good news about democrats! - North Carolina Democratic Party

GOOD NEWS ABOUT DEMOCRATS!
February 4, 2016
LAST ARTICLE: SUSANNE WERNER’S CAMPAIGN TO SAVE AN OAK TREE!
OVERFLOW CROWD CHEERS DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES
AT HAD-AAC FORUM!
One of the largest crowds to ever gather at the State Party Headquarters in Raleigh
listened and cheered as NCDP’s Hispanic American Democrats and African American Caucus
held a Forum for our candidates for Governor and US Senator on Friday, January 29 th!
In the picture above Kevin Griffin, Chris Rey, Deborah Ross, and Ernest Reeves are getting
ready for their portion of the Forum to begin. Everyone expressed pride in the high quality of these
four outstanding candidates.
Attorney General Roy Cooper and Durham attorney Kenneth Spaulding gave detailed and
thoughtful answers to the questions posed to them by Ricardo Valesquez and Cash Michaels at
the Forum.
Everyone agreed that each of these gentlemen would be a huge improvement over our
current GOP governor. People are ready for a change!
Our Democratic candidate for Congress in the
Second Congressional District, Adam Coker,
Attorney Kenneth Spaulding with
his wife, Wendy Spaulding
with Attorney General Roy Cooper.
Lt. Governor candidate Ron Newton
and his wife, Deborah Newton
These folks brought the youngest Democrat
to attend the Candidates Forum.
Hispanic American Democrats Caucus Officers: Vice President Ricardo Velasquez,
Secretary Carolina Fonseca, and President Marshall Adame
Wake County Democrats Chris Telesca
and Willie Rowe
Wake County Commissioner candidate
Lindy Brown with Gwen Wilkins.
This group of UNC-Chapel Hill Young Democrats attended the Candidates Forum.
They were proud to have their picture made with US Senate candidate Chris Rey.
SEC Member Janice Covington Allison
with Brenda and Francisco Rivas-Diaz.
SEC Member Brenda Pollard with Gwen Wilkins
Christian Cano, candidate for Congress in
the 9 Congressional District, with Chris Rey.
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Gubernatorial candidate Kenneth Spaulding
with Wake County Democrat Ed Jones.
Attorney Keisha Lovelace was surrounded by a happy group of Democrats at the Forum.
Chris and Adwoa Rey with their
Part of the crowd that filled the meeting room, the hall,
beautiful daughter.
and the parlor across the hall. Every standing space in
the entire first floor of the Headquarters was filled!
CHARLIE AND LAURA REECE HOST NCDP FUNDRAISING PARTY!
State Party Treasurer Charlie Reece and his wife, Dr. Laura Reece, hosted a happy NCDP
fundraising event at their Durham home on January 26th. State Chair Patsy Keever gave a talk
about what the NCDP is doing and how the funds raised will strengthen the Party.
SEC Member Brenda Pollard and Charlie joined Patsy in the picture above.
Enjoying the party in this picture are Leona Whitchard, Laura Reece, Charlie Reese,
Senator Floyd McKissick, and Stan Bukowski.
Stan Bukowski, Lee Mortimer, Senator Mike Woodard, and NCDP Secretary Melvin Williams
gathered in front of the fireplace in the Reece home for this picture.
Karen Sindelar was one of many Triangle Democrats who attended the party at Charlie
Reece’s home.
Gwyn and Elle Reece joined Charlie for this picture. Gwyn and Elle are familiar to most
GOOD NEWS readers because they have appeared in this newsletter many times before.
DEANS EATMAN & JANET JONES
VISIT PRESIDENT AND MRS. CARTER!
When this newsletter asked Young Democrat Deans Eatman about this picture, he
replied: “During the weekend of January 17th, my grandmother Janet Jones (also a resident of
Halifax County and a strong Democrat) and I traveled to President and Mrs. Carter’s hometown of
Plains in south Georgia to attend his Sunday School class at Maranatha Baptist Church.
“Along with 300 people from around the world, we enjoyed President Carter’s lesson on the
story from the second chapter of John about Jesus’ first miracle – turning water into wine.
“President Carter is truly the epitome of Jesus’ instruction to believers in Matthew
22:36-40.
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord
your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and
greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and
the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Deans continued: “We would encourage all North Carolinians who are able to visit
Maranatha Baptist Church and experience one of President Carter’s lessons. More information
about planning a visit can be found at the church’s website www.mbsplains.org.
“I am also more than happy to answer anyone’s questions about our trip or about planning
a trip of their own.” Deans can tell you how to get a seat for President Carter’s Sunday School
lesson. Every week a lot more people arrive than can possibly get in.
Everyone is invited to write Deans at Deans.Eatman@gmail.com.
ANITA POWERS IS RUNNING FOR DISTRICT COURT JUDGE!
Anita Powers, Chair of the Duplin County Board of Commissioners, has announced her
candidacy for Judge in the Fourth Judicial District which is made up of Onslow, Jones, Duplin,
and Sampson counties. She is on the Board of Trustees of James Sprunt Community College and
serves on the boards of several other organizations. She and her husband, Wayne Branch, live in
Wallace, North Carolina.
Anita Powers is familiar with the people of the four counties which make up the Fourth
Judicial District and with state laws, local ordinances, courtroom procedures and local county
rules.
The experience gained during her 31-year legal career as Assistant District Attorney,
court appointed attorney, and privately retained counsel will enable her to bring a well-balanced
approach to each case and to render an impartial decision.
As a trustworthy legal practitioner she has garnered great respect for the citizens of the
Fourth Judicial District and she has great respect for the Court and the people of the district.
Anita Powers can be trusted to uphold and follow the laws of the State of North Carolina and
the Constitution of the United States!
Readers may contact Anita at: ARPLaw1984@msn.com.
AAPI DEMOCRATS ATTEND
“YEAR OF THE MONKEY CELEBRATION!”
The Officers of the NCDP Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus joined in the festivities
celebrating the beginning of the Chinese Year of the Monkey at Dorton Arena in Raleigh. They
were wowed by the spectacular dancing performances.
AAPI Democratic leaders Ron Sanyal, Dr. Grace Galloway, Sid Vats, and Vibhav Kollu
with Jacques, the Wonder Dog, at the celebration.
Former State Teen Democrats President Vibhav Kollu with Dr. Grace Galloway and
famed Vietnam war correspondent Joe Galloway.
STRONG DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES SPEAK AT JACKSONVILLE MEETING!
Onslow County Commissioner Candidate Don Klinger, NC House District 16 candidate Steve
Unger, and NC House District 15 Candidate Daniel Whitten are shown at an Onslow County
Democratic meeting in Jacksonville.
Steve Unger lives in Pender County. His district includes parts of both Pender and Onslow
counties.
ANDREW AND STEVE!
State Senate candidate Andrew Barnhill and State House candidate
Steve Unger at a Barnhill fundraiser at the New Hanover County home
of Jeremy and Grace Wilson.
NEWS OFFICERS ELECTED – WAKE FOREST COLLEGE DEMOCRATS!
Wake Forest University College Dems President Sebastian Ivory (next to end on the right)
and his fellow Officers are excited about building Democratic support in this election year.
Sebastian says: “From a younger age, when I looked up to former Presidents of the ASU
College Democrats, I’ve always wanted to lead my own chapter. Through both Wake Forest
College Dems and the College Dems of North Carolina, I’ve learned some invaluable lessons under
some amazing leaders which I believe have prepared me for this opportunity.
“We will make Wake Forest College Democrats a model chapter of the College Democrats of
North Carolina!”
Sebastian On Television
On January 29
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Sebastian was interviewed on Time Warner Cable about voter engagement
and political polarization. Then he took off for Raleigh to attend the HAD-AAC Candidates Forum.
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RON ELMER SPEAKS AT STATE PARTY HEADQUARTERS!
State Treasurer candidate Ron Elmer of Cary was the Keynote Speaker at the January 20th
meeting of the Wake Progressives at the Goodwin House.
Despite being a CPA who is very busy during tax season, Ron campaigned from Boone to
Wilmington during the month of January. Ron’s email address is: Info@ElmerForTreasurer.com.
GUILFORD DEMOCRATS HELP REGISTER 200
AT HIGH POINT CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL!
Catherine Magid and Beverly Bard were among the Guilford Democrats who enthusiastically
registered over 200 new voters at High Point Central High School in January. They also helped
register students at several other schools in Greensboro and High Point. They were part of a
project organized by the League of Women Voters. The LWV received a grant which made this
program possible.
How about this? The grant provides a free text service reminding the students when it is
time to vote and sending every student a card of congratulations after they have voted!
NASH COUNTY’S “RACE TO THE FINISH LINE” BANQUET!
Excitement is building about the big “Race To The Finish Line” Banquet of the Nash County
Democratic Party. This Banquet will give all the candidates in the Democratic Primary a good
chance to spread their message.
Banquet Chair Gwen Wilkins and County Party Chair Lee Michaletz invite Democrats across
the state to come to this happy event which will be held at:
5:00PM, Saturday, February 20, 2016
Brown Auditorium at Nash Community College, Rocky Mount, North Carolina
A ticket will be held at the door for everyone who sends their $30 donation to Nash County
Democratic Party, Post Office Box 8393, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804 by February 10th.
Last Saturday Nash County Democrats held the Official Opening of their new
Headquarters in Rocky Mount!
SUSANNE WERNER WORKS TO SAVE THE “OGDEN OAK!”
One Democrat can make a difference. One January 19th Susanne Werner (right),
Fourth Vice Chair of the New Hanover County Democratic Party, received an Award from the
Wilmington City Council for heroic efforts to prevent a 250 year old oak tree from being cut down!
Susanne became aware of this opportunity when she participated in a neighborhood
group’s successful efforts to thwart the clear cutting of historic stands of live oaks by the
developer of a new shopping center in her neighborhood.
She discovered that the “Ogden Oak” grows in the DOT right of way which is located next
to the new shopping center. It is slated to be removed when Market Street is widened to
accommodate the additional traffic which will be generated by the new shopping center.
This 250 year old oak is a well-known landmark in New Hanover and it is publicly
recognized as a symbol of the county’s natural heritage.
Susanne nominated this oak to be designated as a Heritage Tree even though it was
outside the city limits and she was not the owner of the land on which it stands as is required.
When the developer asked for the property to be annexed by the city, Susanne’s “Odgen Oak”
became eligible to receive the Wilmington Tree Committee’s Heritage Tree designation!
State Representative Susi Hamilton (left) requested that Susanne initiate an email
campaign to support a Resolution by the Transportation Advisory Committee asking the DOT to
alter the Market Street widening plan in order to save the tree. Susanne also initiated an email
campaign to move Rep. Hamilton’s HB 708 entitled “Preservation of Historic/Heritage Trees” out
of the Senate Ways and Means Committee where it was stalled after it was passed by the House.
The full Senate failed to vote on the bill before adjourning in 2015.
Therefore, the fate of the “Odgen Oak” is still undecided but all Democrats can join in
saluting Susanne for her vigorous campaign.
The New Hanover Party was told by the NCDP that there is no rule preventing the election
of a Fourth Vice Chair. In that capacity Susanne is responsible for organizing the county’s 43
precincts and coordinating plans for the February 27th annual Precinct Meetings. Her email is:
SWerner@ec.rr.com.
Your Democratic Friend,
Melvin Williams, Secretary
North Carolina Democratic Party
Send Your GOOD NEWS To Me At: melvin535@gmail.com
Wake AAC President Eunice Jones provided us with these AAC history facts: On February 8,
2003, thirty nine distinguished African American leaders of the NCDP’s State Executive
Committee met to organize the African American Caucus. Their goal was to ensure that the
interests and concerns of African Americans were addressed by the SEC.
This valiant effort led to the SEC”s adoption of a resolution to recognize the creation of the
AAC as an official organization and auxiliary of the NC Democratic Party.
At the March 19, 2016 “Induction Ceremony & Black Tie Dinner” Carl Dean, the first
President of the African American Caucus of Wake County Democratic Party will be inducted.
Everyone is invited to go to www.AACWakeCountyDP.com to get your tickets.
SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MEETING!
Leaders of the Seventh Congressional District Democratic Party held a meeting at Wallacde
Elementary School in Wallace on January 30th. District Chair Francisco Rivas-Diaz led the group in
a discussion of plans for upcoming District events.
District First Vice Chair Dr. Kyle Horton gave a presentation on how to effectively present
the Democratic message in spoken and written communications. Pam Nelson gave a talk about
how to create effective Democratic web sites.
Some of the District leaders are gathered in the picture above. From the left they are
former Duplin Chair Dr. Mott Blair, District First Vice Chair Dr. Kyle Horton, State Executive
Council Member Sarah Anderson, State Secretary Melvin Williams, Hoke County Chair Jim Davis,
District Secretary Lee Byam, Johnston County Chair Sharon Castleberry (seated,) Johnston
County Commissioner candidate Wendy May, District Second Vice Chair Kerry Kreisler, Duplin
County Vice Chair Brenda Rivas-Diaz, Johnston County Vice Chair
and District Chair Francisco Rivas-Diaz.
Congressional candidate J. Wesley Casteen of Wilmington spoke at the District meeting.
He then answered lots of questions from the crowd.
Wesley is running unopposed in the Democratic Primary. He will face the incumbent GOP
congressman in the General Election.