Thursday, March 31, 2016

More Modest Proposals for Changing the North Carolina State Legislature


North Carolina’s HB2 (the ‘bathroom bill,’ the ‘anti-anti-discrimination bill’) continues to draw scorn, disgust, organized protest, and business/corporate threats.  For those of us without a company or sports tournament to relocate, our best remedy is voting – but another remedy is contributing to Democratic candidates who have a chance of beating a Republican opponent.

Certainly this includes our excellent candidates for state-wide office.  At the end of this post, I’ll include a list of their campaign websites, so you can find more information about them, including how to donate.  The focus here, however, is on lesser-known competitive down-ballot races, races in which small contributions might actually make a difference.
If we live in North Carolina, in a competitive district, doing this is a no-brainer – we’re probably already aware of our local races.  I suggest that we also consider donating to other Democratic candidates in districts in which they have a fighting chance to prevail . . . and that out-of-staters who care about North Carolina and/or are revolted by our General Assembly’s latest idiocy, consider doing the same thing.  As this current communiqué from Representative Jackson makes clear, gerrymandering has made competitive races disgracefully rare – so it can be helpful to identify them if we want to spread around our donations in order to help as many sensible candidates as our finances allow.
Last week, due to discussions on another Jeff Jackson thread (thanks Jeff!!!!), I compiled a list of competitive races for the NC State Senate (http://debblog2015.blogspot.com/2016/03/a-modest-proposal-for-changing-north.html).  Using the Civitas list (https://www.nccivitas.org/2016/the-21-n-c-legislative-races-to-watch-in-2016/) as a base, I updated it to account for Primary results and added website/Facebook information for Democratic candidates, plus a very brief note about their positions/issues.  I promised to do the same for competitive races for the NC State House. 
So here it is.  Most races involve Democratic challengers to Republican incumbents, but some involve vulnerable Democratic incumbents in Republican-leaning districts. Please share this if you’re so inclined, in whatever social media you’re comfortable with.  Also considering sharing my previous post about the vulnerable NC State Senate races.

Competitive Races for the NC General Assembly House of Representatives

District 2 ( D+0)  Incumbent Larry Yarborough (R-Person), won by 56.7 percent in 2014 after then Rep. Winkie Wilkins (Dem) decided not to run in 2014. Wilkins won the district in 2012 by with 56.7 percent of the vote. Yarborough will face Democrat Joe Parrish in the General Election. Calling himself a ‘progressive centrist,’ Parrish – who has lived in Person county since the age of five – promises to fight for the working class and working classrooms. For more information about Joe Parrish, and to donate, visit his website: http://www.joseph4house.com/
District 6  (R+4)  Paul Tine (U-Dare) --who was first elected as a Democrat to the State House in 2012 (50.6%) and re-elected in 2014 (53.6%), switched his voter registration to unaffiliated early in 2015 and caucused with the Republicans -- decided not to run in 2016. Republican Beverly Boswell and Democrat Warren Judge will compete in the November Election.  A resident of Kitty Hawk, Judge is a Dare County commissioner who advocates improved access to jobs, to transportation, to voting, to education, and to medical and mental health care. For more information about Warren Judge, and to donate, visit his website: http://www.warrenjudgefornchouse.com/
District 8 (R+1) Susan Martin (R-Wilson), the incumbent, was first elected to the House in 2012 when she garnered 57.2 percent of the vote. She gained strength in 2014 when she won re-election with 60.8 percent of the vote. Martin will face Democrat candidate Charlie Pat Farris in the November General Election.  A life-long resident of Wilson, Farris advocates improved access to high-speed internet and updating I-95 as well as strengthening education, investing in renewable energy, and stimulating economic development.  For more information about Charlie Pat Farris, and to donate, visit his website: http://www.charliepatfarris.com/
District 9 (R+4) While Greg Murphy (R-Pitt) is officially the incumbent, he was appointed to the seat in October 2015 after Rep. Brian Brown left office to work for U.S. Senator Thom Tillis. Murphy will face Democrat Brian Farkas in November. Besides being a champion of public education and healthy job growth, Farkas advocates ending gerrymandering, rolling back voter suppression measures, and reforming the campaign finance system.  For more information about Brian Farkas, and to donate, visit his website: http://brianfarkas.com/
District 35 (R+4) Incumbent Chris Malone (R-Wake) has served two terms in the state House. In 2012 he won by 50.8 percent of the vote; in 2014 he widened the winning margin with 56.3 percent. Malone will face Democrat Terence Everitt in the General Election. A Wake Forest attorney, Everitt focuses on the needs of the small business community as well as on improving North Carolina schools and the lives of middle-class families. For more information about Terence Everitt, and to donate, visit his website: http://www.terenceeveritt.com/
District 36 (R+4) Nelson Dollar (R-Wake) has served six terms in the State House. In 2012 he won with 55 percent of the vote and in 2014 he won with 54.4 percent of the total vote. He will face Democrat Jennifer Ferrell and Libertarian Brian Irving. A resident of Apex, Ferrell is committed to meeting the needs of public schools, to child safety issues, and to improved healthcare access.  For more information about Jennifer Ferrell, and to donate, visit her website: http://www.jenferrellnc36.com/

District 40 (R+3)  Five-term incumbent Marilyn Avila (R-Wake) won the 2012 and 2014 elections by carrying 53.9 percent and 54.4 percent of the vote – respectively. She will face Democrat Joe John in the General Election. Having served as a North Carolina prosecutor, litigation attorney and trial and appellate court judge, John believes that the needs of the NC judicial system, particularly in the area of technology, have long been ignored.  He is also an advocate of non-partisan redistricting and of strengthening public education. For more information about Joe John, and to donate, visit his website: http://www.joejohnnchouse.com/

District 41 (R+0)  Democrat incumbent Gale Adcock (D-Wake) beat two-term Republican incumbent Tom Murry in 2014 by winning 51.3 percent of the vote.  One of the Democrats in an “R+” district, Adcock will face Republican Chris M. Shoffner in the General Election.  A Nurse Practitioner, Adcock has served as president of the North Carolina Nurses Association and is adjunct faculty at Duke, UNC, and ECU.  She is also Cary’s mayor pro tem.  She is dedicated to preserving public education, creating jobs, ensuring access to quality health care, and protecting the environment. For more information about Gale Adcock, and to donate, visit her website: http://www.galeadcock.com/

District 45 (R+3) Two-term incumbent John Szoka (R-Cumberland) was unopposed in the 2014 election. He won his first election in 2012 with 56.4 percent of the vote. Szoka will face Democrat Roberta Waddle in the General Election.  As of now, Waddle does not seem to have a campaign website, nor can I find information about her political platform.  She does have a personal Facebook page, which indicates her political interests: https://www.facebook.com/roberta.waddle
District 49 (R+1) Republican incumbent Gary Pendleton (R-Wake) was appointed in August 2014 to replace Jim Fulghum who died while in office. Pendleton won with 51.6 percent of the vote in 2014. Fulghum won 54 percent of the vote in District 49 in 2012. Pendleton will face Democrat Cynthia Ball and Libertarian David Ulmer in the November, General Election. With years of experience in mediation and institutional development, in both the public and private sectors, Raleigh resident Ball advocates for strong public schools and a vibrant middle class.  For more information about Cynthia Ball, and to donate, visit her website: http://www.cynthiafornc.com/
District 51 (R+5) First-term incumbent Democrat Brad Salmon (D-Harnett) beat two-term incumbent Mike Stone in 2014 by 1,573 votes (53.9 percent of the vote). Stone first won the district in 2010 with 53.5 percent of the vote and again in 2012 with 52 percent. In 2016 Salmon will face Republican candidate John Sauls in the November General Election.  Salmon backs economic development and improving public education, with an emphasis on community college initiatives; he did, however, vote for HB2.  To learn more about Brad Salmon, and to make a donation, visit his website: http://www.electbradsalmon.com
District 92 (D+1)  A Republican in a “D+” district, incumbent Charles Jeter, (R-Mecklenburg) has served two terms in the State House.  He won with 51.4 percent of the vote in 2012 and with 52.5 percent of the vote in 2014. In this year’s primary, he beat his Republican challenger – Tom Davis – by only 28 votes; it’s unclear whether there will be a recount. The winner of the Republican Primary will face Democrat Chaz Beasley in the General Election.  Beasley, an attorney and native North Carolinian, supports investing in NC public education, promoting equality, and strengthening the economy.  For more information about Chaz Beasley, and to donate, visit his website: http://www.chazbeasley.com/
District 115 (R+1) First-term incumbent John Ager (D-Buncombe) is one of the Democrats in an “R+” district. Ager upset a Republican incumbent in 2014 (Nathan Ramsey) by winning 50.8 percent of the vote. Ramsey had won an open seat (vacated by a Democrat) in 2012 with 54.3 percent of the vote. Ager will face Republican Frank Moretz in the November Election.  Among Ager’s issues are raising teacher pay, expanding Medicaid, and preventing environmental pollution.  For more information about John Ager, and to donate, visit his website:  http://www.electjohnager.org/
District 116 (R+5)* Incumbent Brian Turner is a Democrat in an R+5 District. In 2014, Turner defeated two-term Representative Tim Moffitt with 50.8 percent of the vote; Turner will face Republican Kay Olsen in the General Election.  Turner emphasizes the importance of a strong public educational system and help for locally owned small business.  For more information about Brian Turner, and to donate, visit his website: http://www.turnerfornchouse.com/#about
District 119 (D+1) Incumbent, Joe Sam Queen (D-Haywood) has served two terms in the House (he also served two terms in the state Senate). Queen won the 2012 race with 51.7 percent of the vote and the 2014 race with 52.5 percent of the vote. In November he will face Republican Mike Clampitt, whom he defeated in 2014 and 2012. Queen’s issues include healthcare, education, and the environment.  His website is currently down, or is being rebuilt, but he does have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/joesamqueennc/ 


Last but not least:  the Democratic Candidates for State-Wide office

--Roy Cooper for Governor http://www.roycooper.com/
--Linda Coleman for Lieutenant Governor http://www.lindafornc.com/
--Elaine Marshall for Secretary of State http://www.elainemarshall.com/
--Josh Stein for Attorney General http://www.joshstein.org/
--Beth Wood for State Auditor http://www.bethwoodcampaign.com/
--Dan Blue III for State Treasurer http://bluefornc.com/
--June Atkinson for Superintendent of Public Instruction http://www.drjuneatkinson.com/
--Walter Smith for Commissioner of Agriculture http://votewaltersmith.com/
--Charles Meeker for Commissioner of Labor http://www.charlesmeeker.org/
--Wayne Goodwin for Insurance Commissioner http://www.waynegoodwin.org/
(Editorial cartoons by North Carolina's best ever practitioner of the art, Dwane Powell, shamelessly stolen from various sites by me)