Our Informer

The North Carolina Republicans demonstrated that grass roots work pays off. For the first time in recent history, there is a Republican candidate for all 50 Senate seats. Republicans up for seven senate seats have no opposition, including Austin Allran of Hickory and Debbie Clary of Shelby. The Senate minority leader Phil Berger also will coast into office in November.

To gain a majority, Republicans will need 26 seats and seven are in the bank. Several other seats will go to Republican primary winners.

In the House, almost 20 Republicans will have a free ride, includinig Mitchell Setzer of Catawba, Edgar Starnes of Granite Falls, and Jonathan Rhyne of Lincolnton. Thom Tillis of Mecklenburg, chair of the House GOP Elections Committee, also goes in with no opposition. He has been touted as the rising star among Republicans in the House.

A number of Democrats in the House also have no opposition. But leaders of both parties have primary or general election battles, among them Paul Stam of Wake, who, as minority leader, has guided his caucus toward the far right, House Speaker Joe Hackney; majority leader Hugh Hollimon; and House Appropriations Chair Mickey Michaux.

Some opposition is considered “token”, candidates with no experience or political base. But opposition is opposition. The mood of the electorate definitely is for change.

A FREE RIDE IS OVER: Rep. Mark Hilton of Conover has coasted during the past four election cycles, giving him time to campaign for other candidates with impunity. He has engineered campaigns for his friend Mark Hollo of Taylorsville who was unseated by Ray Warren. Hilton has worked against Warren ever since, fueling criticism of Warren’s votes for appropriations and the budget.

But this year is different. Gary Lafone, former Conover Police Chief, has filed for the House seat as a Democrat. He is a member of Woodlawn Baptist Church and can communicate with voters who automatically have checked Hilton’s name on the ballot. Hollo also has opposition—former State Trooper Ray Munday who is supported by Warren, former sheriff of Alexander County.

LOCAL GOP ACTIVIST SEEKS JUDGESHIP: R. Kelsey Williams, Republican operative in Catawba County who has deep roots in the campaigns of Hilton and U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, has filed to run for the District Judgeship held by B.J. Mullinax, an independent. District court races are supposed to be non-partisan. Mullinax was appointed last year by Gov. Beverly Perdue to fill a vacancy. Can there be a non-partisan race in the 25th District that includes Caldwell and Burke Counties?

Hickory Mayor Rudy Wright introduced partisan politics to city elections in 2001 with his “Dear Fellow Republican” campaign letter. The desire to win can push candidates over the line.

McHENRY HAS HIS OPPONENTS: U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry has tied for the 17th most conservative member of the House. And while this plays well in the solid right-wing 10th District, the congressman has three primary challengers and two Democratic challenges for the fall. But money talks, and McHenry’s seat on the House Banking Committee will assure he has plenty of it. Don’t look for McHenry to support initiatives for increased regulation of the banking industry or efforts to curb credit default swaps.

The recession has not had an impact on congressional salaries.

Bookmark It

February’s arrival also heralds the filing season for the 2010 elections. Democrats, still struggling in an area that is wedded to the GOP brand, will have a limited field of candidates. But on the Republican side, it appears that a primary looms for every contested seat at the local level.

Especially bitter is the race for District Attorney. Charges and counter charges already are appearing on internet blogs. Incumbent Jay Gaither is accused of engineering a private court session where only one case was heard before Judge Gregg Hayes: that of a doctor accused for complicity in an accident in which a truck driver was killed. The Hickory doctor left the scene. The verdict: a minor misdemeanor conviction. Also there are stories circulating of drinking bouts in Buncombe County, attempts to intimidate a highway patrolman and more.

Lines are being drawn in the Sheriff’s race. Supporters of Congressman Patrick McHenry reportedly are determined to defeat Coy Reid, a deputy close to incumbent Sheriff David Huffman. This faction, which also includes Rep. Mark Hilton, is said to be behind the candidacy of Shawn Clark who is Gaither’s opponent. Gaither is the son-in-law of businessman Dean Proctor who is close to Huffman.

Incumbent county commissioners, who approved a one-cent increase in the sales tax, will have opposition this year, including Chair Kitty Barnes. It’s a classic battle of so-called TEA baggers against the GOP establishment.

DEMOCRATS WHO? As the approval for President Obama and the Democratic controlled Congress sinks, local Democrats are struggling to find local candidates. Nationally, the Republican brand polls lower than that for Congress. But in the Greater Hickory area, even with the highest unemployment in the state, voters love their GOP, including their snake handlers.

State Rep. Ray Warren paved the way for a moderate Democrat to take the 88th House District. Warren carried Hickory by a comfortable margin in 2008. Hilton’s hand-picked candidate Mark Hollo of Taylorsville will again be on the fall ballot, but it is not assured that he will have a Democratic opponent. In numbers, Alexander voters have an edge in the 88th District with about 55 percent.

Filing will begin next week and run for about 20 days.

L-R CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE? Former WSOC-TV Sports commentator Harold Johnson, an L-R graduate, has told associates that he will oppose U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell of Albemarle in the fall election. Kissell is a first term Democrat who unseated Robin Hayes, a Cannon family heir. Johnson, a Republican, has a problem: He lives in Iredell County which is outside the district. He has said he will move to Cabarrus County.

RE-ELECTION BID: Sen. Steve Goss of Watauga has announced he will seek re-election. His district include Watauga, Wilkes and Alexander Counties. A Democrat, Goss had considered opposing U.S. Virginia Foxx. Foxx, identified among the Republicans who are known as birthers, challenged statements made by President Obama last week at the GOP House caucus. Yet on Twitter she proudly announced she had gotten the President’s autograph.

Bookmark It

Perhaps it is fitting that the arrival of a new decade coincides with a new order in the State Senate. Gone is the powerful Majority Leader and Rules Chairman Tony Rand. Gone also is Sen. David Weinstein, chair of the Natural and Economic Resources Appropriations Chair.(Funding for commerce, parks and recreation, Labor Department and the Clean Water Trust Fund are among agencies considered by this committee. Leaving are 10-terms Sen. David Hoyle, powerful chair of the Finance Committee and confidante to President Pro-Tem Marc Basnight. Sen. R.C. Soles, the chamber’s longest serving member, is leaving under a cloud of indictment, and Sen. Julia Boseman of Wilmington will not return. Last week 78-year old Charles Abertson, an appropriations chair also announced he will not seek re-election. Rumors have been circulating that several other senators, will leave. All are Democrats, and Republicans are sniffing opportunity for a takeover for the first time in 110 years. But GOP optimism may be premature.

To gain control of the Senate, the GOP will have to pick up six seats as the balance now is 30 Democrats to 20 Republicans. Some seats, including Hoyle’s, are in a district that leans Republican. Sen. Boseman comes from a swing district. At least four incumbent Democrats also represent districts that have sent Republicans to the senate in recent years. But also strong Democratic candidates have announced for seats now held by Republicans. Retiring GOP Senator Jimmy Jacumin of Burke would have faced a strong Democratic candidate from Lenoir.

NEW MAJORITY LEADER: Sen. Martin Nesbit of Buncombe County is the new Majority Leader and he can be tough. He says his strength is a knowledge of how to confront GOP challenges. Sen. Nesbit is a typical mountain area populist. He is a straight-talking attorney who has on occasion bucked his own party leadership. He is passionate about improvement of mental health services. Of interest to voters in our area is his opposition to forced consolidation of schools systems. Asheville and Buncombe County have separate systems.

Nesbit served 9 terms in the House and rose to Chair of the Appropriations Committee under Speaker Dan Blue who also has moved to the Senate. He lost his House seat in 1992 when Republicans gained control of the House but was elected again in 1996. He did not get a leadership position under Speaker Jim Black and seven years ago he moved to the Senate. Nesbit is smart and works with both sides of the aisle. He is a NASCAR fan and yet stays in the center with his politics.

ANOTHER HOYLE? There are reports that the Senate committee is talking to David Hoyle Jr. about running for the seat held by his father. Like his father, Hoyle is a Lenoir-Rhyne University graduate and knows Catawba County. The Hoyle name would be worth a significant number of votes in Gaston County which has a GOP delegation in the House.

WHO’S WHO LIST: Sen. Dan Clodfelter of Mecklenburg County has served as co-chair of the Finance Committee and likely will take the senior role for that committee. He wants to lead a movement for total tax reform, arguing that the current tax structure, adopted in the 1930s, reflects a state then dominated by manufacturing and tobacco.

Sen. Linda Garrou will remain as the leading chair for the Senate budget-writing Appropriations Committee and probably will have Sen. Nesbit at her side, along with Sen. A.B. Swindell IV of Rocky Mount. Sen. Clark Jenkins of Tarboro, close to Sen. Basnight, will move up in leadership. Jenkins, however, is facing a Democrat primary opponent.

HOUSE PICTURE: Pundits give the edge to Democrats in the 2010 election. Two House Democrats—Ray Warren of Alexander and Sandra Hughes of New Hanover—have announced their retirement. Hughes is in a safe district for her party.

The House Democrats enjoy a 65-55 majority. House Speaker Joe Hackney has predicted Democrats will increase that majority by two seats.

…AND THERE IS REDISTRICTING: The 2010 elections will determine the districts for the next 10 years after the census is completed. With populations shifting to major urban centers, six counties could have 45 percent of all legislators. The party in control will determine how those districts will look in 2011 and probably the outcome of the 2012 elections.

Bookmark It

U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry and his fellow Republicans from Hickory, Catawba County, and the 10th District were prepared to celebrate the holidays with a special cheerful guest: S.C. Rep. Joe “You Lie” Wilson.

Wilson shocked Democrats and some members of his own party when he shouted “You Lie” to President Obama during an address to Congress. Within 48 hours, Wilson’s Democratic challenger had raised over a half million dollars and this galvanized the hard right Obama haters and within a week Wilson reported raising nearly $1 million.

McHenry’s party was not expected to include moderate GOP supporters from the business community. The guest list, according to insiders, included Rep. Mark Hilton and former Maiden city attorney Randy Isenhower, perennial legislative candidate Mark Hollo of Alexander County, and supporters from across the foothills district that share McHenry’s go-for-jugular tactics against Democrats.

SWIMMING AGAINST THE TIDE? — Despite the falling poll numbers for President Obama, several Democrats are considering seriously campaigns in 2010. It is expected that a Democrat will be on the ballot to replace Rep. Ray Warren who will not seek re-election to his 88th District season which includes Hickory and Alexander County. Hickory’s support for Warren had grown over the years and hopefuls are exploring the possibility of holding on to that support. Republicans also believe former Rep. Hollo can reclaim Hickory support provided he is not positioned as a Hilton protégé.

A Lenoir-Rhyne professor, former Highway Patrolman, and a former judge are among those who have looked at the race.

SANTA, BABY … O.K. Informers, it is time to send our list to the North Pole for all who have been nice this year. And we want to put in a word or two for those who have made us inclined to look the other way.

For retiring legislators Rep. Ray Warren and Sen. Jimmy Jacumin: relaxed, reflective days in the brief 2010 session of the General Assembly, aloof from the partisan rancor.

For the Alexander County snake handlers in the rural churches who viciously attacked Rep. Warren for his anti-bullying bill: a primary translation of the U.S. Constitution that asserts the separation of church and state.

For longtime senator Austin Allran: courage to translate his 14 terms in office into a GOP leadership role, especially if the Republicans become the majority party. (He might begin by talking to Sens. Phil Berger, Stan Bingham and Fletcher Hartsell who have been there far fewer years and who have moved into key chair positions.)

For David Hoyle: just one more term at least in the Senate. Catawba County needs its stepfather. Please….

For U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx: a manual on how to become the wealthiest member of the North Carolina congressional delegation in six years.

For Democratic Parties in Northwest North Carolina: a sleigh full of mature, well-dressed, well-mannered candidates who can assure that voters of the region will be subject to intelligent debate on the economic and social conditions that could weigh down on us for years to come.

Bookmark It

U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry has raised $340,000 for his re-election campaign, including $200,000 from Political Action Committees and $140,000 from individuals, according to his latest report. His largest contributions come from Robert Gallagher of Charlotte, chairman of Goodwill Publishing Co. and George Johnson, CEO of Extended Stay America hotels, each of whom gave $2,400.

Iredell County Commissioner Scott Keadle has loaned himself $250,000 to challenge McHenry in a Republican primary. McHenry supporters have recruited a slate for the local elections in Catawba County GOP primary prompting a split in the party.

I’M THROUGH: N.C. Rep.Ray Warren has told local officials that we will not seek re-election in 2010. The lone Democrat in the region, Warren represents Hickory and Alexander County and was supported by the House leadership under Speaker Joe Hackney. Local leaders sense this will be a major loss for the area.

Rep. Warren was the target of Conover Rep. Mark Hilton who supports Mark Hollo of Taylorsville, a close GOP associate who formerly held the seat. Hilton reportedly galvanized fundamentalists in Alexander County when Warren refused to oppose the so-called school bullying bill with its language that would protect children from being tormented for race, religion, sex or sexual orientation. Homophobic church leaders from Alexander County were vocal in their anger toward Warren, charging he was encouraging homosexuality in schools. Hollo and Hilton maintain close relations with this group.

Warren was the only Catawba County legislator to carry water for a local bill that enables the Hickory Metro Convention Center to add parking through bonds paid by a penny from the hotel occupancy tax in Hickory and Conover. Sen. David Hoyle of Gaston sponsored the bill in the Senate which was opposed by Catawba County Sen. Austin Allran.

Warren’s departure does not bode well for the region during redistricting in 2011.

CONOVER’S VISION: Conover City Manager Donald Duncan Jr. and Dan St. Louis, manager of the new Manufacturing Solutions Center at CVCC, traveled to Raleigh this week to meet with Dempsey Benton, head of Gov. Perdue’s office for Economic Recovery. The objective was to determine what federal economic recovery funds might be made available to help finance a new business innovation and development center sponsored by the City of Conover. The Management Solutions Center could a component, occupying 20,000 square feet in the facilities purchased from Broyhill Furniture.

The concept would include using the Management Solutions Center to support entrepreneurs and other manufacturing companies interesting in locating in Catawba County. The property also is adjacent to the new train station that will serve the region if rail service between Asheville and Salisbury is restored. Hickory sold its historic station and would not be a stop for trains. It sits vacant and awaits renovations for a new restaurant.

St. Louis and Duncan also met with N.C. Department of Commerce staff persons who are working with the state’s manufacturing companies, dealing with problems and issues.
They were accompanied by Paul Fogleman, a Hickory-based lobbyist.

Bookmark It

Wake County is not unlike counties in the Western Piedmont area of North Carolina in some ways. While Wake’s economy is much stronger, it still has its share of disgruntled, often mean-spirited bloggers. And it also has people willing to raise money for conservative causes as long as they get a cut of the pie.

Wake Up America recently sent emails out to Wake bloggers inviting them to become commissioned fund-raisers. Earning potential is unlimited, Wake Up America said, with “a steady stream of commission income.” The goal is to raise enough money to air the organization’s anti-Democrats ads in the region.

The recent school board elections in Wake this week put almost all anti-busing candidates in office. A runoff election could mark the end of busing of students to “achieve diversity.” Most of the elections were not even close. Clearly it was a victory for neighborhood schools. Also it was a victory for Republicans who backed the winners in what was supposed to be a non-partisan event. Veteran political observers in Raleigh are saying the school board elections are a harbinger for 2010 general elections.

BACK HOME (ALMOST): Stan Kiser, former Lincoln County manager, is back in the region after a brief tenure as Surry County manager. He now is Caldwell County manager. The son of former Lincoln County Rep. Joe Kiser, Stan was caught in the middle of political in-fighting in Lincoln when his father opposed the creation of a new municipality to be known as West Norman in the eastern part of the county.

Stan maintains a home in the Vale area of Lincoln County and is commuting to work until he finds a home in Lenoir. He is highly-regarded for his professionalism.

IT’S MULLINAX: Gov. Beverly Perdue Monday announced the appointment of B.J. Mullinax to a vacant 25th Judicial District judgeship. Mullinax received the highest number of votes from attorneys attending a meeting of the District Bar in August.

Mullinax is the son of Newton Mayor Robert Mullinax and the grandson of the late Lloyd Mullinax who served as a Catawba County Representative in the N.C. General Assembly in the early 1950s. He resides in Newton.

Mullinax will run for re-election next year as he is filling an unexpired term. The elections are non-partisan.

CITIFIED LEGISLATURE: With the 2010 census on the horizon, already there is speculation as to how the makeup of the North Carolina General Assembly will change. The state’s population is expected to reach 9.6 million. This means each House district will require 80,000 residents, compared to the 67,000 now. The population for each Senate district will go from 160,000 to 192,000.

The larger urban areas will gain more representation at the expense of rural areas and smaller metro areas such as Hickory. Wake County is expected to experience 50 percent growth over the past decade and will gain a senator and two House members. Mecklenburg County is expected to have 31 percent growth and could gain two representatives. The state’s overall growth is projected at 17 percent, probably far higher than that experienced in the Unifour. This means the region will have larger geographical districts and fewer people in the Legislature.

Bookmark It

Earlier this year, public option insurance arrived in North Carolina. It tip-toed on the scene quietly. But thanks to the 2007 General Assembly, a high-risk pool insurance plan was created to help middle class people who suddenly find themselves without insurance.

The plan is known as Inclusive Health and only 2,000 or so people are enrolled. The legislators created the program for people who have lost their jobs or don’t qualify for Medicare or who have been turned down by private companies. Small business owners with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or health problems have found Inclusive Health to be a safety-net.

Actually, North Carolina became the 35th state to create a public option plan two years ago.

FILL ‘ER UP: State Sen. Steve Goss stays on the road keeping in touch with his constituents. Over the past 11 months he paid himself $19,000 out of his campaign fund as reimbursement for travel over the past three years. At the federal rate of 55 cents a mile, that represents 35,000 miles of travel. Goss explained he could not afford to take money from his fund while campaigning and waited until his contributions brought in enough for reimbursement. The State Board of Elections said the system doesn’t work that way—travel expenses are supposed to be reported when they occur. Goss paid himself $9,800 in October and November of last year and $9,000 in January.

BACK TO WORK: State Sen. David Weinstein of Lumberton, like other senior citizens, is back in the workforce. The 73-year old Democrat has accepted a position as director of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program at a salary of about $92,000 a year.

Sen. Weinstein had let it be known he wanted a job and had hoped to become chairman of the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission, but that job went to someone else. Weinstein was co-chair of the Appropriations Committee on Natural and Economic Resources which includes the Department of Commerce and Parks and Recreation Department.

‘I NEED FAMILY TIME’: Catawba County Sheriff David Huffman says he will retire from politics after his term ends next November. Huffman had told some people he was entertaining a run for the N.C. House of Representatives which would have put him in a primary facing Mark Hilton. Huffman has no love for Hilton who opposed him in a GOP primary for the congressional seat now held by U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry. Huffman said he wants to spend more time with his family.

Huffman also would face the Hilton-McHenry faction which now controls the GOP organization in Catawba County. So-called moderate Republicans, including District Attorney Jay Gaither and County Commission Chair Kitty Barnes have been targeted by the far-right conservatives. Gaither is the son-in-law of businessman Dean Proctor who backed Huffman in the primary against McHenry. No fence-mending yet.

Bookmark It