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Democratic candidates host forum
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Published: August 23, 2008
Some Democrats can't wait to start campaigning again.
Labor Day is considered the official re-kickoff day for campaigns.
In order to reacquaint some of the voters with their faces and positions before then, Democratic candidates and their representatives for U.S. Congress and Senate, District Court judge and the Iredell County Commission met with some Statesville residents Friday at Shiloh AME Zion Church to talk about what they will bring to the office.
Election day is closer than candidates realize, said Chuck Gallyon, a candidate for the county commission.
U.S. Senate hopeful Kay Hagan, who serves in the N.C. Senate, couldn't make it to the event, but sent her son Tilden.
Hagan said his mother brings to the table a strong belief in fiscal responsibility, citing a bill she sponsored in the General Assembly to get fiscal literacy classes into high schools.
Even when he was growing up, his parents used to make him account for each cent he spent of his allowance in a ledger.
"I know she could do so much for North Carolina," he said. "We want to take back the Senate seat in North Carolina for the state."
Hagan said his mother was in favor of slowly pulling out of Iraq and to start building up the home front.
He pointed out that the federal government is spending $11 billion a month in Iraq.
"In two months time, we spend more money in Iraq than in North Carolina for the entire year," he said.
Roy Carter, a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in the Fifth District, stressed his views on the economy.
Carter said a lot of his friends have lost their jobs and have fallen on hard times.
"The unemployment rate has gone up all over the state," he said. "We must do something to help families."
Carter said he couldn't make a lot of promises about how successful he would be, but he thought he could do a better job than his opponent, Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx.
Carter claimed she was ranked 399th in job effectiveness.
"I can promise I won't be 399," he said. "I want to help the people in my district. Let's all come together and bring industry — good industry — back."
For the first time since April, all three Democrat county commissioner candidates showed up at the same event.
"This hasn't always been a successful time for us," said Barbara Orr. "We have an open seat this year. It's not going to be easy for us."
The last time a Democrat sat on the Board of Commissioners was Diane Hamby, who was present at the meeting to give the commissioner candidates some pointers.
Candidate Mark Vanek said the Democrats should strive to win all three seats.
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