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Watauga
County Democrats displayed a newfound sense of optimism at Saturday’s
county convention, with party delegates and candidates repeatedly
echoing the phrase, “I’m proud to be a Democrat.”
The
convention, held at the Watauga County Administrative Building in
Boone, drew about 130 people, including all local Democratic candidates.
County commission chairman Jim Deal opened remarks by saying he
was proud to be a member of a party that had vision.
“We
stand for education and we’re not afraid to do what’s
right,” he said, adding the commissioners had sought to improve
quality of life by investing in land to further business and economic
opportunities. “We have the courage to plan for a better future.”
Party
chair Diane Tilson recognized elected officials and candidates in
attendance, including the state party’s second vice-chair Delmas
Parker. Treasurer Susan Phipps reported the party had $18,490 on
hand, which she said was the largest amount ever.
U.S.
Fifth District House of Representatives candidate Mark Glen said
he was making his first run for office because of economic opportunities
for district residents, and is also concerned about immigration,
the Iraq war and inflation.
He
said his campaign slogan was “Return to Reason,” saying
thousands of people had become economically vulnerable because of
reckless federal spending and tax cuts for the wealthy.
He
decried partisan politics and a Congress that “sells legislation
to the highest bidder,” and said he opposed free trade agreements.
The other Democratic Fifth District candidates, Syndi Holmes, Roger
Kirkman and Roger Sharpe, didn’t attend but had others speak
on their behalf. All four candidates are scheduled to attend a forum
in Boone on Thursday at 7 p.m.
State
Senate
N.C. Senate candidate (45th District) Steve Goss praised the current
Democratic leadership and called himself a “child of the
60s” who took Pres. John F. Kennedy message of service to heart.
A retired minister, he said he believed strongly in the separation
of church and state. “I’ve been waiting 25 years to scream
out, ‘I’m proud to be a Democrat,’” he said.
He
said people are well-informed and understand what’s going on
around them, and quoted a Robert Frost poem about taking the “road
less traveled.”
State
House
N.C. House candidate (93rd District) Cullie Tarleton unveiled his
campaign message of “Enough is enough,” referring to Republican
incumbent Gene Wilson’s long grip on the seat. “The way
things are in this House district stink,” Tarleton said, saying
Wilson twice voted against an increase to minimum wage and against
tax breaks for small businesses that provide health insurance for
employees. “Let’s see Gene Wilson get by on $5.15 an hour,”
Tarleton said, and criticized what he called Wilson’s failure
to act as Appalachian State University slid to the bottom in funding
among the state’s universities. He promised to be a strong,
active voice supporting highway funds, health care, education and
environmental protection.
Local
races
District 1 commission candidate Doug McGuinn said he believed in
“taking our country back one county at a time.” He said
“The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer,”
and young people had to move away because the average cost of a
new home in Watauga County was $233,000 while one-fifth of families
are making less than $25,000 a year. “People are scared they
might lose their homes and their land,” he said. “They’re
being forced out of the county to make way for wealthy second-home
owners.”
McGuinn
said Pres. Bush’s wiretapping was illegal, the Patriot Act
was illegal, the war on terrorism was “a deadly sham,”
and the Iraq war was “illegal and immoral.”
District
1 commission candidate Mary Moretz said her vision included a safe,
up-to-date high school, protection of farmers and foresters through
alternative crops and tax incentives, encouraging home-grown entrepreneurs
to provide creative ideas and high-paying jobs and protecting the
environment through the use of renewable energy sources, waste reduction
and conservation easements.
Moretz
criticized incumbent Republican Keith Honeycutt for voting against
a resolution supporting the state’s clean water and clean air
acts and against the county budget that contained funds for a new
high school.
“I
have faith in our people and faith that by working together we can
not only overcome obstacles but also generate a visionary plan that
creates the best 21st-century community in North Carolina right
here in beautiful Watauga County,” she said.
District
4 commission candidate John Cooper said he was urged to run by “the
little voices” in his head, referring to his three grandchildren.
He
said he offered the vision and leadership to make a positive impact,
and that he was committed to protecting and improving the quality
of life. He said he wanted to provide the county’s youth with
clean air and water, beautiful scenery and quality education.
He
said the school facilities should reflect the outstanding dedication
of the teachers and should be safe, and that the county should provide
adequate recreational facilities. He said he supported a new high
school facility and would be a watchdog of the county tax dollars.
“My top priority will be doing the right thing for the children
of this county,” he said.
Sheriff candidate Len Hagaman outlined his law enforcement experience,
which began with the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office. He said
he would serve with “the utmost integrity and professionalism,”
and said he had been a certified law officer with full powers of
arrest since 1986. He graduated from Appalachian State University
with degrees in criminal justice and public administration, and
said he’d annually renewed his certification.
Hagaman
said he had worked with a number of law enforcement agencies, including
the Department of Homeland Security, and had also served as a county
commissioner. He said he would embrace new technologies and would
promote a positive relationship between the Sheriff’s Office
and county residents.
Glenn
Hodges is running unopposed for his fifth term as Clerk of Court,
and urged the attendees to work for the party. “We cannot afford
to take a step back,” he said. “We need to do what is
right.”
School
board candidate Alan Utter said he had four college degrees but
“the most important title I have is ‘Dad.’”
He said he was about the same age as the high school, though the
building seemed 25 years older than he did. He said he was concerned
about children’s health, particularly obesity, and said the
county had a responsibility to educate the children. He also expressed
support for increased local teacher supplements.
School
board candidate Al Wheeler said he had been involved in education
all his life and has worked with the Watauga Education Foundation
to support the local school system. He blasted a group that formed
to support renovation of the existing high school, saying the group
had blatantly created a political issue and made false statements.
He also said none of the group members attended a series of information
sessions held by the school board on the issue. He supported education
for the “whole human,” including art, health, and vocational
classes. “We must offer the best we can and not just throw
money at the problem,” Wheeler said.
Be
it resolved...
The convention delegates approved a number of resolutions, which
will be forwarded to the state Democratic Party. The resolutions
included support of the National Guard to receive supplemental supplies;
support for the Appalachian Cultural Museum; support for universal
health-care insurance; support for Roe v. Wade and reproductive
rights; demanding elected officials listen to their constituents;
and support for sustainable energy and practices; support to raise
the minimum wage to 110 percent of the federal poverty level; support
for a study to measure human and economic costs of energy systems.
Delegates
tabled two resolutions to both support community protection by requiring
developers to protect natural resources and to support protection
of water sources.
A
resolution calling for the impeachment of Pres. George Bush for
violating the U.S. Constitution and federal laws created a split
vote. Some delegates were concerned such a resolution might be politically
damaging in the upcoming election while the majority felt it was
important to stand by party principles at any cost. The resolution
passed by about a 2-1 margin.
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