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27 Jan - 2 Feb, 2008
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Next UPDATED: JAN 31, 2008 THE 10TH The 10th Congressional
District is developing into a potential pickup for NC Democrats. Congressional candidate Daniel Johnson has already raised a competitive amount of funds in his campaign to unseat Patrick McHenry. Johnson, a Democrat and Hickory resident, raised more than $123,000 during the fourth quarter of 2007, according to Federal Elections Commission reports. Johnson officially announced his candidacy in late October. “I am so gratified by this strong early support from Democrats, Republicans and independents,” Johnson said. “People are tired of the same old partisan bickering in Washington, and they are looking for a brand of leadership to find real solutions to the problems facing western North Carolina.” Johnson raised $123,975 during the two-month period. He had $118,853 cash on hand at the end of the year. More than 75 percent of Johnson’ contributions came from people in North Carolina. Who is Johnson? Johnson received the Navy Marine Corps Medal, the highest honor awarded to an officer during peacetime, following a 1999 accident on the USS Blue Ridge during which Johnson saved a fellow crewmate. In the process, a cable severed both of Johnson’s legs below the knees. Along with his Naval recognition, Hickory proclaimed a day in Johnson’s honor. He also was the grand marshal for the Hickory Holiday Parade that year. Johnson was given a medical retirement in January 2000. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Johnson returned there to attend law school a year later. Johnson said a run for Congress, like his Navy and legal careers, would be another avenue of service. “So far, my entire professional career, I’ve been in one type of service or another,” Johnson said. “(A congressional run) would be another way to serve a lot of people in a wide range of issues. It’s very appealing and something worth considering.” Could North Carolina Democrats pick up both the 10th and the 8th Congressional? REPUBLICAN RIDE A North Carolina economist calls it a ride – in truth it is a ride created by Republican economic policy. The news is only getting worse on home foreclosures. The number of homes in North Carolina that slipped into foreclosure this past year increased 67 percent. While that's better than the national average of 79 percent, it's a trend that's very concerning to economists. Numbers released Tuesday by RealtyTrac Inc. show a dramatic increase in the percentages of foreclosures across the country. Mecklenburg County saw a 51 percent increase, Wake County a 68 percent increase, and Guilford County a 131 percent increase. The national average was up 75 percent. "It's both a concern and part of the ride we're on," said Wachovia chief economist Mark Vitner. He spoke to several hundred members of the commercial real estate market in Charlotte Tuesday night. Vitner also believes the housing market and number of foreclosures will get worse before it gets better. Question for North Carolinians: had enough? _____________________________________________ UPDATED: JAN 27, 2008DEFEAT FROM VICTORY The NC Democratic Party met Saturday in Hamlet. The turnout of Executive Committee members was impressive. The business portion of the meeting consisted primarily of three main items: Party Plan
revisions recommended by a Party Committee Both the Party Committee and Brooks proposed amendments to the Party Plan sent to the Party Committee without discussion. The issue of renaming the Vance-Aycock Dinner consumed the vast majority of discussion of Party issues. Some Democrats, particularly progressive Democrats, have called upon the Party to rename the annual Vance-Aycock Dinner because Gov. Charles Aycock campaigned on white supremacy and racial segregation to win the Governor's office in 1900. A motion was offered to send the issue to a Committee of the Party for study and recommendations. Those favoring renaming the event to exclude Aycock’s name from the event, offered a number of amendments’ to require the Committee to be racially diverse, to be required to report by the June Executive Committee meeting and meetings to be open to the public. Those favoring renaming the event, not being satisfied that a Party Committee would ultimately recommend renaming the event, pressed an amendment to require the Party Committee to be appointed to propose a new name. Ultimately, an amendment was offered to require renaming both the Vance-Aycock and the Jefferson-Jackson Day events that the Party holds each year. Cutting through the intriguing parliamentary aspects of the situation as it developed, the fact emerged that those favoring a change of name of the Vance-Aycock had the votes to win but literally squandered the opportunity. The only recorded vote taken was on a secondary amendment. The amendment, propounded by those favoring renaming the event, passed 194 to 166. Instead of immediately calling the question on all amendments and the main motion and passing the amended motion, proponents dithered with more amendments, most designed to absolutely guarantee that the Party Committee reach the their desired result; not only for the Vance-Aycock Dinner but the Jefferson-Jackson as well. Executive Committee members began leaving the meeting. The end came when opponents of the measure, as amendments stood at that time, questioned the presence of a quorum. A quorum was not present and the ability of the Executive Committee to act ended. Defeat resulted from a victory that proponents could have enjoyed. Perhaps a perspective that should be considered is that some fifteen to twenty minutes was expended during the entire meeting discussing the State Party’s GOTV plan for November. Over an hour was expended renaming the Vance-Aycock. Every Democrat engaged on this issue should consider that during the debate on this issue some 100 Executive Committee members simply “voted” with their feet.
Last Update: 02/04/2008 |
