds. So, if you RSVP for dinner, be there to enjoy the dinner! 'Nuf said.
The Annual Reverse Raffle will be held on June 17, 2006 at the North Carolina State University Faculty Club. Magician and comedian Tim Dumas will provide the entertainment. Tickets my be purchased by contacting Max Adams at 919-878-2063. Tickets will also be on sale at the Club's June 12, 2006 meeting.
Ronnie Condrey reported that Judge Heman Clark continues to recover at home from injuries he suffered in a fall in 2005. Judge Clark is now able to walk with the aid of a walker. He expects to join us at the Club's June 12, 2006 meeting, at which time he'll likely need only a cane to remain mobile.
We all miss Judge Clark and pray for his speedy and full recovery. We also thank his wife Mary Jane for the regular updates she has provided on Judge Clark's condition.
Wake County Democratic Party Chair Keith Karlsson spoke briefly about the large cost of electing Democrats to public office. He asked those in attendance to consider financially supporting our Democratic candidates to the extent we are able.
Richard Rudy drew the winning raffle ticket. The winner was Ed Ridpath. Ed, who is running for the NC House of Representatives in House District 37 and needs our support, generously returned his winnings to the Club.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 8 PM.

Submitted by Jay Sable, WDMC Secretary, sablejb@nc.rr.com

Picture 1:

Caption 1:
Richard Moore, State Treasurer of North Carolina

Picture 2:

Caption 2:
Mark Perry and Lorrin Freeman, Candidates for Wake County Clerk of Court

Picture 3:

Caption 3:
Ty Harrell, Candidate for NC House District 41

Picture 4:

Caption 4:
Vince Rozier, Wake County District Court Judge

Picture 5:

Caption 5:
Lisa Schneider, Democratic Activist

WDMC Annual Reverse Raffle!

Sun, 4 Jun 2006 13:06:30 -0400

Contact:
Max Adams, 919-878-2063

Statement:

Wake County Democratic Men’s Club
proudly presents its

Annual Reverse Raffle
and Dinner for 2006.

Saturday, June 17, 2006 - doors open 5 p.m.
NCSU University Club, 4200 Hillsborough St., Raleigh
Dinner 6 p.m., Raffle begins 7 p.m.

$100 per ticket includes one dinner
Maximum tickets sold: 100

Last ticket drawn wins one-half of proceeds, up to
$5,000!
Buy yours now!
Call Max Adams at 919-878-2063

Every ticket drawn wins a prize.
You need not be present to win.

Entertainment provided by Tim Dumas
Comedian and Magician

Phone:
919-878-2063

Website:
www.

WDMC Meeting - 10 April 2006

Sun, 7 May 2006 15:33:35 -0400

News Item:

WDMC Monthly Meeting - April 2006
The monthly meeting of the Wake Democratic Men's Club (WDMC) was held on April 10, 2006 at the Clarion Hotel on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh. Registration commenced at 6 PM, followed by a sit-down dinner at 6:30 PM. The meeting was well-attended by Club members, elected officials and office-seekers, and other interested Democrats.

Guest Speaker: Senator Howard Lee
Our guest speaker this evening was the Honorable Howard Lee, Chairman of the North Carolina State Board of Education.

Chairman Lee has a long and distinguished career in public service. Prior to his appointment to lead the Board of Education in May 2003, Chairman Lee served as mayor of Chapel Hill from 1969-1975. He served in former Governor Jim Hunt's cabinet as Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Community Development from 1976-1981. From 1990-2003, Chairman Lee served with distinction in the North Carolina Senate, where he became known as a strong advocate of increased educational opportunities for all of the state's students. In addition to his duties as Chair of the State Board of Education, in April 2005 Governor Easley appointed Senator Lee to a four year term on the North Carolina Utilities Commission. Senator Lee is a UNC alumnus, having earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1966. Welcome, Senator Lee!

Senator Lee briefly described some career highlights for those in attendance. While on the faculty at Duke, he did research on early childhood education. In the State Senate, he was an advocate of early childhood education. Senator Lee was involved with the establishment of North Carolina's first public kindergarten program in 1972. He pointed out that partly due to his efforts, North Carolina has always strongly funded public education, even in tough budgetary times.

Senator Lee then turned his attention to North Carolina's new Education Lottery. He emphasized that the Lottery will provide additional revenue for education, and is not a substitute for present funding. Among the beneficiaries of this additional funding are the Smart Start and More at Four programs. Senator Lee supported creation of an Education Lottery while serving in the State Senate, because North Carolinians were spending over $400 million dollars annually on the lotteries of adjacent states (i.e. SC, VA, TN, GA). This was lost revenue that North Carolina could easily recoup.

Some additional Lottery provisions, as Senator Lee explained, are as follows:

35% of Lottery proceeds goes to educational funding, 50% goes to prizes, 8% to administration, and 7% to retailers who sell the tickets.
Of the 50% of proceeds that goes to education funding:
- 50% goes towards an "educational lottery reserve fund," up to a maximum of $50 million dollars.
- Of the remainder, 50% goes toward reduction of class size for at-risk four year olds, 40% to the "school construction fund," and 10% to scholarships for students currently receiving Pell Grants.
- Of the funds dedicated to school construction, 65% is based on the school district's enrollment, and 35% is based on the property tax rate. Senator Lee stated that North Carolina has many low-wealth counties that lack the financial resources to pass bond issues and simply are not able to raise property taxes. These counties, should they choose to do so, would be able to use lottery proceeds to support an education bond issue.
The Lottery will fund a program to assist those suffering from gambling addiction.
Powerball is scheduled to start May 30, 2006.
More "numbers games" will be available in the Fall of 2006.

Senator Lee is aware of the tremendous growth experienced by some areas of our state. He is a firm believer that our public schools should not have trailers as classrooms. He also believes that our children have a right to solid, permanent classrooms and a small class size. The Lottery will help reduce class size in the critical early grades. Senator Lee hopes this will help all 21st century school children succeed in our knowledge-based economy.

Finally, Senator Lee emphasize that the Lottery is not the "be all"/"end all" of education funding. It will provide some money, but not enough. the Lottery is just one funding mechanism intended to insure that all of North Carolina's schoolchildren receive the "sound, basic education" prescribed by our state's Constitution.

Q & A
Upon the conclusion of his formal presentation, Senator Lee accepted questions from the floor. Topics of discussion included:

The need for more teachers due to smaller class size in early grades.
The need to fund smaller class sizes outside the lower grades.
The need to make teaching more attractive as a career choice, perhaps by increasing teacher salaries.
The difficulty retaining math, science, and technology teachers, and the possibility of offering incentives for them.
The increasing use of technology (e.g. online instruction) to insure that all public school courses of instruction are available statewide.
The importance of insuring, on an ongoing basis, that Lottery funds are truly a supplement to – and not a mere replacement for - existing education spending. Senator Lee acknowledged that the General Assembly is free to do as it sees fit with Lottery proceeds in the future, but expressed confidence that funds would not be misappropriated or used for a purpose for which they were not originally intended.
How to "fix" the fourty-four low performing high schools in North Carolina.
The "appropriateness" of using a lottery mechanism to fund education spending in North Carolina. Senator Lee believes the Lottery affords citizens a voluntary mechanism to fund education, and is preferable to additional involuntary taxation.
The "appropriateness" of Lottery advertising, which could be perceived as the State encouraging its citizens to gamble. The questioner opined that Lottery advertising should not be allowed, just as the State-regulated ABC Stores are not permitted to advertise. Senator Lee responded that the Lottery legislation limits advertising to 10% of revenues, and believes some advertising is necessary if the Lottery is to remain viable over the long-term.
North Carolina's high drop-out rate, and what can be done to correct this problem. Senator Lee responded that program such as "Learn and Earn" (in which a thirteenth year is added to the public school curriculum, and the student receives both a high school diploma and an Associate Degree from a North Carolina community college) are designed to prepare students for both college and the work force. Thirteen "Learn and Earn" programs are currently operational, and Senator Lee would like to see one in every high school in the State.
Increased emphasis on biotechnology. Senator Lee would like to see our high schools adopt this curriculum. He stressed that a high school diploma is no longer sufficient in our modern society, and we are losing too many students between the eighth and ninth grades.

Club Business
President Rudy presented some business items for consideration by the Membership.

Elections for Club offices will be held in May, and installation of officers and directors will be held in June.
Pete Leary reported that the slate of proposed Club officers and directors will be presented to the Membership at the May 2006 meeting.
Richard Rudy has agreed to serve another term as Club President.
Bob Hensley has agreed to serve another term as Club First Vice-President.
Jay Sable has agreed to serve a full term as Club Secretary.
Brian Anderson has agreed to serve another term as Club Treasurer.
Max Adams gave a brief report on the annual Reverse Raffle, which will be held June 17, 2006 at the NCSU University Club on Hillsborough St. in Raleigh. Up to 1000 tickets (at $100 each) will be sold. The last ticket drawn will win the $5000 grand prize. Tickets will be available at all WDMC meetings held before June 17. Tim Dumas, comedian and magician, will provide entertainment.
Senator Lee drew the winning raffle ticket. The winner was Steve Painter.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:10 PM.

Submitted by Jay Sable, WDMC Secretary, sablejb@nc.rr.com

Picture 1:

Caption 1:
Senator Howard Lee

Picture 2:

Caption 2:
Senator Howard Lee and WDMC President Richard Rudy

Picture 3:

Caption 3:
Chief Justice Sarah Parker, North Carolina Supreme Court

Picture 4:

Caption 4:
Ed Ridpath and Bill Page

Picture 5:

Caption 5:
Aida Doss Havel, Candidate for Wake County District Court

WDMC Meeting - 13 March 2006

Wed, 22 Mar 2006 17:49:07 -0500

News Item:

WDMC Monthly Meeting - March 2006
The monthly meeting of the Wake Democratic Men's Club (WDMC) was held on March 13, 2006 at the Clarion Hotel on Hillsborough St. in Raleigh. Registration commenced at 6 PM, followed by a sit-down dinner at 6:30 PM. The meeting was well-attended by Club members and other interested Democrats. Our guest speakers were three distinguished members of the North Carolina Court of Appeals: Judge Robin Hudson, Judge Linda Stephens, and Judge Bob Hunter.

Club President Richard Rudy convened the meeting at 7 PM. The Hon. Aaron Fussell then led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a short prayer. Next, in keeping with a longstanding Club tradition, President Rudy individually recognized all office holders, office seekers, and new Club members in attendance. Each person so recognized then introduced himself or herself to the Club, and said a few words about his or her electoral situation or motivations for becoming a more active Democrat.

President Rudy then introduced our "master of ceremonies" for the guest speaker portion of the program, the Hon. Bob Hensley. In addition to having served in the NC House of Representatives for eleven years, Bob is also 1st Vice-President of WDMC and a practicing attorney. We thank Bob for having arranged for Judges Hudson, Stephens, and Hunter to speak to us this evening.

Judge Robin Hudson
Judge Robin Hudson is the first woman to win election to either North Carolina appellate court (i.e. NC Supreme Court and NC Court of Appeals) without having been first previously appointed. She has served on the Court of Appeals since January 2001. Judge Hudson is seeking a "promotion" of sorts: she is running for a seat on the NC Supreme Court - our state's highest court - presently held by a justice who is not seeking re-election.

In her remarks, Judge Hudson pointed out that the only statewide races on the ballot in this upcoming election cycle are those for seats on the North Carolina appellate courts. Four Judgeships on the NC Supreme Court, and two on the NC Court of Appeals, will be decided by voter this November. Judge Hudson emphasized the importance of the work of the NC appellate courts and the far-reaching nature of the cases these courts decide: redistricting, death penalty, family matters, workers comp, DWI, zoning and land use, medical malpractice, and criminal law, among other areas. She stated that it is vital that judges deciding these important matters be unbiased and impartial.

In 2000, Judge Hudson ran as a Democrat when she won election to the Court of Appeals. However, the laws governing judicial elections have since been changed such that all appellate judicial elections are now non-partisan. This applies to both primaries and general elections. The North Carolina Judicial Campaign Public Financing Program now provides for partial public funding of these races, relieving some of the fundraising burden associated with running an effective statewide campaign. Judge Hudson asked that we dedicate $3 of our taxes on our NC tax returns to funding the appellate judicial races.

Judge Hudson, like a lot of other observers this mid-term election year, expects low voter turnout in the May primary and the November general election. She reminded us that early voting in North Carolina begins on April 13 and ends on April 29, and is a convenient way to make sure our voices are heard. The old adage "every vote counts" will be especially true this election, so we all need to pay close attention to the appellate judicial races and support Judge Hudson however we can.

In the May primary for a seat on the NC Supreme Court, Judge Hudson faces four opponents. Only the top two vote-getters will proceed to the November general election. Judge Hudson has been endorsed by three former Chief Justices of the North Carolina Supreme Court. See http://www.robinhudson.org/Letter1.pdf. The three former Chiefs all attest to her legal scholarship, judicial temperament, dedication to the job, and high quality of her work as a judge on the NC Court of Appeals. They believe Judge Hudson is ready for, and deserving of, the "promotion" she seeks. The WDMC shares their opinion.

For more information on Judge Hudson, please see her website at http://www.robinhudson.org/ and her "official" biography at http://www.nccourts.org/Courts/Appellate/Appeal/Biographies/Biography.asp?Name=Hudson. You may also view Judge Hudson's work firsthand at http://www.aoc.state.nc.us/www/public/html/opinions.htm.

Judge Bob Hunter
Judge Bob Hunter was appointed to the North Carolina Court of Appeals in July, 1998 by former Gov. Jim Hunt. At the time of his appointment, Judge Hunter was in the middle of his eighteenth consecutive year of service in the North Carolina General Assembly and was also an attorney in private practice. A scant four months later, in November, 1998, Judge Hunter was elected by the citizens of North Carolina to a full eight year term on the Court of Appeals. Congratulations, Judge Hunter!

As a former legislator, Judge Hunter knows the importance of "connecting" with his constituents. He emphasized the necessity of running a well-funded, statewide campaign to convey his message to the electorate. Although Judge Hunter will be participating in the North Carolina Judicial Campaign Public Financing Program, he still must raise at least $34,000 from at least 350 contributors by the May 2 primary. This is the threshold which must be met to qualify for public funds for the general election. After May 2, none of the candidates for appellate court seats who have opted into the public financing program may raise additional funds. The only funds available to Judge Hunter for the May primary election are those he raises prior to May 2. Judge Hunter assured the audience he wouldn't be averse to receiving a small contribution from any potential donor :-).

Judge Hunter asked that each of us send at least three e-mail messages to our friends and family, advising them of his record on the Court of Appeals and long service to the people of North Carolina. E-mail is a low- or no-cost means of communicating with potential supporters. Judge Hunter expects a low voter participation rate for his race, perhaps only 5%. He stressed that "every vote counts" in races such as his.

Judge Hunter will be running in a non-partisan race to keep his seat on the Court of Appeals. Despite the lack of party affiliation on the ballot, Judge Hunter has two conservative Republican opponents. One of them - a former Wake County District Court Judge who was rejected by the voters after a single four year term in office - is best described as an extreme right wing ideologue who would force his rigid outlook on life on the rest of us. The other is a longtime Mecklenburg County District Court Judge who touts endorsements by various "conservative" organizations on his website. Neither of these individuals has any experience as an appellate judge. Judge Hunter, on the other hand, has heard over 2400 appellate cases and personally authored over 800 opinions during his eight year tenure on the Court of Appeals.

Geographically, the North Carolina appellate courts are a bit unbalanced. Judge Hunter is the only member of either appellate court whose primary residence is west of a line running from Greensboro to Charlotte. In terms of experience, Judge Hunter is the only member of, or candidate for, either court who has served in the North Carolina General Assembly. This legislative background makes Judge Hunter unique among his colleagues, and would seem to indicate a keen awareness of the effects his judicial opinions have on the everyday lives of the people of North Carolina.

Judge Hunter is deserving of our support in his re-election bid. He needs our support - financially and politically - if he is to be successful. Please visit Judge Hunter's website at
http://www.judgebobhunter.com/. His Court of Appeals biography may be viewed at
http://www.nccourts.org/Courts/Appellate/Appeal/Biographies/Biography.asp?Name=Hunter. Have a look at http://www.aoc.state.nc.us/www/public/html/opinions.htm for Judge Hunter's written opinions on a wide variety of important matters.

Judge Linda Stephens
Judge Linda Stephens is the newest member of the North Carolina Court of Appeals. She was appointed by Governor Easley to fill a vacancy on the Court, and is presently seeking election to a full eight year term. Judge Stephens assumed her duties on the Court of Appeals in February 2006. Prior to her appointment, Judge Stephens was in private practice and won many honors and awards during a legal career spanning more than twenty years. She also tried (and mostly won!) many cases before the North Carolina Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.

Wake County residents may be familiar with another judge with the last name of "Stephens." It turns out that Court of Appeals Judge Linda Stephens is married to Wake County Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Don Stephens! "Classic" Judge Don Stephens introduced "new" Judge Linda Stephens to the Membership. "Classic" Judge Stephens then related a humorous story in which he initially interpreted the North Carolina Code of Judicial Conduct as preventing him from supporting his wife's campaign – either financially or verbally. He thought the situation a bit absurd, so he sought clarification from the head of the North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission. "Classic" Judge Stephens was informed that only judges who are candidates for office may endorse other judges. So, what did "Classic" Judge Stephens do? He declared himself a candidate for re-election in 2012, when his present term expires! Judge Don Stephens may now "safely" endorse his wife, Judge Linda Stephens. Phew!

In her address to the Membership, Judge Linda Stephens promised to work hard, judge fairly, listen impartially, hear each case with an open mind, and treat all parties respectfully. She pledged to understand and know the relevant law before making a ruling. These are all vitally important attributes for a judge to possess, especially a judge sitting on our state's second-highest court. Judge Stephens emphasized her belief in fairness to all, a duty to one's community, and the potentially global consequences of any actions one may take.

Judge Linda Stephens has two Republican opponents in the May primary. Neither of them has her breadth or depth of experience and credentials. As Judge Stephens' race is likely to suffer from low turnout, it is important that each of us tell our friends and colleagues about the good work she has done in the past and ask them for their support.

Judge Linda Stephens is well aware of the importance of the office to which she was appointed and now seeks to retain. We are confident that she will uphold the highest standards and traditions of the North Carolina Court of Appeals. We urge you to financially support Judge Linda Stephens' campaign for election to the North Carolina Court of Appeals to the extent you are able. Judge Stephens would also appreciate any other assistance you might care to render.

The WDMC enthusiastically supports the election of Judge Linda Stephens to the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Please visit her very-well-done website at Judge Linda Stephens website. Be sure to view the letter in which Judge Stephens' young grandson "endorses" her candidacy, Grandson's Letter of Endorsement. It will bring a smile to your face! Click on Judge Stephens' "Official" Court of Appeals Biography to view Judge Stephens' "Official" Court of Appeals Biography. Her work may be viewed firsthand at Judge Linda Stephens' Court of Appeals Opinions. (You'll need to look through these opinions to find one that Judge Stephens wrote.)

Q & A
Upon the conclusion of their formal presentations, our guest speakers then accepted questions from the floor. Topics of discussion included:

Anticipated assistance to be provided to Democratic candidates for appellate judgeships by the state and local Democratic Party
The need for Democrats to be aware of who the Democratic appellate judicial candidates are and to actually vote for them
The need for the state Democratic party to make official endorsements in each of the appellate judicial races
The importance of "spreading the word" about these judicial contests via e-mail
In Judge Hunter's race, the need to make sure all NC voters know that both of his opponents are male
The need to encourage African-American participation in the appellate judicial races

Club Business
The "guest speaker" portion of the program having concluded, President Rudy then presented some business items for consideration by the Membership.

The Nominating Committee will meet in March, and report back to the Membership in April. Elections for Club offices will be held in May, and installation of officers and directors will be held in June. Nominating Committee Members are Pete Leary (Chair), Ronnie Condrey, Phil Leslie, Brian Anderson, Mike Savitt, and Jay Sable.
Max Adams reported that the annual Reverse Raffle will be held June 17, 2006 at the NCSU University Club on Hillsborough St. in Raleigh. Up to 1000 tickets (at $100 each) will be sold. The last ticket drawn will win the $5000 grand prize. Tickets will be available at all WDMC meetings held before June 17.
Al Adams reported that Judge Heman Clark continues to recover from his injuries. We all miss Judge Clark and look forward to seeing him once again at future WDMC meetings.
Judge Linda Stephens drew the winning raffle ticket. The winner was Fran Saltman, who returned her winnings to the Club.Thank you, Fran!
The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:10 PM.

Submitted by Jay Sable, WDMC Secretary, sablejb@nc.rr.com

Picture 1:

Caption 1:
Judge Robin Hudson, NC Supreme Court Candidate (presently serving on NC Court of Appeals)

Picture 2:

Caption 2:
Judge Bob Hunter, Candidate for Re-Election to NC Court of Appeals (presently serving on NC Court of Appeals)

Picture 3:

Caption 3:
Judge Linda Stephens, Candidate for Election to NC Court of Appeals (presently serving on NC Court of Appeals)

Picture 4:

Caption 4:
Mr. Boyd Bennett, Precinct 07-06 Chair

Picture 5:

Caption 5:
Hon. Bob Hensley, Judge Robin Hudson, Judge Bob Hunter, Judge Linda Stephens, WDMC President Richard Rudy

WDMC Meeting - 13 February 2006

Sun, 5 Mar 2006 16:45:41 -0500

News Item:

The monthly meeting of the Wake Democratic Men's Club was held on February 13, 2006 at the Clarion Hotel on Hillsborough St. in Raleigh. The meeting was well-attended by Club members and other interested Democrats. Attendees enjoyed socializing with fellow Democrats before dinner was served at 6:30 PM.

A little after 7 PM, Club President Richard Rudy called the meeting to order. President Rudy asked all office holders, office seekers, and new members to introduce themselves. Tim Dumas, a magician and entertainer who will perform at the Club's annual Reverse Raffle (to be held June 17, 2006 at the NCSU University Club, Hillsborough St., Raleigh), introduced himself and gave a brief overview of the services he offers.

President Rudy noted that Judge Heman Clark was not able to attend tonight's meeting. Al Adams informed the Club that Judge Clark is recovering from his injuries and is now "up and about." We wish Judge Clark a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming him back to WDMC at the earliest possible date.

Wake County Democratic Party Chairman Keith Karlsson thanked WDMC for its recent $500 contribution to the annual Valetines Day Fundraiser. Chairman Karlsson stated that the Fundraiser was highly successful and thanked all who contributed.

President Rudy then introduced Grier Martin, our "master of ceremonies" for the guest speaker portion of the meeting. Grier Martin is the Democratic incumbent in NC House District 34, representing Wake County. Mr. Martin successfully challenged a Republican incumbent in the 2004 general election to win his seat, and is seeking re-election this year. He made the transition from concerned citizen to elective office holder. All of our guest speakers seek to do the same, and all face a Republican incumbent in their bid for office.

Representative Martin introduced our guest speakers in the following order:

Greer Beaty, Democratic candidate in NC House District 36.
Ty Harrell, Democratic candidate in NC House District 41.
Ed Ridpath, Democratic candidate in NC House District 37.
Chris Mintz, Democratic candidate in NC House District 41.

Each of our speakers was given a few minutes to provide the Club with some biographical information, their qualifications, and their motivation for running for office. All candidates expressed a desire to improve government – via public service - for their fellow North Carolinians. They were unanimous in their belief that we, as Democrats, must field viable candidates for all offices on the ballot in this upcoming election cycle. The candidates touched upon other themes as well: the importance (and difficulty!) of raising money, the necessity to remain true to one's core beliefs, the obligation to "give back" to the community, the desire to run an issues-oriented campaign free from personal attacks, the acknowledgment that Democratic challengers face long odds in some districts, and the importance of adopting positions favored by the "mainstream" and unaffiliated voter.

Our speakers then accepted questions from the floor. Topics discussed included the rationale behind the choice of particular office sought, minimum wage/living wage, financing a successful campaign and campaign finance reform, and the experience that qualifies candidates for office. Grier Martin exhorted Club members to actively support their favorite candidate(s). He also stressed the importance of "moving on" after the election is over and continuing to strive for the enactment of Democratic positions and policies.

Upon the conclusion of the guest speaker portion of the meeting, President Richard Rudy again introduced magician Tim Dumas. Tim delighted the Membership with a funny story of an office seeker looking for a campaign manager. He then did a card trick in which three cards – which were originally all different – were somehow all transformed into a King of Hearts. Hmmmmmm....how did he do that?!!

Richard Rudy then presented some business items for consideration by the Membership.

The Nominating Committee will meet in March, and report back to the Membership in April. Elections for Club offices will be held in May, and installation of officers and directors will be held in June.
Dues for calendar year 2006 are now due and payable, and are $20/yr.
A change to Club Bylaws, Article 3, Section 2, which allows female Democrats residing in Wake County to become full voting members of WDMC, was unanimously approved on a voice vote.
A change to Club Bylaws, Article X, which requires Club officers who file for elective office to resign their position, was unanimously approved on a voice vote.
A silent moment of reflection was held to honor the life (and recent passing) of Coretta Scott King.
Keith Karlsson reminded the Membership that annual precinct meetings are to be held on February 16 and February 20, the venues of which are based (for the first time) on NC House districts.
Grier Martin drew the winning raffle ticket. The winner was Chris Telesca, who returned his winnings to the Club. Pete Leary reported that all 60 raffle tickets were sold.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:30 PM.

Submitted by Jay Sable, WDMC Secretary, sablejb@nc.rr.com

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Caption 1:
Greer Beaty, Democratic candidate in NC House District 36

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Ty Harrell, Democratic candidate in NC House District 41

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Ed Ridpath, Democratic candidate in NC House District 37

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Chris Mintz, Democratic candidate in NC House District 41

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Caption 5:
Judge Ripley Rand, Wake County Superior Court

WDMC Meeting - 09 January 2006

Sat, 11 Feb 2006 16:23:56 -0500

News Item:

The Wake Democratic Men's Club met on January 9, 2006 at the Clarion Hotel on Hillsborough St. in Raleigh. The monthly meeting was well-attended by Club members, present office-holders and future office-seekers.

Our guest speaker was the Hon. Franklin Freeman, senior aide to Governor Easley and former Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Judge Freeman spoke at length about the many accomplishments the Easley Administration - working closely with the General Assembly - was able to achieve. Among these are the new Education Lottery, hurricane relief for western North Carolina, meth lab prevention, increased funding for education at all levels, environmental programs such as increased funding for the Clean Water Trust Fund and an open space preservation program, and new business incentives.

At the conclusion of his formal presentation, Judge Freeman answered questions from the audience on a wide array of topics. We thank Judge Freeman for his content-rich, informative presentation and hope he will address the Club again in the future.

Club President Richard Rudy then presented the following business items to the Membership.

Max Adams gave a brief report on the work of the Raffle Committee.
The Membership, upon recommendation of the Board of Directors, unanimously elected Jay Sable to serve as Club Secretary for the remainder of Bill Bryant's unexpired term (ending 30jun06).
The raffle was won by Lindy Brown, who returned her winnings to the Club.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:10 PM.

Submitted by Jay Sable, WDMC Secretary, sablejb@nc.rr.com

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Judge Franklin Freeman addresses WDMC

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WCDP Chairman Keith Karlsson

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Bob Hensley, Aaron Fussell, Judge Franklin Freeman, President Richard Rudy

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Longtime Democratic activist P. R. Latta

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Judge Bob Hunter, NC Court of Appeals

Wake Democratic Men's Club

Fri, 30 Sep 2005 09:44:37 -0400

Start: Oct 10 2005 - 5:00pm

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State Senator Janet Cowell will share her experience as a first-term legislator who grappled with budget issues, a new state lottery, and a struggling state and national economy. Join us at the Clarion Hotel - one block from Goodwin House. Meet-n-greet at 6. Dinner service at 6:30. Please RSVP by 10/7 to wakedemmen@bellsouth.net, or call 919-363-3664, but PLEASE RSVP it's IMPORTANT!

Wake Democratic Men's Club Meeting

Thu, 29 Sep 2005 20:17:43 -0400

Start: Nov 14 2005 - 5:00pm

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Our guest speaker will be Jerry Meek, Chair of the NC Democratic Party. Jerry will discuss our Democratic Party successes in the October and November elections. Dinner is plated, not buffet-style so RSVPs assure everyone gets to eat on time. Please call 363-3664 or email wakedemmen@bellsouth.net to RSVP. Wee look forward to seeing you!

Democratic Men

Mon, 19 Sep 2005 22:10:18 -0400

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Rufus Edmisten with the subpoena he served on Richard Nixon

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Rufus Edmisten with the other side of the subpoena

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Wanda Denning candidate for School Board District 2

Wake Democratic Men's Club

Tue, 16 Aug 2005 18:15:33 -0400

Start: Sep 12 2005 - 5:00pm

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Democratic Men Meet the Candidates

Sun, 14 Aug 2005 21:43:14 -0400

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The Democratic Men met August 8th at the Clarion Hotel and heard from Raleigh City Council Candidates Russ Stephenson, Paul Anderson, and Jesse Taliaferro. Former City Councilor Mary Cates spoke on behalf of Candidate Joyce Kekas.

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Russ Stephenson, Raleigh City Council At-Large

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13th District Congressman Brad Miller talks to a constituent

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President Richard Rudy, Aaron Fussell, 3rd Vice Chair Heman Clark, Past Pres. Jim Liles, unidentified guest

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Wake County District Attorney Colin Willoughby

Wake Democratic Men's Club Meeting

Thu, 7 Jul 2005 14:21:04 -0400

Start: Aug 8 2005 - 5:00pm

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An email was sent to each City of Raleigh candidate-of-record as of July 18 inviting them to be present to be recognized. Please attend to show your support and interest. We hope to see Wake County candidates in September.RSVP via email to wakedemmen@bellsouth.net

Wake Democratic Men's Club Board of Directors

Wed, 29 Jun 2005 08:02:20 -0400

Start: Jun 29 2005 - 4:30pm

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