Richard Burr, Republican incumbent
Website: www.burrforsenate.com
Political CV: US Senate, 2005-present; US House, 1995-2004
Endorsements: Conservatives for Guilford County, National Federation of Independent Businesses
On the record: “This is about America’s future. It’s about our country. We can solicit anybody and everybody that feels uncomfortable and scared about tomorrow because of the direction we’re headed and ask them to join the effort to change our leadership. This is an opportunity we can’t pass up. This is an opportunity that may not come back around, and if it does, it may be too late for a generation of Americans.” (Source: Oct. 23 Republican rally, Greensboro)
Top contributor: National Republican Senatorial Committee
Elaine Marshall, Democratic challenger
Website: www.elainemarshall.com
Political CV: First woman ever elected to statewide office in North Carolina; defeated NASCAR legend Richard Petty in 1996 to win race for NC Secretary of State and has held the office ever since
Endorsements: Cal Cunningham, Jim Hunt, Ken Lewis, News & Observer, NC Association of Educators, NC Police Benevolent Association, Replacements Limited PAC (LGBT)
On the record: “For those of you who say it can’t be done, get out of the way of those of us who are doing it. That’s the determination I’ll bring with me every day on the job in the United States Senate. That’s the determination that brought us through the civil rights fight, that gave us women’s equality, and can bring us together as a country and build a better nation that can work for every American family.” (Source: NC Democratic Party State Executive Committee Meeting, March 2010)
Top three contributors: 1) Candidate, 2) Emily’s List PAC, 3) Act Blue PAC
Michael Beitler, Libertarian challenger Website: www.beitlerforussenate.org
Political CV: No political experience
Endorsements: NC Cannabis Patient Network
On the record: “As a business professor at UNC Greensboro I also do consulting work in the business community. And when I talk to business owners, they tell me: ‘Yes, tax cuts would be helpful.’ But they also need to get out from under the regulatory burden. We can’t expect them to have the same kind of compliance programs that the big companies have. Without getting into the problem of cronyism we have between big business and big government, small businesses need a reduction in their taxes, a reduction in their regulatory burden, and we also need to make it clear to small businesses that we’re not going to have any new regulations for a period of, let’s say, two years. A moratorium would mean we’re not going to move the goal post for the next two years.” (Source: Oct. 13 NBC 17/League of Women Voters debate)
Top contributor: Candidate
US House District 5
Virginia Foxx, Republican incumbent
Website: www.virginiafoxx.com
Political CV: US House, 2005-present; NC Senate, 1995-2004
Endorsements: National Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans Coalition, Veterans of Foreign Wars PAC
On the record: “Everywhere I go in my district, people tell me they are frightened — they are frightened by what is happening in this country. They fear for the future of our country. What they’re talking about is they fear for our freedoms…. And the greatest fear we all should have to our freedom comes from this room, this very room and what may happen later this week in terms as a tax increase bill masquerading as a healthcare bill. I believe we have more to fear from the potential of that bill passing than we do from any terrorist right now in any country.”
“Most of the things that have been done by the federal government that are unconstitutional in my opinion have been done for good reasons — they’re not malevolent reasons, but they’re wrong. We should not be funding education, for example.” (Source: US House floor remarks in January)
Top three contributors: 1) Bank PAC, 2) AT&T PAC, 3) Turkish Coalition USA PAC
Billy Kennedy, Democratic challenger
Website: www.billykennedyforcongress.com
Political CV: No political experience
Endorsements: Winston- Salem Journal, Zach Galifianakis, Bowman Gray, Blue America
On the record: “These Republicans that think they’re going to take us back to the time before women had the right [to vote], before African Americans had the right to vote, we can’t let those forces control our country, so it’s as important as ever today to win these elections and keep the country moving forward, not backwards.” (Source: 5 th Congressional District Democratic Party Annual Convention, May 15) “We need responsible representatives in governments, not representatives of the largest corporations in this country.”
“Education is the best money we can invest and we need to make sure people are taken care of in these hard times, and then be creating jobs so they can get a foot up and get out of these hard times. People want to work and they can’t find jobs right now. Everybody I know who is unemployed wants to find work.” (Source: Oct. 22 interview)
Top three contributors: 1) Candidate, 2) Frances Kennedy, 3) David Crawford
US House District 6
Howard Coble, Republican incumbent
Website: www.cobleforcongress.com
Political CV: US House, 1985-present
Endorsements: American Future Fund, Americans for Legal Immigration, Conservatives for Guilford County, Direct Selling Association, National Association of Manufacturers, National Federation of Independent Businesses, National Rifle Association, National Right to Life, Newt Gingrich’s American Solutions, Small Business Entrepreneurship Council, Southern Pines Pilot, US Chamber of Commerce, Veterans of Foreign Wars On the record: “President Obama — I’m being a Monday morning quarterback or Wednesday evening quarterback — I think he missed the mark when he concluded that the No. 1 issue across this country was healthcare reform. I will admit: Healthcare reform is important, but it was not No. 1. You answered it, ma’am: Jobs. Of course, that is directly connected with unemployment. Furthermore directly connected with reckless, imprudent spending. Those are the issues, and those are the issues that, if reelected, I’ll take back with me.” (Source: Oct. 13 candidate forum, Greensboro)
Top three contributors: 1) National Beer Wholesalers Association, Realtors PAC, Rural Electrification PAC and National Auto Dealers PAC
Sam Turner, Democratic challenger
Website: www.samturnerforcongress.com
Political CV: No political experience
Endorsements: Replacements Limited PAC (LGBT)
On the record: “All of this is interrelated. A lot of problems with income go back to trade because if you ask for a raise you’re going to get a threat that they’re going to move your factory or job overseas. That depresses wages here, plus the jobs that go overseas that help suppress wages by putting more people on unemployment. We have to address trade to get the incomes up. And quite frankly, we have to address taxes. And one of the ways we could address taxes is take a serious look at the flat tax, just so everyone pays their fair share. Now, corporations are paying half of what they were back in the fifties.” (Source: Oct. 13 candidate forum, Greensboro)
Top three contributors: 1) Candidate, 2) Leigh Simmons Park
US House District 12
Mel Watt, Democratic incumbent
Website: www.wattforcongress.com
Political CV: US House, 1993-present; NC Senate, 1985-1986
Endorsements: NC Association of Educators, Replacements Limited PAC (LGBT)
On the record: “I’m running on my record; I am not running from my record. I voted for the stimulus bill. I voted for healthcare reform. I voted for education reform. I voted for and helped to craft the financial services reform. I voted for ‘Cash for Clunkers.’ I voted for the Credit Card Holders Bill of Rights. I voted for the Libby Ledbetter legislation. And I supported this president, and I intend to continue to support efforts to try to turn our country around.”
(Source: Oct. 21 candidate forum, High Point)
Top contributors: Engineers Political Education Committee, Citigroup and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers among top donors
Greg Dority, Republican challenger
Website: www.gregdorityforcongress.com
Political CV: Former candidate for lieutenant governor and Congress
Endorsements: Conservatives for Guilford County
On the record: “The campaign is about economics, the destruction of the middle class and creating jobs. People are angry and they’re scared.” “My campaign is primarily about two things — lower taxes and less regulation on small businesses, which create 80 percent of the jobs. Even though taxes now are historically low, they’re too high for this deflationary environment.” (Source: Lexington Dispatch, Oct. 5)
Top contributor: No contributions reported
Lon Cecil, Libertarian challenger
Website: www.cecilforcongress.com
Political CV: No political experience
On the record: “Stability in the taxation is going to be a major item for the small businesses. I also support the fair tax law.
I think that will help improve our overall appearances of stability for investment. And I think there are some tax benefits for people that export the jobs and whatnot that need to be considered to expire so we retain jobs.”
(Source: Oct. 21 candidate forum, High Point)
Top two contributors: 1) Candidate, 2) David Dening
US House District 13
Brad Miller, Democratic incumbent
Website: www.bradmiller.org
Political CV: US House, 2003-present; NC Senate, 1997-2002; NC House, 1993-1994
Endorsements: NC Association of Educators, Replacements Limited PAC (LGBT)
On the record: “I
think we need to bring back manufacturing. We cannot survive as a
service economy: We can’t just give each other golf lessons or haircuts.
We’ve got to make something. I am for closing the tax breaks that
companies get for sending jobs overseas. We’ve got to make business
loans available to small businesses who’ve not been able to get ’em for
the last couple years on ordinary terms. I’ve led the effort to make
small business lending available and also with respect to the
construction industry, which is a huge employer that we’ve got to bring
back.” (Source: Oct. 20 candidate forum, Greensboro)
Top contributors: Carpenters Legislative Improvement Committee, Communications Workers of America and Engineers Political Education Committee among top donors
Bill Randall, Republican challenger
Website: www.randallforcongress.com
Political CV: Former candidate for state Republican chairman and county board of supervisors
Endorsements: America’s
Independent Party, Americans for Legal Immigration, Conservatives for
Guilford County, Ann Coulter, Eagle Forum (North Carolina chapter),
Frederick Douglass Foundation, Alan Keyes, National Rifle Association,
NC Right to Life, Tea Party PAC
On the record: On bipartisan cooperation vs. partisan struggle: “I
am really miffed in trying to grasp how I should answer the question…. I
believe that you need to look at fundamentally the fact that today, in
2010, we have a division amongst the parties because primarily we have a
philosophical difference on the direction that the nation needs to go.
If you have a party that wants to take this country towards socialism
and getting away from our individual responsibility, from responsible,
limited government, I am not going to be part and parcel to going along
to get along…. We have a country that’s on its way to financial ruin,
and we need to stand tough on those things that actually cause this
country to be great and that will prevent us from being great if we
relinquish that responsibility.” (Source: Oct. 20 candidate forum,
Greensboro)
Top contributor: Next Century Fund
NC Senate District 27
Don Vaughan, Democratic incumbent
Website: www.senatordonvaughan.com
Political CV: NC Senate, 2009-present
Endorsements: Conservation
Council, Grass Roots North Carolina, National Federation of Independent
Businesses, NC Association of Educators, NC Advocates for Justice
(trial lawyers), NC Association of Educators, NC Police Benevolent
Association, NC Voters for Animal Welfare, Replacements Limited PAC
(LGBT)
On the record: “I’m
not going to bring you any doom and gloom. I’m going to bring you
fairly decent news right now. Now things have been bad, but by golly, if
you saw Saturday’s paper, you know they’re starting to get better. And
the headline here says, ‘North Carolina helping to lead nation to
recovery.’ Things are starting to happen because of some things we did
in the North Carolina Senate are helping to make this recovery. If you
read this article, if you read USA Today, if you read the Wall Street Journal today,
you know that this state and its policies — these are independent
sources — things are beginning to work and things are beginning to turn
around thanks to what has been done in Raleigh.” (Source: Oct. 4
candidate forum, Greensboro)
Top contributors: 1) NC Senate Caucus; Mark R. Craig, RH Barringer Distributors; NC Medical Society PAC; David Stedman
Jeff Hyde, Republican challenger
Website: www.votejeffhyde.com
Political CV: No political experience
Endorsements: Americans For Prosperity, Conservatives for Guilford County, Freedom Works
On the record: “Our
solution is to take North Carolina from being the worst businessclimate
state in the Southeast and make it competitive with our Southeastern
neighbors by reducing the tax burden on individuals, the tax burden on
corporations, reducing our state gasoline tax — all these things add up
to make North Carolina the 10 th least likely state for businesses to
succeed. The states around us — there’s no surprise — the nine states
with the most economic activity are the nine states that don’t have a
personal income tax. There’s no surprise in that. If we want North
Carolina to be prosperous again, if we want to reduce our unemployment,
we’ll put our money back into the private sector where we can incubate
jobs around the kitchen table and entice new businesses to form in North
Carolina and put private citizens back to work.” (June 25 Conservatives
for Guilford County picnic, Greensboro)
Top three contributors: 1) Jodi Riddleberger, Conservatives for Guilford County; 2) Doug Adkins; 3) Isabella Adkins, Conservatives for Guilford County
NC SENATE DISTRICT 28
Gladys Robinson, Democrat
Website: www.gladysrobinson.com
Political CV: Candidate for school board in 1990s
Endorsements: Katie Dorsett, Guilford County Association of Educators, NC Association of Educators, Replacements Limited PAC (LGBT)
On the record: “It’s
important for you to know that, no, I’m not an elected official, so if
you count that as experience, I don’t have it. But if you count as
experience being an advocate in this community for almost 40 years and
working alongside you, learning as I was a student at Bennett College
and getting out in the community and working with people and their
needs, ever since then working for the most vulnerable populations. I
haven’t worked with the big businesses. I have worked with the people
who needed jobs. I’ve worked with the people who are sick. I’ve worked
with people who needed education. And I’ve advocated and helped teach
people how to advocate because that’s what we need to do. So if you’re
looking for background and experience as a community advocate, then I’m
your person.” (Sept. 13 Guilford County Community PAC interview,
Greensboro)
Top two contributors: 1) Lillian’s List of NC, 2) Planned Parenthood of Central NC PAC
Trudy Wade, Republican
Website: www.trudywade.com
Political CV: Greensboro City Council, 2007-present; Guilford County Commission, 2000-2005
Endorsements: BJ
Barnes, Conservatives for Guilford County, John Faircloth, Bill Knight,
Arnold Koonce, NC Police Benevolent Association, Billy Ragsdale
On the record: “We’ve
been throwing all kinds of money at education, and I think we all can
say it’s not working. So I think we need to take a look at our
educational system and just not throw money down the drain like we’ve
been doing. It’s not working. We need to take a look at what we are
doing. We need to take a look at all aspects: the curriculum, the
administration. We need to start over, regroup and just look at the
whole area of the educational system because I don’t believe it’s
working and I don’t think throwing money at it’s going to change
anything. And I don’t have all the answers, but I sure would take a hard
look at it and see what we can do to straighten it out. And the answer
is not throwing more money at it.” (Source: Oct. 20 candidate forum,
Greensboro)
Top three contributors: 1) DH Griffin; 2) William Kotis III, Kotis Properties; 3) High Point City Councilman John Faircloth
Bruce Davis, independent
Website: www.votebrucedavis.com
Political CV: Guilford County Commission, 2000-present
Endorsements: Skip Alston, Nido Qubein, Becky Smothers
On the record: “If
I’m at the table, the concerns of the entire western side of the county
and a city of 100 thousand citizens plus [High Point] will not be
neglected, as it has been in the past. I heard our state representative
say that she’s been responsible for over $75 million of resources coming
into Guilford County, I think in this last year, this last budget. When
I ride around Guilford County, I can see $75 million as long as I’m
riding around in Greensboro. And I have no problem with that because if
you live in Greensboro, you want to be an advocate for Greensboro. I
have no problem with that. But we have to have an advocate for a city
this size to sit at the table, and so your concerns are not the second
thought, not an afterthought.” (Source: Oct. 21 candidate forum, High
Point)
Top three contributors: 1) C. Wayne McDonald; PM Silva, NC Shakespeare Festival; Guilford County Commissioner Kay Cashion
NC SENATE DISTRICT 32
Linda Garrou, Democratic incumbent
Website: www.lindagarrou.com
Political CV: NC Senate, 1999-present
Endorsement: NC Association for Educators
On the record: No material available
Top three campaign contributors: 1) NC Democratic Party, 2) Retired NC Sen. Tony Rand and John W. Burress III
Nathan Jones, Republican challenger
Website: www.jonesforncsenate.com
Political CV: Write-in candidate for Winston-Salem City Council, 2009
Endorsements: Win Big NC PAC; Grassroots NC, National Association Health Underwriters PAC
On the record: “We’re
not competitive with surrounding states with respect to taxes. We can’t
expect to attract the jobs and the capital to remain competitive. Until
we change that we can’t put North Carolina back to work.” “We have to
address spending. Over the last decade, state budget expenditures have
increased four times the rate of population growth. We know there’s
waste; we know there’s abuse of state funds.” “Education is extremely
important, but we have to make sure the money is making it’s way to the
classroom; over the last decade, the bureaucracy of the NC Department of
Education has grown at a rate 40 percent higher than the growth of
students. It’s a false premise to say that when we make tough choices in
education that we’re making them about teachers. If anything we need to
make sure that we have more teachers. It’s the overblown bureaucracy
that’s our challenge.” (Source: Monday interview)
Top three campaign contributors: 1) Candidate, 2) Gary Jones, 3) John Googe
NC HOUSE DISTRICT 57
Pricey Harrison, Democratic incumbent
Website: www.priceyharrison.org
Political CV: NC House, 2005-present
Endorsements: Conservation
Council NC, Equality North Carolina, Environment NC, Guilford County
Association of Educators, NARAL Pro-Choice, National Organization for
Women, NC Advocates for Justice (trial lawyers), NC Association of
Educators, NC Labor Council, NC Police Benevolent Association, North
Carolinians for Animal Welfare, Replacements Limited PAC (LGBT), Sierra
Club
On the record: On
the Racial Justice Act, passed in 2009, which provides a mechanism for
death-row inmates to have their sentences converted to life without
parole if they can prove that race played a role in the pursuit or imposition of the death penalty: “We’ve
had some very blatant cases of racism among jurors across the state.
This just allows for a fairer administration of our capital punishment
system. It’s being smart on crime, not soft on crime.” (Source: Oct. 23
interview) On so-called “clean smokestacks” legislation: “The
Clean Smokestacks bill is one of the best things we’ve ever done to
clean up the air here in North Carolina. It reduced emissions by more
than 70 percent and it’s been a tremendous tool. And we have lower
asthma rates; we can actually document that.” (Source: Oct. 6 candidate
forum, Greensboro)
Top contributors: Adelaide Coomer; Robert Ketner, Merrill Lynch; Robert Page, Replacements Limited; Bill Snider; Fred Stanback
Jon Hardister, Republican challenger
Website: www.jonhardister.com
Political CV: No political experience
Endorsements: Conservatives
for Guilford County, National Right to Life, Northern Guilford
Conservative Republican Club, Republican Liberty Caucus of North
Carolina, Take America Back PAC, Triad Good Government PAC
On the record: “The
first thing we’ve got to do is what you hear politicians say all the
time: You’ve got to go through the budget line by line. We need to start
doing that, but in particular, we need to go to zero-based budgeting.
After that, to look for wasteful spending I would start with corporate
subsidies and corporate incentives, excessive possible entitlement
programs and the discretionary spending. We need to really put a hold on
discretionary spending until we get the budget under control. And then I
think we need spending caps. We need a constitutional amendment that
pegs allowable spending with changes in inflation and population.
Because [in] North Carolina, for years our population has increased, but
spending increased at a faster rate, so we need to tie the two together
and also put a formula in there for inflation.” (Source: Oct. 6
candidate forum, Greensboro)
Top two contributors: 1) Carolyn Hardister, First Carolina Mortgage; 2) Wayne Hardister, First Carolina Mortgage
NC HOUSE DISTRICT 58
Alma Adams, Democratic incumbent
Website: www.absolutelyalma.com
Political CV: NC House, 1994-present; Greensboro City Council, 1987-1994;
Greensboro School Board, 1984-1986
Endorsements: Guilford County Association of Educators, NC Association of Educators, Replacements Limited PAC (LGBT)
On the record: On serving as a chair of the NC House Appropriations Committee: “Of
course I have the seniority. Sixteen years. Let me just tell you
something: When you’re in the North Carolina General Assembly, when
you’re in the House and you don’t have the experience and seniority you
sit at the door. You’re seen but you’re not heard. You must have that
seat at the table. I’ve worked my way up. I’ve got a seat at the table.
I’m the appropriations chair, so I’ve got to write this budget.” (April
15 candidate forum, Greensboro) On her track record: “I have
worked to address inequities and disparities. I support strong workforce
and good-paying jobs. I support quality healthcare. I authored the bill
that increased the state’s minimum wage.... I have a proven track
record. I don’t just make an appearance, I make a difference.” (April 15
candidate forum, Greensboro)
Top two contributors: 1) Phillip R. Cornick, NC Medical Association PAC; 2) Sherry B. Upchurch
Darin Thomas, Republican challenger
Website: www.thomasfornchouse.com
Political CV: No political experience
Endorsements: Conservatives for Guilford County
On the record: “America
knows that the ruling party, both at the federal and at the state
level, has effectively commandeered elective office and brought forth an
agenda that has created today’s economy. I am a business leader, and
the whole focus of my campaign has been centered on economic vitality
and job creation. I have felt the impacts of what’s going on. So Nov. 3,
we’re going to wake up and we will have made history, and that day we
will start to repair the damage that has been done because our future
really is dependent on our ability to get our economy going and get our
government out of the way.” (Source: Oct. 23 Republican rally,
Greensboro)
Top contributors: Chong Kyu Kim, FantaCity Shopping Center; and Frank Pugh, Maaco
NC HOUSE DISTRICT 59
Maggie Jeffus, Democratic incumbent
Website: www.maggiejeffus.org
Political CV: NC House, 1991-1994, 1997-present
Endorsements: Guilford County Association of Educators, Jim Hunt, NC Association of Educators, Replacements Limited PAC (LGBT)
On the record: On a proposal to ensure that 65 cents out of every dollar allocated for education is spent in the classroom: “I do oppose the 65 cents in the classroom,” she said. “I want everything that we can get for the schools and for the classes and for the children. [My opponent] does not understand how the budget is done. And we do need to give them flexibility. It will tie their hands. That’s one of the things we do — we give a great deal of flexibility to the [local education agencies], and each LEA is different….
And I think most of
them do a diligent job of putting it into the classroom. And a great
deal of our education money goes to teacher salaries.” (Oct. 6 candidate
forum, Greensboro)
Top two contributor: NC Hospital PAC
Theresa Yon, Republican challenger Website: www.yon4nchouse.com
Political CV: No political experience
Endorsements: Committee to Elect Republican Women, Conservatives for Guilford County
On the record: On a proposal to ensure that 65 cents out of every dollar allocated for education is spent in the classroom: “I
know my opponent has come out against that publicly. She says it will
tie the hands of local education agencies, and I disagree. Guilford
County may use that extra money in the classroom to pay teachers
bonuses. Forsyth County might use it to buy textbooks. Another county
might use it to replace their arts and music programs they’ve had to
cut. Another county might decide, ‘We need an after-school reading
program.’ But it’s spent in the classroom. If we took just three cents
more of every single dollar and spent it in the classroom, that’s $210
million more in our schools without raising your taxes. The lady in
maroon asked earlier if we can cut some administration. Yeah, I think we
can cut some administration and put it in the classroom.” (Oct. 6
candidate forum, Greensboro)
Top contributors: NC Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry; NC Rep. John Blust; Developer Roy Carroll II; David & Aleta Hayes, Western Carolina Forklift
NC HOUSE DISTRICT 60
Marcus Brandon, Democrat Website: www.marcusbrandon.com
Political CV: Consulting work for progressive Democrats
Endorsements: Alma Adams, Steve
Bowden, Cal Cunningham,
Equality North Carolina, James Exum, Henry Frye, Gay and Lesbian Victory
Fund, Guilford County Association of Educators, Maggie Jeffus, Laborers
union, NC Association of Educators NC Association of Justice, NC
Hospital Association, NC Hospital Association of Social Workers, Planned
Parenthood, Replacements Limited PAC (LGBT), Gladys Shipman, Teamsters,
Don Vaughan
On the record: “We have a lot of gerrymandered districts for parties, and I would like to see us have districts that are a little bit more equitable because when you talk about gerrymandering, my seat is like 65 percent Democrats, and you have some Republican seats that are just as Republican…. I want to clarify: Gerrymandering, it’s not just a racial issue; it’s also a party thing that we also need to discuss when we talk about redistricting and having equitable representation. People are less accountable if they are only accountable to one party because of their seat.”
(Source: Oct. 21 candidate forum, High Point)
Top three contributors: 1) Merry O’Donnell; Robert Page, Replacements Limited; Mitchell Gold, Mitchell Gold Bob Williams
Lonnie Wilson, Republican
Website: None
Political CV: No political experience
Endorsements: Conservatives for Guilford County
On the record: "I
believe in In God we trust, and also believe that our freedoms are
being challenged on every side today. Our economy. No jobs are being
created. And it seems that government doesnt have the answer today, and
a lot of people think the governments in the way. Our taxes in North
Carolina are above the national average. Many things are not right about
the tax structure today. Also, our personal income [tax] and our
corporate income [tax] is the highest in the Southeast. And if these
were reduced just a tad, even with the other states — the surrounding
states — wed be more competitive and probably contribute to the
economic growth." (Source: Oct. 15 GTCC candidate forum, Jamestown)
Top contributor: Candidate
NC HOUSE DISTRICT 62
John Blust, Republican incumbent
Website: www.johnblust.blogspot.com
Political CV: NC House, 2001-present; NC Senate, 1997-1998
Endorsements: Conservatives for Guilford County, National Rifle Association
On the record: “The
process is broken. You see it in Washington. You see it in Raleigh.
Rep. Jeffus just told you the decisions are all made in Room 612. And
I’ve been out on the block before. I’ve knocked on over 13,000 doors in
this community, and I’ve won elections, and I’m entitled to a seat in
the room where the decisions are made. I can’t use force and I can’t be
violent, but I resent that I’m shuffled off because, ‘You’re in the
minority and you don’t get to. We’ll tell you and we’ll come out and
we’ll give you a 300page bill and you’re supposed to vote for it or
you’re against education.’” (Source: Oct. 6 candidate forum, Greensboro)
Top contributor: REAP
Jeffery Simon, Libertarian challenger
Website: www.simonsaysvote.us
Political CV: No political experience
Endorsements: Replacements Limited PAC (LGBT)
On the record: “This
is my initial foray into the political arena. People spend a lot of
time complaining about government, but rarely do anything about it. This
was my chance to make my voice heard and do something to better the
area of Greensboro where I reside. Win or lose, I hope people see that
government is there to serve us, not to force us into unrequested
‘options.’” (Source: Candidate’s Facebook page)
Top contributor: No contributions reported
NC HOUSE DISTRICT 72
Earline Parmon, Democratic incumbent
Website: www.earlineparmon.com
Political CV: NC House, 2003-present; served on Forsyth County Commission
Endorsements: NC Association of Educators
On the record: “We
cannot balance the budget by cutting everything. We’re going to have to
look at generating new revenues. That’s what I’ll be focused on —
increasing revenues without taxing small businesses.” (Source: Oct. 20
interview)
Top three campaign contributors: 1) Crawford Campaign, 2) Herman Burney, 3) Marie Burney
John Magee, Republican challenger
Website: Facebook page
Political CV: No political experience On the record: “The big problem in Raleigh right now is spending is getting out of control. The budget’s been growing by leaps and bounds every year. They’ve had to keep raising taxes to balance it. A lot of the things they’re spending on are probably things that most people don’t have access to or benefit from.” (Source: June interview)
Top two campaign contributors: 1) Candidate, 2) John Hageman
NC HOUSE DISTRICT 74
Dale Folwell, Republican incumbent
Website: None
Political CV: NC House Representative 2004-present; Republican Joint Caucus Leader, NC House, 2006-present; ran for State Treasurer in 2008.
Endorsements: NC Association of Educators; National Rifle Association; Winston-Salem Journal
On the record: “We
are constitutionally sworn to present a balanced budget and we failed.
For me as a conservative, it’s not about cuts, it’s about priorities.
Where are we going to prioritize? Are we going to keep building
buildings that we don’t have the money to staff?” “Our approach for 10
years has been to spray and pray — spray money on these problems and
pray it works. We can’t do that anymore. That’s why we have a government
we can’t afford. That’s why our tax base is getting narrower and deeper
and that’s why we’re driving jobs out of this state except for those
that are picked by the government to be winners.” (Source: July
interview)
Top campaign contributors: Progress Energy PAC, RJ Reynolds PAC, Duke Energy State PAC, Jasie Barringer & RH Barringer
Cristina V. Vazquez, Democratic challenger
Website: None
Political CV: No political experience
