|
More
than 300 took part in the Democratic Party headquarters opening
on Monday.
With
the primary season heating up, the Watauga Democratic Party cut
the ribbon on a temporary home in Boone with barbecue, music and
old-fashioned stumping on Monday. Democratic Party Chair Rusty Henson
said enthusiasm was high among the party members and candidates.
"We're
elated," he said. "I don't know how else to put it. We've
got quality people running."
An
array of candidates put in appearances, many of whom don't have
primary races. Two who are squaring off for the party's nomination
for sheriff are Hal Isaacs and Jerry Vaughn. Both were in attendance
at the event.
Dan
Hense of Sugar Grove, who will be facing incumbent Gene Wilson for
a House of Representatives seat, said that he wanted to "take
the people's voice to Raleigh" rather than promote a personal
agenda.
"I
believe he (Wilson) hasn't been effective as a representative,"
Hense said. "We need a voice in Raleigh. In the 12 years he's
been in there, he's lost contact with the voters."
Clerk
of Court incumbent Glenn Hodges said that he was pleased to be unopposed
in the coming election. "It's a tribute to the staff to go
two elections without opposition," he said.
Twenty-fourth
District Judge candidate Bill Leavell said that his own experience
in trying to adopt a 2-year-old has led him to a new appreciation
and understanding of the court system.
He
said that understanding the emotions of those involved and the effect
of long delays in resolving cases were lessons he had learned. Twenty-fourth
District Judge candidate Gary Kivett said, "We need a non-partisan
judge because this is a non-partisan office."
Kivett
said that people deserved "the same justice" whether they
were Democratic or Republican.
Superior
Court judge candidate Phil Ginn said his experience made him a good
candidate. He had served 10 years as a District Court judge and
has 25 years experience in the legal profession.
Fifth
District U.S. representative candidate David Crawford said he filed
against incumbent Richard Burr because he didn‚t want Burr
to run unopposed.
"I
don't see how we can have a democracy when people run unopposed,"
Crawford said. "People start to think that Burr's views are
the de facto views of the district."
Crawford
said that he opposed Burr's views on the environment, prescription
drugs and education. School board candidates Michelle Wise Capen
and Jim Deni both said the important local education issues were
the support for two high schools and the selection of a new superintendent.
Capen said she was running because the school board hasn't had a
female member in several years.
Deni
said his eight years on the school board made him a qualified candidate
and that he was concerned about the shortage of teachers as well
as the support of teachers in the system.
The
county commissioner candidates for the Democratic Party were all
in attendance. Incumbent Pat Wilkie said the party members and candidates
were "all on the same page."
"We're
going to do what we can to serve the county as a community,"
Wilkie said. "We feel that each and every one of us that's
a taxpayer is entitled to have a say in what goes on in the county."
Incumbent
Sue Sweeting said that she felt her four years had made a difference
for the people of the county.
Dave
Robertson said he was running because he was "real tired of
seeing a lack of protection for the people."
"We
have a positive message of hope for the county, while the alternative
is mostly negative," he said.
He
said that the county needed industry, but not next to people's homes
and lands.
Forty-fifth
District N.C. Senate candidate Mollie Marlene C. Laws also made
an appearance. Crandall Bowles spoke on behalf of her husband Erskine
Bowles, who is running for a U.S. Senate seat.
She
said that Bowles supported access to health care and insurance,
recruiting more jobs, and improvements to education. Party officials
said that 353 people signed the guest list during the opening to
the headquarters on King Street.
|
