2012 Burke County Voter's Guide | The News Herald

7/31/2019 2012 Burke County Voter's Guide | The News Herald

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2B N THURSDAY,OCTOBER 18, 2012 THE NEWSHERALD N www.morganton.comELECTION 2012

WARREN DANIELRepublicanResidence: MorgantonEducation: University of North

C a r o l i n a - C h a -

pel Hill School ofLaw, J.D., 2000;United StatesMilitary Academyat West Point, B.S.in national secu-rity/public affairs;Freedom High

School, 1987Occupation and employer:

Member of the N.C. Senate, at-torney at the Daniel Law Firm,P.A.

Current and past offices held:N.C. Senate, 2011-present

Endorsements: N.C. Chamberof Commerce, National Rifle As-sociation, N.C.Right to Life, N.C.

Voters for AnimalWelfare, MayorPat McCrory, retired Sen. DanSimpson, retired Sen. Don Kin-caid, retired Sen. Jim Jacumin

Candidates statement:I ran fortheN.C.Senatein2010

becauseour statewas headinginthe wrong direction. I was con-cerned about what the futurewould hold for my children andgrandchildren.

Despite an unemploymentrate of morethan 10 percent, the

Democrats in Raleigh continuedincreasing the size of govern-ment, raisingour taxes yearafteryear and adding new regulationsthat hurt businesses and cost us

jobs.In 2010, the people of N.C.

chose a different course for ourstate, electing a new majorityin the General Assembly for thefirst time since 1871. Faced witha budget deficit of almost $3 bil-lion, we worked to reduce thesize of government, streamlineinefficient departments and re-duce regulations on businesses.

To improve education, I co-sponsored legislation that re-forms our education system andends social promotion, ensuringthat third-graders can read priorto being promoted to the fourthgrade.

I worked tofinallyend thetem-porary sales tax and to stop Gov.Perdues plan to increase taxesby over $1 billion, while at thesame time giving a raise to stateemployees and teachers for thefirst time in five years.

I believe in the sanctity of hu-man life and sponsored two newlaws that will protect unbornchildren and are estimated tosave 3,000 newborn lives eachyear.

While we have made a lot ofprogressoverthe past twoyears,including a $200 million sur-plus, there is still much work tobe done. But despite the chal-

lenges we face, I believe thatNorth Carolinas best days arestill ahead.

Working together, we can re-build the North Carolina thatwe once knew and preserve theAmerican Dream for our chil-dren and grandchildren. Thankyou for allowing me the honorof representing you in the N.C.Senate.

I am Warren Daniel and I amasking for your vote.

RICHARD EVEYLibertarianResidence: MorgantonEducation: I made it through

high schoolOccupation and

employer: Retiredfrom the federalgovernment

Endorsements:Gary Johnson, theLibertarian candi-date for president

of the United StatesCandidates statement:I have a plan to reduce taxes,

reduce state government, make

your life more free, safer andbring jobs and businesses to thestate of North Carolina.

This will be done with legisla-tion that I have already drafted.

Legislation that will eliminatethe state department of revenueand put in place a consumptiontax.

Legislation to crack down ondrunk driving, change domesticviolence law to be tougher plusfairer.

Legislation for free and openelections, tort reform, to repealthe Certificate of Need law andmakeNorthCarolinaan English-only state.

JOHN T. MCDEVITTDemocratResidence: MorgantonEducation: Western Piedmont

Community Col-lege, A.A.S. in po-lice science

Occupation andemployer: retiredsheriff of BurkeCounty

Current and pastoffices held: Burke

County Sheriff, 1998-2011Endorsements: Fraternal Or-

der of Police, North CarolinaAssociation of Educators, State

Employees Association of NorthCarolina

Candidates statement:I am running for the N.C.

Senate to represent Burke and

Cleveland County. I just retiredafter a 37-year law enforcementcareer.

One of the reasons that I amrunning is because I am sickof the Democrat-Republicangame. Our state and nationare so politically deadlockedthat nothing is getting accom-plished. I am not going to fallintothe trapof playing dirty po-litical games.

Youelected me to be your sher-iff four times and most of youprobably dont know whetherIm a Republican or Democrat,because it never mattered. Youknow themanthat I amand you

know that I will work tirelesslyto represent you in Raleigh.

This election is about jobsandthe economy and which candi-date can work with others to ef-fect positive change. I took thecrimeratein BurkeCounty fromits highest in recorded historywhen I was elected to the lowestcrime rate in our history.

I promise you that I will workhard for you and I would appre-ciate your vote on Nov. 6th.

NC Senate District 46 Candidates

Daniel

Evey McDevitt

HUGH BLACKWELL

RepublicanResidence: ValdeseEducation: University of North

C a r o l i n a - C h a -pel Hill, A.B. withhighest honors ineconomics; Har-vard Law School,J.D.

Occupation andemployer: Self-em-ployed attorney;

member of N.C. House of Repre-sentatives

Current and past offices held:N.C. House of Representa-tives, 2008-present; two termson the Burke County Board of

EducationCandidates statement:I am pleased to have the op-

portunity to serve as BurkeCountys current member of theN.C. House of Representativesin Raleigh. I have voted conser-vatively to support control ofspending, lower taxesand avoid-ance of unjustified instances ofexpensive over-regulation.

Our primary focus must beon our economy with new ap-

proaches to help create condi-

tions to give employers con-fidence to invest, expand andemploy our citizens.

At thesame time,I haveworkedhard to supportsoundeducationpolicies, our state agencies andemployees here in Burke Countyand a new look at mental healthand disability policies.

Iampleasedthat,afteronlytwoyears in Raleigh, I was chosento co-chair significant commit-tees: the House AppropriationsSubcommittee on Education,the House Select Committee onEducation Reform and the jointSenate-House Committee on Ef-ficiencies in Government.

I also now serve, through des-ignation of the state Depart-ment of Justice as co-chair of astate Task Force on PreventingAbuse and Fraud against SeniorCitizens.

These appointments are evi-dence, I believe, that BurkeCounty has a capable, effectiverepresentative in position to domore than just cast votes.

I believe my role in educationappropriations was crucial in

maintaining funding for North

Carolina School for the Deaf inMorganton and avoiding thethreat of its being closed.

I hope voters will allow me tocontinue to work for them inRaleigh to support the effective,result-oriented, common-sensepolicies we need.

JIM CATESDemocratResidence: MorgantonEducation: Campbell College,

A.A. in businessadministration;Appalachian StateUniversity, B.S. inbusiness educa-

tion, M.A. in busi-ness education,Ed.S. in higher ed-ucation/business

education; Nova SoutheasternUniversity, Ed.D. in communitycollege education; McDowellTechnical Community College,auto mechanics diploma; West-ern Carolina University, schoolprincipal certificate

Occupationand employer:RetiredCurrent and past offices held:

Burke County Board of Commis-

sioners, seven years, chairmanfor two years; Western PiedmontCommunity College Board ofTrustees, two years

Candidates statement:I am asking for Burke County

voters to voteduringearly votingand Nov. 6. One of my goals asa candidate for the N.C. Houseof Representatives is to be thehardest working, most open andcommunicative representativethat has beenin Raleighin a longtime.

I take the title representativeliterally. I donot want toespouseany preconceived issues that Ihave personally. I believe that,

once elected, the representativeshould seek out and determinewhat the local constituencywould like to be done in Raleigh,regardless of whether he is aDemocrat, Republican, Inde-pendent or Libertarian.

IamnotaliberalDemocratandconsider myself a moderate. Mygoal is to represent allthepeopleand not be closed-minded justbecause someone happens to beregistered differently from me.

I was reared in Buies Creek

from very humble beginnings.My sister, brother and I were thelocalnot very well offkids. Thelocal doctor treated us for free,and the local dentist fixed ourteeth for free.

The business manager atCampbell College allowed me tocharge my two years of tuitionto him and allowed me to workit off by cleaning classrooms,washing windows and cuttingacres of grass in the summers.

Taking the next year off, Iworked to save enough to at-tend Appalachian. Thus, my en-tire educational endeavors werepaid forby myself with no family

assistance.This background gave me em-

pathy for those folks who arestruggling to make ends meetand to try to give their childrena better opportunity than theywere afforded.

I am pro-education, pro-en-vironment, pro-small businessdevelopment and share formerSen. Sam Ervins feelings aboutgovernment infringement oncivil liberties.

REP. MIKE HAGER, R-112, did

not submit a re-sponse by pressdeadline. Hager,the incumbent, isseeking his sec-ond term in of-fice. He resides inRutherfordton.

MARK BROWNDemocratResidence: Forest CityEducation: Davidson College,

A.B. in English; Gardner-WebbUniversity, M.A. in English

Occupation and employer: Iso-thermal Community College,adjunct instructor, English;

Rutherford County Schools, re-

tired teacher and coachEndorsements: Lt. Gov. Walter

Dalton, formerN.C. Rep. BobEngland, formerN.C. Sen. Joe SamQueen, N.C. Rep.Ray Rapp

C a n d i d a t e sstatement:

I want to providea common-sense approach torepresenting the people of stateHouse District 112 because Ibelieve we can work togetherto solve our problems withoutdividing and distrusting ourfriends and neighbors.

I want to serve you in the

N.C. General Assembly with acommitment to integrity anda pledge to restore honest dia-logue with my constituents andcolleagues.

Mypolicyfocusistostrengthenand revitalize our local economywhile completely funding publiceducation.

I wasborn in RutherfordCoun-ty, grew up here and attendedpublic schools under the guid-ance of some of the finest teach-ers in the world. They preparedme, and scholarships enabledme, to attend and graduate fromDavidson College.

I am a combat veteran of two

tours in Vietnam and, fortunate-

ly, came home to enjoy successin the business community. Firstwith Duke Power Company inCharlotte as corporate commu-nication director then as a smallbusiness owner in sports mar-keting and sales.

At age 50, I returned to gradu-ate school at Gardner-Webbwhere I earned a masters degreein English and began a new ca-reer in RutherfordCountypublicschools as a teacher and coachfor 16 years.

I also worked as an adjunctinstructor at Isothermal Com-munity College, where I gained aprofound respect,not onlyfor the

young students who are just be-

ginning their pathway to successbutespecially forthe older adultswho hadreturnedto the academ-ic world to re-train and acquirenew skills for a fast-changing, of-ten uncertain economy.

When people are afforded ac-cess to quality education, wehave the additional responsibil-ity of creatinga growth economythat offers good jobs that pay aliving wage.

Facebookhasblazedatrailthatshows theworld ourpeoplehavethe education, skills and workethic that will attract other inno-vative companies to our part ofNorth Carolina.

NC House of Representatives District 86 Candidates

Blackwell

Cates

NC House of Representatives District 112 Candidates

Hager

Brown

1 - 8 0 0 - V I SI T N C W WW. V I S I T N C . C O M .

Discover the state youre in.


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DEBBIE BRADLEYDemocratResidence:ValdeseEducation: Appalachian

State Uni-

versity, M.A.in politicalscience witha concentra-tion in townand countym a n a g e -ment; Uni-

versity of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Institute ofGovernment, administra-tion course and munici-pal administration course;other local governmentcourses covering humanresources, insurance andriskmanagement and con-flict resolution

Occupationand employer:Retired human resourcesdirector, Catawba County;contractor with Catawbaand Caldwell counties forJuvenile Crime PreventionCouncil

Candidates statement:I have over 31 years of

county and city experi-ence in human resources,finance and budget. Im alifelong member of NorthMorganton Methodist.I volunteer in the com-munity. I attended bud-get workshops this spring(the only non-incumbent

present).My platform is educa-

tion, accountability andprogress. Those three is-sues are critical to the eco-nomic development andefficiency of our county.

Education and our pub-lic education system is adriver that impacts ourfuture.

We should rank higherthan111of115inourstate.I have served on the SafeSchools/Healthy StudentsCore Management Team.It is the main reason I de-cidedto run foroffice.This

grant shows how dollarscan make short- and long-termimpact thathelpsstu-dents, teachers andseveraloutside agencies.

Accountability meanswise use of tax dollars byidentifying needs, havingthe right conversationsand asking the right ques-tions and planning for thefuture.

Progress is planning forthe future.

We need to set short-and long-term goals andplans. We must plan forthe most critical needs.

We should have one-, five-and 10-year plans for allcritical services and eachdepartment.

An example is the newPSAP system; we need toreassure those dependenton the system, that thecounty will maintain thenew system. The countytechnologyissofarbehind,computers are purchasedand not installed. This isa problem that impactseveryone.

We need to work withour fellow elected officialson these goals. We need

to educate the public anddevelop support for theplans.

Since any plan includescost estimates, the publicneeds to understand theplan, the purpose, andthen the cost.

We need to rememberwho we serve and be com-mitted toward working tohave thebestcounty in thestate.

JEFF BRITTAINRepublicanResidence: MorgantonEducation: N.C. State

University,B.S. in elec-trical engi-neering

O c c u pa -tion and em-ployer: Vicepresident ofengineering,

Rutherford Electric Mem-bership Corporation

Candidates statement:I have chosen to run for

Burke County Commis-sion because I believe Ican make a positive differ-

ence in our county. Withmy whole life invested inBurke County, I long to seeour county flourish andgrow.

During this long eco-nomic downturn, ourcounty has lost many jobsand families, and it is timefor us to work together torebuild Burke County forthe future.

Economic developmentand education mustbe toppriorities if our county isto grow and thrive. Thesetwo priorities go hand-in-hand.

As prospective and long-timeemployers lookat ourwork force, they expect thebest and most qualifiedemployees. A top-notcheducation system, bothprimary and secondary, isvital for success.

Our county commission,board of education andcommunity college mustwork together to build thebest system possible as weplan for the future.

Ive had the opportunityto work in leadership posi-tions, both professionallyand personally, and un-

derstand the importanceof working with others forthe common good of all.

County efficiency con-tinues to be another areaof concern.

The recent EfficiencyAssessment and StaffingLevel Analysis indicatedbelow average rankings innearly every area as com-pared to other counties ofsimilar size. Burke Countyshould never be satisfiedwith below average perfor-mance across the board.

A systematic effort to ad-dress these needs should

be put in place. Our citi-zens deserve and expectthe best from our countygovernment.

Lastly, we must thinkpast tomorrow and devel-op a long range plan thatwill keep us on track forthe future of our families.

We all expect our countyto plan for the future, notjust today. With that inmind, we should be mak-ing smart decisions thatwill adequately serve ourchildren and grandchil-dren for many years tocome.

JACK CARROLLRepublicanResidence: MorgantonEducation: Fayetteville

CommunityCollege, A.A.in criminaljustice

O c c u pa -tion ande m p l o y e r :Retired firsts e r g e a n t ,

U.S. Army; retired lieuten-ant, N.C. Department ofCorrections

Current and past offices

held: Burke County Boardof Commissioners, 2004-2008

Candidates statement:My campaign slogan isA

New Direction For BurkeCounty. As a commis-sioner my agenda consistsof five issues. I also under-stand there are several is-sues facing the new boardof commissioners. I willdiscuss the issues we mustaddress first.

Most important is devel-oping a short- and long-range plan to move thiscounty forward. Currently,

there are no plans thatwill give us a road map onwhat direction we need totake. This county has beengoverned by a meeting tomeeting process for sev-eral years.

We must develop a newstrategy to bring more jobsto Burke County. An un-employment rate of more

than 10 percent is notacceptable.

We need to focus moreon our infrastructureneeds: makingwater avail-

ableto more residents, im-proving our sewer systemandmaintainingour build-ings and structures. Wealso needto focusmoreonour jail situation.

We need to take a closelookat the relationship be-tween the county and theschool system on funding.The issue we must face istrust.

Inordertohaveaccount-ability in government, weneed to have some sunshine on how our tax dol-lars are being spent. Thatcan be accomplished by

implementing a zero-basebudget process. I supportappointing a committeethat will assure this takesplace.

We can not afford tocontinue with the statusquo. A new direction forBurke County will make adifference.

I askfor your support onNov. 6.

JOHNNIE CARSWELLRepublicanResidence: MorgantonEducation: Valdese High

School, 1965

O c c u pa -tion ande m p l o y e r :Correctionalt r a i n i n gspecialist IIat WesternYouth Insti-

tution, N.C. Departmentof Public Safety

Current and past officesheld: Burke County Boardof Commissioners, 2011-present; Burke CountyRepublican Party, pastchairman

Candidates statement:I have had the honor of

serving you as a commis-sionersinceFebruary2011.I would count it as a privi-lege if you would considergiving me the opportunityto continue to serve againas your representative onthe Burke County Board ofCommissioners.

I know, just as you do,that Burke County hasbeen hit hard by the lossof jobs. A number of ourfriends and relatives havebeenoutof workfora longtime and have felt the painof dealing with the uncer-tainty of what the future

holds for all of us.My wife Brenda and I

have lived in Burke Coun-ty all of our lives with ourchildren and our grand-children. When I look atour grandchildren, I amconcerned about their fu-ture, and I can assure youthat it is my sincere desireto see Burke County pros-per again as I remember itwhen I was growing up inValdese.

I took an oath as yourcommissioner to ensurethe taxes you pay are usedresponsibly, and I have

lived up to that oath so far.I have fulfilled that dutyby voting for a respon-sible budget; one that wasbalanced both in an ac-counting sense and in itspriorities.

I believe Burke Countyneeds to continue to makesmart investments whilebeing cognizant of the taxburden that our residentshave faced in this longsluggish economy.

As your commissioner,I will continue to ensurethat our spending is nei-ther short-sighted nor

wasteful, no matter the de-mands that are placed onus from any source. I willmake the correct decisionabout what constitutes aneeded expense.

Thiselection, likeall oth-er local elections, is abouttrust. I am asking that youplace your trust in me,and cast your vote for me

in the November GeneralElection.

BRUCE ATWOODHAWKINS, SR.

DemocratResidence: ValdeseEducation: Livingstone

C o l l e g e ,bachelor insocial work,1978; N.C.A&T StateUniversity,B.S. in soci-ology, 1966;

O c c u pa -tion and employer: Retiredsocial worker, BroughtonHospital

Current and past officesheld: Burke County Boardof Commissioners, 2008-

present, chairman for oneyear, vice-chairman forpast three years; BurkeCounty Board of Educa-tion, 1979-1987, chairmanand vice-chairman for oneyear each

Endorsements: NorthCarolina Association ofEducators

Candidates statement:During the next four

years, the Burke CountyBoard of Commission-ers will be faced with anumber of issues that donot have easy answers orquick fixes.

I am again offering myservices to you, the citi-zens of Burke County, andif re-elected, I will contin-ueto work ina cooperativemanner with other boardmembers in addressing allconcerns and issues.

Imseeking re-election tothe Board of Commission-ers as I continue to have adeep and sincere interestin county government.

My most sincere desireis for Burke County to bea place where our citizenswant to continue to reside,work and raise a family. I

have served the board ofcommissioners responsi-bly with integrity and will

continue to do so.I have the necessary ex-

perience withproven lead-ership abilities. I have notallowed my political affili-

ation to compromise myability to serve all citizens.

If re-elected, I will workto ensure adequate fund-ing for our school system,as we should not be 111out of 115 school systemsin our state per pupilfunding.

The funding of educa-tion should and must bea priority. Education is thekey to economic recovery.

I will work with BurkeDevelopment Inc., withour municipalities, exist-ing businesses and othercommissioners to contin-

ue to improve our econo-my to the extent whereasour citizens can continueto enjoy the level of ser-vices that they need anddeserve, continueto createjobs for every citizen thatwants to work, especiallyjobs that will allow themtopayfora homeandedu-cate their children.

I will continue to work toimprove ourcountysinfra-structure, improve salariesfor our employees, requestincreased funding for oursheriffs department andaddress property revalu-

ation in a timely mannerand with an outcome thatwill be fair to all of our tax-paying citizens.

STEVEN MICHAEL SMITHDemocratResidence: MorgantonEducation: Western Pied-

mont Com-munity Col-lege, A.A. inpolice sci-ence

O c c u p a -tion ande m p l o y -ment: Semi-

retired; self-employed inconstruction

Current and past offices

held: Burke County Boardof Commissioners, 2008-present

Endorsements: NorthCarolina Association of

EducatorsCandidates statement:I have served as your

county commissioner foralmost four years now.

As we, as a county, startto come out of this GreatRecession, we, as a countycommission body, have todecide whatkind of countywe want to become.

The recession has all butdrained our fund balanceand many needs havebeen put aside. I thinkBurke County can becomea great place to live, workand retire. It will take long

range planning and com-mitment to carry out theplan.

Education is key to turn-ing our county around tosuccess.We and the schoolboard will work togetherandbring out a newhighertrained high school gradu-ate that will be ready to gotocollegeor start workat ahigh technology job or beable to start a business ofhis own.

I havelearnedfrom othercounties that are thrivingwith business and employ-ment that they fund their

county with enough fundsto build and improve theirinfrastructure. That re-building brought growthand with growth brought ahigher tax base.

We in Burke County cando the same. If we buildour infrastructure andprovide adequate fundsfor education, our countycan attract new residentsand in turn will bring newjobs and industry to thecounty.

The investment we makenow will pay off with ahigher tax basein business

and industry that will low-er the tax burden on theindividual taxpayer.

Family Man

West Point Graduate Conservative Leader

www.DanielforSenate.com

Paid for by Warren Daniel for NC Senate

THE NEWS HERALD N www.morganton.com THURSDAY,OCTOBER 18, 2012 N 3BELECTION 2012

Board of County Commissioners Candidates

Bradley

Brittain

Carswell

Carroll

Hawkins

Smith


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BYJULIEN.CHANG

[email protected]

MORGANTON When

talking about his cam-paign, its clear that thereare two things that haveshaped Mark Meadows:his conservative values

and busi-ness experi-ence.Mead-ows is theRepublicancandidatefor NorthCarolinas11th Con-

gressional District.Meadows, a Christian,

is a proponent of defin-ing marriage as between

one man and one woman.He called monogamous,heterosexual marriage thebedrock of society.

When you have mar-riage between one manand one woman, wevefound children of thoseparents do better inschool. They performbetter across the board,Meadows said. Economi-cally, what happens is wesee the viability of anysociety is based on howstrong the family is. Any-thing we do to underminethat is a real concern to

me.Meadows says he has

proposed a plan to get theeconomy moving again.

We put a whole lot ofemphasis on trying tomake sure we understandthe needs of every com-munity and that we comeup with a real plan andnot just words, Meadowssaid.

Meadows, during theprimary, released his20/20 plan for economicgrowth, which consists offour components: closeloopholes and reduce cor-

porate taxes to 20 percent,allow repatriation of earn-ingsfor 20 months,reduceregulations by 20 percentacross the board in allfederal agencies to allowsmall businesses to growand reduce dependencyon foreign oil by 20 per-cent by2020.

In doing that, its reallythe only jobs plan that isout there that I believewill promote real growthand real economic growthnot only for Burke andCaldwell counties but forall western North Caro-

lina,Meadows said.As for addressing the

countrys debt and deficit,Meadows saidhe supportsabalancedbudgetamend-ment. He doesnt want tosee the budget balancedon the backs of state andlocal governments.

Cutting out of controlspending and stoppingdeficit spending are alsoneeded, Meadows said.

The nations tax codeneeds to be simplified.

Obviously a tax codethat is a simplified taxcode that doesnt pickwinners and losers and

doesnt reward people forcertain types of behaviorsand allows people to cre-ate businesses and nothave to have a PhD in tax-es to figure out what de-ductions they can take issomething that will reallyhelp us move forward,Meadows said.

Allowing states and lo-cal governments to deter-mine their own policies thus eliminating somefederal agencies wouldreduce federal spending,Meadows said.

If you look at the de-

partment of education if we allow local teachersand local superintendentsin the state to make deci-sions in regards to curric-ulum and how the federaldollars are spent and nothave that done by the fed-eral government, I thinkwed be in better shape,Meadows said.

The Republican can-didate believes the cur-rent education systemhas put everybody into aone-size-fits-all for highereducation. He believestechnical training and

community college train-ing isnowthewayto gotoprepare people for jobs.

Higher education canlead to great dividendsbut in the current econo-my, people need to trainfor the jobs that are herenow, Meadows said.

Meadows has been vo-cal on the campaign trailabout his opposition anddesire to repeal the Af-fordable Care Act. Mead-ows said the plan didntdo anything to reduce thecost of health care.

Meadows said one prin-

ciple of the ACA he sup-ports is that insurancecompanies cannot denyanyone due to a pre-ex-isting condition, but hewants to see that upheldin the private sector.

Ifwe repeal ObamaCare(the ACA) wecan comeup

with private sector solu-tions that will provide forsome of those needs,Meadows said.

One of the solutions intheprivatesectorincludesallowing insurance com-panies to compete againsteach other across statelines, Meadows said.

State regulations affectthecost of insurance with-in each state. The result isthat insurers sell policiesat lower rates in anotherstate because there arefewer mandates.

Thebenefits of Medicareneed to be protected forpeoplewho willbe seniorswithin the next 10 years,Meadows said. Those

people have made plansto retire and are countingon those benefits.

Deregulating and en-couraging competitionin the health care sectorwould benefit Medicaretoo, Meadows said.

The government needsto stop raiding SocialSecurity funds, Meadowssaid. His solution to re-building the fund is to in-crease tax revenues notthe tax rate. That could beaccomplished by increas-ing wages for workers.

Meadows is a supporter

of Second Amendmentrights, and despite gunviolence that has led todeaths this year does notbelieve in more gun con-trollaws.

When you look at it,there is not a correlationbetween stricter gun con-trol laws and a safer envi-ronment, Meadows said. I believe the laws wehave on the books reallyarethere to protectus.

The alleged shooters atmass shootings this year at a movie theater inAurora, Colo. and a Sikh

templein OakCreek,Wisc. were in direct violationof laws that are alreadyon the books, Meadowssaid. If more laws are onthe books, more lawswould be broken but itwouldnt create a saferenvironment.

BYJULIE N.CHANG

[email protected]

MORGANTON Hayden Rogers, the Dem-ocratic nominee for NorthCarolinas 11th Congres-sional District, wantsto work together to find

solutions to the nationsconcerns.

I thinkthe lastthing weneed to do,or franklyany con-gressionald i s t r i c tneeds to do,

is continue to elect thesesort of extreme polarizingfolks who are unwillingto compromise, Rogerssaid. We cannot putpartyahead of country, and Iwill not do that.

Rogers said his experi-ence as U.S. Rep. HeathShulers chief of staffmeans he can hit theground running on dayone. Hes ready to do so,and hes ready to reachacross the aisle whennecessary to make sureCongress makes the bestchoices for the country.

During his campaign,Rogers has highlighted hisconnectionto the district.

Im the only nativewestern North Carolinianin the race who truly un-derstands our values and

culture, Rogers said. Iam one of us, and I mademy family here.

As a small businessowner, parent and hus-band, Rogers said he un-derstands the challengesfacing the district and thecountry.

A lot of our challengestoday are a result of cur-rent and past Congressesnot being able to worktogether to solve theseproblems, Rogers said.I believe that both par-ties have good ideas andsolutions to address these

(economic) challenges.Neither party has all theanswers and neither isresponsible for all theblame.

Past free trade dealshave basically put Ameri-can companies at a dis-advantage and led to joblosses, Rogers said.

Democrats and Re-publicans need to cometogether and craft leg-islation that would give

American workers a morelevel playing field, Rog-ers said. Thats essentialforthe long-term return ofAmerican manufacturing,an industry thatemployedmany workersin Burke, headded.

He supports reversing

tax policies that have en-couraged companies tomove their manufacturingoverseas and givingincen-tives to bring those jobsback, Rogers said.

And the district needsto invest in infrastructure adequate roads andbridges, broadband ac-cess, cheap and reliablepower sources and accessto commercial quantitiesof natural gas to attractcompanies to the area,Rogers said. The sameattention to infrastruc-ture applies to the whole

country.An investment in job

training is crucial, too, as itwill prepare workers thatare skilled in an industrythat is no longer as preva-lent, Rogers said. Trainingwould help people learnskills that would makethem employable withnew manufacturers.

With jobs in the country,more people will go backto work, which means anincrease in tax revenue,Rogers said.

Congress also needs towork together to reform

healthcare to reduce thecost, Rogers said.

I think we have a lot ofwork to do on our healthcare system, Rogers said.While I would not havevoted for the AffordableCare Act had I been inCongress, I think the mostprudent thing to do mov-ing forward is to addressthe concerns and prob-lems it focuses on: reduc-ing the cost of health care.Its a challenge that stillexists.

Rogers said theres noneed to start over com-

pletely as there are someprovisions of the ACA thatare good things. That in-cludesreducingthe costofprescriptions for seniorsand ensuring that peoplewith pre-existing condi-tions arent rejected by in-surers.

He believes strongly inMedicare and Social Se-curity two more thingsthat will require Congressto work together and find

a solution.Hes against voucher-

izing Medicare, Rogerssaid. Instead the govern-ment needs to ensurethat delivery is as efficientas possible, prevent andweed out fraud and take acloser look at some of the

costs for services.A strong proponent of

public education, Rog-ers said America needs tohave an educated popu-lace to ensure the nationssuccessand growth.

I think its essential aswe continue to move inan increasingly mobileeconomy that we havefolks who are trained andeducated to compete for21st century jobs. It isabsolutely critical. It isthe bedrock of Americansuccess.

Financial circumstances

should not be a barrier togetting an education andimproving ones life, Rog-ers said.

Although he believesstates and local schoolsystems should determinetheir curriculums, the fed-eral government providescritical funding and estab-lishesminimumstandardsfor learning, Rogers said.

Job opportunities dontstop at state lines, Rogerssaid.Forthatreason,therehavetobesomeguidelinesand standards.

Although the national

Democratic Partys plat-form includes support forgay marriage, Rogers is asupporter of the recentlypassed Amendment Onein North Carolina.

I believe in the sanc-tity of marriage and thatit is between one man andone woman, Rogers said.Its consistent with myfaith, and it keeps with theculture I was brought upwith.

Rogers is a strong pro-ponent of the SecondAmendment, callingthe right to bear arms

fundamental.Circumstances vary in

shooting incidents, butcriminals will find a wayto get the things theyneed, Rogers said. Tight-ening gun control lawswouldnt necessarily help.

I think this is a largerissue, and I dont supportrestricting law abiding cit-izens rights to purchase orown legal weapons, Rog-ers said.

US House of Representatives District 11 Candidates

PHOTOSBY JULIEN. CHANG/THENEWSHERALD

U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-10, (left) chats with N.C. 11th Congressional District candidateMark Meadows in July during a breakfast event for Meadows at Timberwoods Restaurant.McHenry endorsed Meadows afterthe May8 primary.The congressman saidMeadowswouldbe the most effective at serving the district due to his conservative values and credibility.

PHOTOS BYJULIE N.CHANG/THENEWS HERALD

Candace Forney (left) an employee of Duralee, speaks on with Hayden Rogers (right) theDemocratic candidate for the North Carolina 11th Congressional District.

Meadows guided byconservative values

Rogers advocatesbipartisan solutions

Meadows

Rogers

in July, EJ Victor Vice-Chairman Ed Phifer (right) led Democratic Congressional candidateHayden Rogers (center)on a tourof the furniture manufacturers Morgantonplants.The pairspoke with and watched Donald Brown (left) applying brass nails to a chair.

N.C. 11th Congressional District candidate Mark Meadows,right, greets Bobbi (left) and David (center) Gillette ofValdese in July at a breakfast event at TimberwoodsRestaurant. The mother and son attended the breakfast toreconnect with Rep. Patrick McHenry, who has endorsedMeadows, and to learn more about Meadows.


5/9


GARY JOHNSON (LIBERTARIAN)Age: 59Education: B.S., University of

New MexicoWebsite: gary

johnson2012.com

Economy

The U.S. mustadopt 3 approach-es.

1. Cut Spending:This recession has forced

families and businesses acrossAmerica to make hard choicesand limit their expenditures. Wemust now expect our elected of-ficials to make the tough callsthatwillkeep ourgovernment ona sustainable path moving for-ward.We must restrainspendingacross the board.

2. Cut taxes:

The U.S. tax system imposesan enormous toll on productiv-ity through high marginal rates,absurd complexity,loopholes forthe well-connected, and incen-tives for wasteful decisions.

3. Reduce federal involvementin the economy:

Much federal intervention isa payout to special interests orcounterproductive meddlingthat stifles competition, innova-tion, and growth.

Source: http://www.garyjohnson2012.com

National Security

1. Bring the troops home:

American military activitiesin Afghanistan should end, ourtroops returned home, and thefocus of our foreign policy reori-ented toward the protection ofU.S. citizens and interests. WithOsamabin Ladennowkilledandafter 10 years of fighting, U.S.forcesshould leave Afghanistanschallenges to the Afghan people.

Decades after the collapseof the Soviet Union, Ameri-can troops remain scatteredthroughout Europe. It is time toreevaluate these deployments.

The U.S. must make better useof military alliances which allowgreater sharing of the human

andfinancial burdensat lesscostof protecting national interests.

2. Lead by example:America can achieve our for-

eign policy goals without sacri-ficing American values.

No criminal or terrorist sus-pect captured by the U.S. shouldbe subject to physicalor psycho-logical torture.

Individuals incarcerated un-justly by the U.S. should havethe ability to seek compensationthrough the courts.

Individuals detained by theU.S., whether it be at Guanta-namo Bay or elsewhere, must begiven due process via the courts

or military tribunals, and mustnot be held indefinitely withoutregard to those fundamentalprocesses.

Energy

Clean air, clean water and ahealthy environment are impor-tant to all Americans. Affordableenergy is critical not only to ourquality of life, but to economicprosperity.

When it comes to the environ-ment, the federal governmentsresponsibility is no differentthan inother aspects ofour lives.It is simply to protect us fromthose who would do us harm

and damage our property. Thereare bad actors who would pol-lute our water supplies and ourair if allowed to do so, and wemust have laws and regulationsto protect innocent Americansfrom the harm those bad ac-tors would do. However, com-mon sense must prevail, and thecosts of all regulations must beweighed against the benefits.

The government shouldsimplystay out of the business of tr yingto promote or manage energydevelopment. The marketplacewill meet our energy needs inthe most economical and effi-cient manner possible if gov-

ernment will stay out of the way.

Health care

When President Obama firstcalled for health care reform, hetalked about reducing costs andincreasing access to care. Thatsounded good.

But, by the time PresidentObama and Congress were fin-ished with the Affordable CareAct, we ended up with unprec-edented government mandates,tax increases, and a federal in-trusion into the marketplacelike

none we have ever seen.The result: Higher insurance

costs, job-killing regulations,andno evidencethat anyone willenjoy improved health care.

Reduced costs and better ser-vice are what a free, functionalmarketplace will provide ifthe government stays out of theway. Health care is no exception.Competition, price transparen-cy, and the innovation that willresult froma robust marketplacewill accomplish the fundamentalgoals of affordability and accessin ways the government cannotpossibly accomplish.

Debt

Gary Johnson: Governmentspends too much because itdoes too much. Unchecked defi-cits are the single greatest threat

to our national security. Unlesswe take significant steps soon,our federal debt will equal theentire economic production ofthe United States.

We must fundamentally reas-sess the role of the federal gov-ernment,alwaysaskingtheques-tion: Should the government bedoing this in the first place?Thatreassessment should begin withthe President submitting a trulybalanced budget in 2013.

From garyjohnson201 2, ncvoterguide.org

BARACK OBAMA (DEMOCRAT)Age: 51

Education: B.A., Columbia Uni-versity; J.D., Har-vard Law School

Website: barackobama.com

Economy

The presidentis taking aggres-sive steps to put

Americans back to work, andrestore middle-class security fordecades to come. For years be-forethe economic crisis,middle-class security had been slippingaway. Wages stagnated whilehealth care costs soared. Weveadded back 2.6 million private

sector jobsas of September2011,but theres more work to do.

When President Obama tookoffice, he both addressed theimmediate economic crisis andlaid the foundation for a U.S.economy that can out-innovateand out-build the world.

National Security

When President Obama tookoffice, the U.S. was engagedin two wars and faced terror-ist threats at home and abroad.President Obama has refocusedoursecurity priorities to concen-trateon themost seriousthreats,promote our values, and im-

prove our standing in the world.President Obama is committedto strengthening Americas lead-ership by maintaining a strongmilitary and staying true to ourvalues and ideals. PresidentObama has fulfilled his promiseto bring our soldiers home fromIraq responsibly and safely.

Energy

President Obama has madethe environment a priority, mov-ing us towards energy indepen-dence, investing in clean-energyjobs, and taking steps to improvethe quality of our air and wa-ter. As of November 2010, the

Obama administrations policieshave helped the private sectorcreate 1 million jobs throughpublic investments that jump-started additional private invest-mentnearly a quarter of thosejobs in the clean energy industry.The clean energy sector createsthe jobs of today and tomorrow,helps protect our environment,and reduces our dependenceon foreign oil. President Obamasigned a law that provided forone of the largest expansions offederally protected wilderness indecades.

Health care

President Obama passed theAffordable Care Act to restorehealth care as a basic corner-stone of middle-class securityin America. When fully imple-mented, the Affordable CareAct will end the worst insurancecompany abuses includingdenying coverage to people withpre-existing conditions or can-celling coverage when someonegetssick.The AffordableCareActmakes health care more afford-able for families and small busi-nesses and brings much-needed

transparency to the insuranceindustry. Because of the newlaw, 32 million more Americanswill be able to afford insuranceforthe firsttime.Ninety-fiveper-

cent of Americans under age 65will have insurance.

Debt

For the last decade, we havespent more money than we takein. In the year 2000, the govern-ment had a budget surplus. Butinstead of using it to pay off ourdebt, the money was spent ontrillions of dollars in new taxcuts, while two wars and an ex-pensive prescription drug pro-gram were simply added to ournations credit card. As a result,the deficit was on track to top $1trillion the year I took office. Tomake matters worse, the reces-

sion meant that there was lessmoneycomingin,anditrequiredus to spend even more on taxcutsfor middle-class families; onunemployment insurance; onaid to states so we could preventmore teachers and firefightersand police officers from beinglaid off. These emergency stepsalso added to the deficit.

Now, every family knows that alittle credit card debt is manage-able.Butif westayon thecurrentpath, our growing debt couldcost usjobs anddo serious dam-age to the economy. More of ourtax dollars will go toward pay-ing off the interest on our loans.

Businesses will be less likely toopen up shop and hire workersin a country thatcant balanceitsbooks. Interest rates could climbforeveryonewhoborrowsmoney the homeowner with a mort-gage, the student with a collegeloan, the corner store that wantsto expand. And we wont haveenough money to make job-cre-ating investments in things likeeducation and infrastructure, orpay for vital programs like Medi-care and Medicaid.

Because neither party isblameless for the decisions thatled to this problem, both partieshave a responsibility to solve it.

And overthe last severalmonths,thats what weve been trying todo. I wont bore you with the de-tails of every plan or proposal,but basically, the debate hascentered around two differentapproaches. The first approachsays, lets live within our meansby making serious, historic cutsin government spending. Letscut domestic spending to thelowestlevelitsbeensinceDwightEisenhower was president. Letscut defense spending at thePen-tagon by hundreds of billions ofdollars. Lets cut out the wasteand fraud in health care pro-grams like Medicare and at

thesame time, lets makemodestadjustments so that Medicare isstill there for future generations.Finally, lets ask the wealthiestAmericans and biggest corpora-tions to give up some of their taxbreaks and special deductions.This balanced approach askseveryone to give a little withoutrequiring anyone to sacrifice toomuch.It would reducethe deficitby around $4 trillion and put uson a path to pay down our debt.And the cuts wouldnt happenso abruptly that theyd be a dragon our economy, or prevent usfrom helping small business andmiddle-class families get back

on their feet right now.From barackobama .com, whitehouse. gov,

ncvoterguide.org

MITT ROMNEY (REPUBLICAN)Age: 65

Education: B.A.,Brigham YoungUniversity; J.D.,Harvard Law School; MBA,Harvard BusinessSchool

Website: mittromney.com

Economy

Mitt Romney will rebuild thefoundations of the Americaneconomy on the principles offree enterprise, hard work, andinnovation. His plan seeks toreduce taxes, spending, regula-tion, and government programs.It seeks to increase trade, energyproduction, human capital, andlabor flexibility. It relinquishespower to the states instead ofclaiming to have the solution toevery problem. Any Americanliving through this economiccrisis will immediately recog-

nize the severity of the breakthatMitt Romney proposesfromour current course. He is call-ing for a fundamental change inWashingtons view of how eco-

nomic growth and prosperityare achieved, how jobs are cre-ated, and how government cansupport these endeavors. It is atonce a deeply conservative re-turn to policies that have servedour nation well and a highly am-bitious departure from the poli-cies of our current leadership. Inshort, it is a plan to get Americaback to work.

National Security

Our country today faces a be-wildering array of threats andopportunities. As president, MittRomney will safeguard Americaand secure our countrys inter-

ests and most cherished ideals.The unifying thread of his na-tional security strategy is Ameri-can strength. When America isstrong, the world is safer. It isonly American power con-ceived in the broadest terms that can provide the foundationfor an international system thatensures the security and pros-perity of the United States andour friends and allies. A Romneyforeign policy will proceed withclarity and resolve. Our friendsand allies will not have doubtsabout where we stand and whatwe will do to safeguard our in-terests and theirs. Neither will

our rivals, competitors, and ad-versaries. The best ally worldpeacehas ever known is a strongAmerica. The last best hope ofearth was what Abraham Lin-coln called our country. MittRomney believes in fulfilling thepromise of Lincolns words andwill defend America abroad inword and in deed.

Energy

As president, Mitt Romney willmake every effort to safeguardthe environment, but he willbe mindful at every step of alsoprotecting the jobs of Americanworkers. This will require put-

ting conservative principles intoaction. The first step will be a ra-tional and streamlined approachto regulation, which would facil-itate rapid progress in the devel-opmentof ourdomestic reservesof oil and natural gas and allowforfurtherinvestment in nuclearpower.

Establish fixed timetables forall resource development ap-provals Create one-stop shopto streamline permitting pro-cess for approval of commonactivities Implement fast-trackprocedures for companies withestablished safety records toconduct pre-approved activities

in pre-approved areas Ensurethat environmental laws prop-erly account for cost in regula-tory process Amend Clean AirAct to exclude carbon dioxidefrom its purview Expand NRCcapabilities for approval of ad-ditional nuclear reactor designs Streamline NRC processes toensure that licensing decisionsforreactors onor adjacent to ap-proved sites, using approved de-signs, are complete within twoyears Increasing Production TheUnited States is blessed with acornucopia of carbon-based en-ergy resources. Developing themhas been a pathway to prosper-

ity for the nation in the past andoffers similar promise for thefuture. Conduct comprehen-sive survey of Americas energyreserves Open Americas en-ergy reserves for development Expand opportunities for U.S.resource developers to forgepartnerships with neighboringcountries Support construc-tion of pipelines to bring Cana-dian oil to the United States Prevent overregulation of shalegas development and extractionResearch and DevelopmentGov-ernment has a role to play in in-novation in the energy industry.History shows that the United

States has moved forward in as-tonishing waysthanks to nation-al investment in basic researchand advanced technology. How-ever, we should not be in thebusiness of steering investmenttoward particular politicallyfavored approaches. That is arecipe for both time and moneywasted on projects that do notbring us dividends. The failureof windmills and solar plants tobecome economically viable ormake a significant contributionto our energy supply is a prime

example. Concentrate alter-native energy funding on basicresearch Utilize long-term,apolitical funding mechanismslike ARPA-E for basic research

Health care

Mitt Romney believes thatObamacare must be repealed.On his first day in office, he willissue an executive order pavingthe way for waivers from Obam-acare for all 50 states. Subse-quently, he will call on Congressto fully repeal Obamacare, andadvocate reforms that returnpower to the states, improve ac-cess by slowing health care costincreases, and make health in-surance portable and flexible fortodays economy. The central ad-vantage of our federalist systemis that different states will ex-

periment with and settle on thehealth care solutions that suittheir residents best. We can em-power states to expand healthcare access to low-incomeAmer-icans by block-granting fundsfor Medicaid and the uninsured.Mitt Romneys reforms also offerthe states resources to help thechronically ill, to improve theiraccess to care, and to improvethe functioning of insurancemarkets for others. The tax codecurrently offers open-endedsubsidies for the purchase ofinsurance through employers.Mitt Romney will expand thetax deduction to also include

those who buy their own healthinsurance. This simple changecreates the best of both worlds.Absolutely nothing will changefor those who like their currentcoverage. And individuals whodont get coverage through theiremployers will have portable,lower-cost options. The currentmedical liability system encour-ages defensive medicine anddrives up health care costs. Toaddress these problems, MittRomney will cap non-economicdamages in medical malprac-tice litigation. He also believesin providing innovation grantsto states for additional medi-

cal liability reforms, such as al-ternative dispute resolution orhealth care courts. Make healthcare more like a market and lesslike a government program MittRomney will strengthen healthsavings accounts (HSAs), whichhelp consumers save for healthexpenses and choose cost-effec-tive insurance. For example, hebelieves that we should permitHSA funds to be used to pay forhealth insurance premiums. Themarket reforms Mitt is propos-ing will drive down costs, betterinform consumers, and improvethe quality of health care in ournation.

Debt

Exercise fiscal responsibility torestore economic opportunity.Washington is addicted to defi-cit spending. As President, MittRomney will cut spending tofinally move our nation towarda balanced budget. During theBush years, the nations deficit the gap between what Wash-ington collects and spends eachyear hovered between 2 per-centand 4 percentof GDP. Theselevels were already problematicand a cause for concern. Dur-ing the Obama administration,however, the deficit exploded to

10 percent of GDP. One majorproblem with sky-high deficitspending is that it necessar-ily leads to another practice thatundermines the nations fis-cal foundation: borrowing un-healthy sums to pay for what wealready cannot afford. Americais on an unsustainable path that,within just a few short years, willcripple the economy and fore-close any opportunity for recov-ery. MittRomney willbring fiscalrestraint to Washington by plac-ing a hard cap on federal spend-ing to force our government tolive within its means and putan end to deficit spending. Mitt

will also curb federal spendingby repealing Obamacare, thefederal takeover of health carethat is scheduled to cost taxpay-ers one trillion dollars over thenext ten years. He will also focuson eliminating wasteful govern-ment spending and right-sizingthe federal government to savetaxpayer dollars. Mitt Romneysgoal is to put the federal gov-ernment on a course toward abalanced budget and true fiscalresponsibility.

From mittromney.com, ncvoterguide.org

President of the United States of America Candidates

Johnson

Obama

Romney


6/9

Republicans raised gas tax 4 per gallon.

VOTE DEMOCRATIC

3 Republican Burke County Commissioners voted to reduce

Burke County School funding by more than 10 million

dollars. VOTE DEMOCRATIC

Burke County is now 111th out of 115 school systems in NCin per pupil funding. VOTE DEMOCRATIC

NC is 47th out of 50 states in per student funding.

VOTE DEMOCRATIC

3 Republican county commissioners voted against funding

for courthouse security. VOTE DEMOCRATIC

Republicans decision to sell our jail now costs Burke County

taxpayers $400,000 a year to rent beds in the jail we used

to own. VOTE DEMOCRATIC

6,000 fewer students will attend college next year because of

Republicans cuts to education. VOTE DEMOCRATIC

www.burkecountydemocrats.orgPAID FOR BY BURKE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY

VOTE DEMOCRATIC

VOTE DEMOCRATIC

John T. McDevittNC Senate District 46

Jim CatesNC House District 86

Mark BrownNC House District 112

Debbie BradleyBurke County

Board of Commissioners

Bruce Hawkins, Sr.Burke County


Steve SmithBurke County


Burke County NCAE and the NorthCarolina Association of Educators

proudly endorses:

NC General Assembly - Senate 46 - John McDevitt

House 86 - Hugh Blackwell

Governor - Walter Dalton

Lt. Governor - Linda Coleman

Burke County Commission - Debbie Bradley,

Bruce Hawkins, Steven Smith

Paid forby NCAE-PAC -

Notauthorized by anycandidate


LINDA COLEMAN(DEMOCRAT)Website: LindaColeman.

orgCandidate Biography

(submitted by candidate):I was bornin Green-ville, N.C.,and earnedmy BA fromN.C. A& TState Uni-versity, andan MA in

public administrationfrom the University ofPittsburgh.

A distinguished man-agement career followedmy early experience asa public school teacher:Personnel Director for the

N.C. Department of Com-munity Colleges, and Hu-man Resources Directorfor the Departments of

Administration, and Ag-riculture and ConsumerServices. I was also the di-rector of state personnel.

My public service re-cord is substantial. I havebeen a Commissioner andChair of the Wake CountyBoard of Commissioners,and served three terms inthe state House of Repre-sentatives.

Candidate Statement: AsLt. Governor, I will use my

experience, commitment,passion and long historyof relationships built overdecades ofservice to buildpartnerships that willhelpordinary people.

The key issue facingfamilies in 2012 is jobs.

Weve got to maintainand enhance our reputa-tion as a state that is busi-

ness-friendlyandnurturesinnovation.I wantto bringthe industriesof the futurehere: green, bio-tech,soft-

ware and digital.

That takes an educatedworkforce. I will fight for apre-K to 12 public educa-tion in every county thatprepares students to par-ticipate in a cutting edgeeconomy.

I will fight for more life-long training and skill de-velopment opportunitiesby working with business,our K-12 schools andcommunity colleges toimprove course offerings.

I will fight the forcesof prejudice, of that oldNorth Carolina we needto leave behind. We dont

need the business disrup-tion that comes from theproposed change to theconstitution. Amendment1,if passed, will harm cou-ples in domestic unionsand their children.

Im a consensus builder.We need a leader who willspeakfor allof us.Myplat-form is built on the prem-ise of moving our stateforward.

DAN FOREST(REPUBLICAN)Website: DanForest.comCandidate Biography

(submitted by candidate):Dan hasover 23

years of ex-perience asa businessleader, ar-chitect ande n t r e p r e -neur. Heis a

formerseniorpartnerwith

Little DiversifiedArchitec-tural Consulting havingserved as president of thefirms Durham office. Danholds two undergraduate

degrees from UNC Char-lotte and is a graduate ofUNC Charlotte College of

Architecture.He is the founder of the

Triangle Leadership Fo-rum where he serves aspresident of the board.Dan serves on the boardof The Faith Driven Con-sumer and is the formerchairman of the board of

Wake Forest PregnancySupport Services. Danand his wife Alice live inRaleigh with their fourchildren.

Candidate Statement:

We need a Lt. Governorwho is willing to fight toreduce the tax burdenso our businesses canput people back to work.North Carolina ranks 44thin the nation in businesstax climate. We have thehighest corporate incometax rate and the highestgas tax in the southeast,and one of the highestpersonal income tax ratesin the nation.

My proven history ofbusiness leadership (for-mer office president andsenior partner with N.C.s

largest architecture firm),as well as my experienceas an architect make me

well suited to help leadour state. Architects arevisionaries, planners,creative problem solversand consensus builders I believe thatis whatweneed more of in Raleigh.

From ncvoterguide.org

WALTER DALTON(DEMOCRAT)Website: DaltonForNC.

comCandidate Biography

(submitted by candidate):W a l t e r

Dalton isa provenleader whohasbeen na-tionally rec-ognized forhis efforts torecruit jobs

and improve education.Key Accomplishments:

Recruited 21st-centuryjobs to North Carolina,sponsored the statesaward-winning early col-lege system, led success-ful foreclosure prevention

efforts, created a fund tohelp small businesses re-tain jobs, led programs tospark entrepreneurship inrural areas

Experience: LieutenantGovernor, 2009-present;State Senator, 1997-2009;

Attorney, 1975-2009Education: Juris Doctor,

UNC-Chapel Hill, 1975;Bachelor of Business

Admin., UNC-Chapel Hill,1971

Family: Married to LucilleHodge Dalton for 41 years;two adult children, Brianand Elizabeth

Candidate statement: Imrunning for governor tomove North Carolina for-

ward as we turn the corneron this national recession.I will work to put NorthCarolinians back to worknow and invest in educa-tion innovation to protectour states future economy.

Job creation will be mytop priority as governor.

We will recruit 21st-cen-tury jobs across the stateand expand existing em-ployers. We will activelyencourage innovation andentrepreneurship and bet-

ter coordinate job trainingthrough our communitycollege system.

As governor, I will investin education innovationto create a recession-proofeconomy. A proven meth-od of education innova-tion is North Carolinasearlycollegesystem, a pro-gram I sponsored in 2003.Early colleges are five-yearprograms in which stu-dents earn a high schooldiploma, along with anassociates degree or two

years of college credit.Early colleges up the

academic rigor, save par-ents money and allow stu-dents to go directly intothe workforce. They havealso been proven to eradi-cate the dropout rate andhelp first-generation col-lege students achieve ca-reer success. If we can bet-ter prepare our students,

we can make sure North

Carolina is competitivewith other states and evenother countries, includingChina and India, for jobs.

BARBARA HOWE(LIBERTARIAN)Website: BarbaraHowe.

netCandidate Biography

(submitted by candidate):I grew up in Wingate,

North Caro-lina, andhave spentalmost myentire life inthe state. Ig r a d u a t e dfrom Pfei-ffer College

in 1975 with a bachelorsdegree in English and

psychology.After the birth of my first

child in 1979, I becamea full-time stay-at-homemom. In addition to rear-ing my two sons and onedaughter, I have cham-pioned three importantcauses: home schooling,volunteering for La LecheLeague (an internationalsupport group for breast-feeding mothers), and

working to share the mes-sage of individual freedomand personal responsibil-ity through my involve-ment with the Libertarian

Party of North Carolina.Candidate Statement:

Imagine a world wheregovernment does onething and one thing only:that is, to help you protect

yourself from those whomight hurt you throughforce or fraud, but other-

wise leaves you alone. Inthat world, you would beable to live your life as yousee fit as long as you re-spect everyone elses rightto do the same.

Decisions on how toform a family, how to rearand educate yourchildren,

how and with whom to dobusiness, how to manage

your health care, and howplan for your retirement

would be in your hands,not governments. This isthe philosophy of govern-ment that I will take toRaleigh. People want to beable to work to provide forthemselves and their fami-lies, and want to be free toenjoytheirlives. Itwill takeleadership from a person

who respects the fact thatyou own your life to bringabout a government thatrespects your right to life,

liberty, and the pursuit ofhappiness.

Are you ready for a freshperspective to businessin Raleigh? Check outmy website and feel freeto contact me with anyquestions.

Freedom works. HeresHowe. I want your vote onNov. 6. Be Libertarian with

me this one time and letssee where we can go.

PAT MCCRORY(REPUBLICAN)

Website: PatMcCrory.com

Candidate Biography(submitted by candidate):

PatMcCro-ry was raisedin GuilfordCounty andattendedCa-tawba Col-lege in Row-an County,

where heearned degrees in educa-tion and political science.He went on to work forDuke Energy for 29 years.

After serving on the

Charlotte City Council,Pat was elected mayorand served a record seventerms. More than 200,000

jobs were created while Patserved as mayor as he wasthe consummate cham-pion for economic devel-opment and job creation.Pat also reduced the citysproperty tax rate as well asthe crime rate.

Pat and his wife Ann re-side in Charlotte with theirdog Mo.

Candidate Statement:North Carolinais the great-eststatein thecountry, but

we need a different visionin order to get back ontrack. We have one of thehighest unemploymentrates in the country butlack an economic strategy.

We have too much politicalbickering and not enoughproblem solving. Its timeto fix North Carolinas bro-ken government and bro-ken economy, and put ourresources back to work.

We must foster an eco-nomic environment withless costly and burden-some regulations and tax-es, not only to compete for

out of state jobs, but alsohelp our existing business-es create jobs. We need toreward the productivityand innovation of NorthCarolina businesses andentrepreneurs rather thangiving away upfront cashto out of statecorporationsofferingpromises.We needto get into the energy busi-ness so we can be moreenergy independent andcreate a new economicengine.

We also must reform ed-ucation to ensure that allof our children are learn-

ingthe vital skillslike read-ing and math and rewardour best teachers. And wemust have dual tracks forhigh school students tochoose either a vocationalpath or to attend college.

We can do better in edu-cating our children.


NC Governor Candidates NC Lieutenant Governor Candidates

Dalton

Howe

McCrory

Coleman

Forest


7/9

# #President - Mitt Romney

Vice President - Paul Ryan

U.S. House of Representatives - Dist.11 - Mark MeadowsNC Governor - Pat McCrory

NC Lieutenant Governor - Dan Forest

NC Auditor - Debra Goldman

NC Comissioner of Agriculture - Steve Troxler

NC Commissioner of Insurance - Mike Causey

NC Commissioner of Labor - Cherie Berry

NC Secretary of State - Ed Goodwin

NC Superintendent of Public Instruction - John Tedesco

NC Treasurer - Steve Royal

NC State Senate - Dist. 46 - Warren Daniel

NC House of Representatives - Dist. 86 -Hugh Blackwell**

NC House of Representatives - Dist. 112 - Mike Hagar**

Board of County Commissioners

Jeff Brittain * Jack Carroll * Johnnie Carswell

NON PARTISAN OFFICES

NC Supreme Court Associate Justice - Paul Martin Newby

NC Court of Appeals Judge - David S. Robinson

NC Court of Appeals Judge - Marty McGee

NC Court of Appeals Judge - Chris Dillon

NC District Court Judge - Dist. 25 - Burford A. Cherry

One Stop Early Voting - Register and VoteBegins Thursday, October 18, 2012

8:00 AM ~ 5:00 PM Daily

Early Voting Ends on Saturday, November 3 at 1:00 PM

Burke Board of Elections Burke-Morganton Senior Center Connelly Springs Town Hall

Election Day ~ Tuesday ~ November 6, 2012Polls OPEN at 6:30 AM and CLOSE at 7:30 PM

Burke County GOP Headquarters213 Avery Avenue, Morganton, NC

(828) 430-3099* Straight Party Vote does not include presidential and nonpartisan offices.

** Candidates for House of Representative vary by district.

Paid for by the Burke County Republican Party

PARTISAN OFFICES

# # # # # #

PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST

BURKE COUNTYCONSERVATIVEVOTER GUIDE

Step 1: Cast your vote for the Romney/Ryan ticket.*

Step 2: Cast your vote for each office/candidate or the Straight Party ticket.*

Step 3: Cast your vote for each office/judicial candidate.*


WALTER SMITH(DEMOCRAT)Website: VoteWalter

Smith.comCandidate Biography

(submitted by candidate):Born and

raised ona tobacco,row cropand live-stock farmin easternN.C.; Cur-rently live

in Yadkin County with mywife Sherri where I oper-ate a poultry farm; Workedfor the U.S. Departmentof Agriculture for 30-plusyears administering feder-al farm programs; TaughtVocational Agriculture;

Former NCSU College ofAgriculture Alumni Boardpresident; Member of theYadkin Agricultural Dis-trict Board, Horne CreekLiving Historical FarmBoard, Yadkin CommunitySchools Board, and theNC Ag Foundation Board;Received a BS from NCSUin technical and biologi-cal engineering; AssistantSunday school teacher atNorth Oak Ridge BaptistChurch; former mayor ofBoonville.

Candidate Statement: Ihave a unique and diverse

background that is wellsuited for North CarolinaAgriculture Commissioner.I have been involved in ag-riculture my entire life. Weneed a full-time commis-sioner who will be a strongvoice for agriculture, agri-business, and consumersafety.

I will make NCDA themost responsive and effi-cient department in stategovernment. My first pri-ority, if elected, will be toestablish a hotline for any-one needing assistance,voicing concerns or offer-

ing suggestions.

We must keep our familyfarms profitable and findnew young farmers.

We need to maintain allour ag research stations.

Their research leads tohigher productivity, reduc-tion in operating costs,increased farm incomeand more employmentopportunities.

ItisimportantthatNCDAprovide a safe and healthyfood supply. NCDA is alsoresponsiblefor manyotherareas of consumer safetythat affect every consumerin the state. We must placea stronger emphasis onconsumer safety.

I will cut red tape inNCDA. I worked withUSDA for 30-plus years

and I know red tape.Thereare ways to reduce it.

I will dedicate resourceswithin NCDA to encourageand promote agricultureand agribusiness to gogreen.

We must increase our ef-forts to find new marketsfor our very diverse agri-cultural products.

STEVE TROXLER(REPUBLICAN)Website: SteveTroxler.comCandidate Biography

(submitted by candidate):Commissioner Steve Trox-

lerwas elect-ed as NorthC a r o l i n a sfirst Repub-lican Com-missioner ofAg ri cu lt urein 2004. Heis owner and

operator of Troxler Farms,a family-owned farmingoperation northof Greens-boro. Troxler is incomingpresident of the NationalAssociation of State De-partments of Agriculture.

He has received the Out-standing Young Farmer

award, the N.C.Agricultur-

al Extension Service Out-standingServiceAwardandtheConservationGuardianAward. A Browns Summitnative, Troxler received his

BS degree in conservationfrom N.C. State Universityin 1974. He and his wife,Sharon, have two sons andthree grandchildren.

Candidate Statement: Onmy very first day as com-missioner, I promised towork withthe employeesoftheDepartmentof Agricul-ture and Consumer Servic-es to make thedepartmentthebest in thenation.Now,seven years later, I can tellyou that were doing justthat. Insuring food safetyisan areaof concern for allNorth Carolinians.

The departments Foodand Drug Protection Di-vision is the leading foodprotection agency in theUnited States and Canada.More thana millionpeoplecame to the State Fair fortwo straight years. Preserv-ing our scarce farmlandfor future generations hasbeen one of my top pri-orities, and we have madesignificant progress.

Weve even done our partto make sure school stu-dents have a healthy edu-cation by delivering nearlya million dollars worth of

fresh North Carolina fruitsand vegetables to the pub-lic schools. At the sametime, we have been ag-gressive in helping farm-ers and agribusiness growand expand their markets.We even opened an officein Beijing, China, to intro-duce the worlds largestcountry to North Carolinaproducts.

It is my goal to continueto expand the agriculturaleconomy, keep our foodsafe and grow the numberof jobs in agriculture.

Fromwww.ncvoterguide.org

DEBRA GOLDMAN(REPUBLICAN)Website: DebraGoldman

NC.comCandidate Biography

(submitted by candidate):D e b r a

Goldmansremarkable21-year re-cord of con-s e r v a t i v eleadership

and busi-ness man-

agement reflects her un-tiring dedication to publicservice.

Goldman is an experi-enced leader, managingmultimillion dollar bud-gets. Elected to the WakeCounty Board of Educa-tion in 2009, Debra leadsthe fight for reform. Shesbeen praised by commu-nityleaders, educators andadministrators, saving mil-lions of taxpayer dollars,acting as the boards policyand fiscal watchdogfor her

guiding ethics of govern-ment accountability.

As state auditor, Gold-man will crack down onfiscal mismanagement,fraud and waste. Debrais a proud member of theNRA, a nationally certifiedfirefighter and EMT.

Candidate Statement:Debra Goldman has al-ways held in highest re-gard her role as a trusted,public servant. Since herelection in 2009, Gold-man has twice served asthe vice chair of the WakeCounty Board of Educa-

tion North Carolinaslargest. Goldmans greatestpersonal and professionalsuccess has been to holdfast the line to tirelesslyadvocate for the principlesof fiscal conservatism inexercising the public trust,and to hammer home theguiding ethics of govern-ment accountability andtransparency.

As state auditor, Gold-man will revolutionize theway North Carolina state

government is assessed.The taxpayers of NorthCarolina have grown fear-ful of the end result ofthe increasing number ofpublic financial scandals,reports of fiscal misman-agement, and the direemergency resulting fromshoddy and fraudulentcasework. North Carolin-ians have lost faith andconfidence to the point of

becoming cynical of theirown state government andinured to theabuseof trustby our elected officials.

Goldman has a provenrecord of standing firm,and finding answers. Intaking on the role of NorthCarolina state chief ac-countability officer, Debrawill take on yet anotherchallenge and extend hervision once more to begina new fight in service toNorth Carolina.

BETH A.WOOD(DEMOCRAT)

Website: BethWoodCampaign.com

Candidate Biography(submitted by candidate):

Education: Bachelor ofScience De-gree in Ac-c o u n t i n g ,East Caro-lina Univer-sity, Green-ville, NC

C r e d e n -tials: Certi-

fied Public Accountant 25 years; First womanelected State Auditor;

Governmental Experi-

ence: 19 years experiencein state government; 16years experience with Of-fice of State Auditor; Au-dited cities, counties, largenonprofits; Reviewed au-dit reports of cities, coun-ties and school boards forcompliance with auditingstandards; Assisted stateagencies with preparationof States guidance for au-diting federal and stategrants; Taught CPAs acrossthe nation governmental

auditing and accountingCorporate Experience:

Nine years corporate ex-perience Ray-O-VacCorp (cost accountant);McGladrey & Pullen CPAs(auditor); Turner Tolson,Inc. (assistant chief finan-cial officer)

CandidateStatement:Theoffice of state auditor iscritical to taxpayers in thatit providesoversightto how

taxpayer dollarsare spent. Iam theonly candidate run-ning that has the qualifica-tions to meet the demandsof the office to ensure thatN.C. citizens tax dollarsare being properly ac-counted for and reportedand to identify fraudulentand wasteful spending instate government.

Several accomplish-ments during my termwith a directimpact on thespending of tax dollars:

Identified numerouspoor contracting practicesin state government, re-

vealing hundreds of mil-lions of dollars of wasteover the last decade

Revealed that, for in-mate health care servicesprovided by local hospitals,N.C.hasbeenpayingalmostfive times more for thoseservices than Medicare orMedicaid would have paidforthe same services

Revealed the statespermitting processes donot include complete andaccurate data, making thetrackingof permit process-ing impossible

Other Accomplishments:

Produced audits to theGeneral Assembly with ir-refutable findings result-ing in legislation to stopwasteful spending

Initiated the perfor-mance of follow-up auditsto ensure agency correc-tive actions are in placeand working

Createdanon-partisan,non-political environmentwithin the State AuditorsOffice


ED GOODWIN(REPUBLICAN)Website: Goodwin2012.


(submitted by candidate):Goodwin

p r o u d l yserved fouryears inthe U.S. AirForce andreturned toECU andgraduated

with a degree in criminaljustice. Afterward, he wasrecruited into NCIS (Na-val Criminal InvestigativeServices) and was an INF(Nuclear Arms) TreatyInspector in the formerSoviet Union from 1989-

1992. He retired in 2004after 23 years. He startedtwo businesses and soldthe majority shares.

In 2008, he was electedasa Chowan County com-missioner and was votedto be chairman. UnderGoodwins leadership,Chowan County has comeback from a -4 percentfund balance ($20 milliondeficit) to +19 percent inthree years.

Candidate Statement:I am running for NorthCarolina Secretary of Statebecause the current void

in leadership has held ourstate back and resultedin lost opportunity. Thechallengeswe facerequirenew conservative solu-tions. My goalas secretaryof state is to get our busi-ness climate back to onewhich is conducive to jobcreation and newindustryrecruitment.

Reducing burdensomeregulations, cutting taxesand providing a moretransparent government

will be at the forefront ofmy agenda. The secretaryof states office should bea business conduit to thegovernor and the General

Assembly.With my extensiveback-

ground in governmentand proven diplomaticand entrepreneurialknowledge, I believe I amthe most qualified candi-date for N.C. secretary ofstate.

ELAINE MARSHALL(DEMOCRAT)Website: ElaineMarshall.


(submittedby candi-date): In

1996, ElaineM a r s h a l lbecame thefirst womenelected toe x e c u t i v e

office in North Carolina.As secretary of state, sheimmediately establishedherself as a competentadministrator with aneye toward reform. Shereceived national recogni-tion for modernizing theoffice and reducing redtape.

Marshall has served inthe state Senate, where

she was a powerful voicefor women, health careand small business. Mar-shall earned her law de-gree from Campbell Uni-versity and distinguishedherself as a tough advo-cate for her clients in thecourtroom.

Marshallwas born inru-ral Maryland. Her fatherwas a farmer and a volun-teer firefighter. Her moth-er was thechurch organistfor more than 60 years.

Candidate Statement:When I first became sec-retary of state, I began aneffort to modernize theoffice by embracing tech-

nology and streamliningprocesses. We have beenrecognized by organiza-tions across the countryfor reducing red tape andmaking it easier for busi-nesses to start in NorthCarolina.

We have worked to re-main a dynamic orga-nization that adapts tochanging economic andtechnological realities.Our goal is to serve thepeople and businessesof North Carolina in themost efficient and effec-tive manner.

We are cops on the beatand have busted numer-ous producers of counter-feitandbootleggoodsthatsteal profits from legiti-mate companies and takejobs from North Carolinaworkers. Weve crackeddown on con artists whousePonzi schemesto preyon our citizens, especiallyseniors. Weve protectedinvestors and charitableorganizations from thoseusing deceptive salespractices.

Weve promoted trans-parency in government

by strengthening lobby-ist disclosure laws. Werecently received an Afrom the Center for Pub-lic Integrity for our lob-bying work. I believe thatopen government is goodgovernment.

Ive looked for ways tomake our office betterserve the people of NorthCarolina, and I want tocontinue that record forfour more years.


NC Commissioner of Agriculture Candidates NC Secretary of State Candidates

NC Auditor Candidates

Smith

Troxler

Goldman

Wood

Goodwin

Marshall

Make A Difference

Recycle!


8/9


JUNE ATKINSON (DEMOCRAT)Website: JuneAtkinsonNC.comCandidate Biography (submit-

ted by candidate):Atkinsongrewup

in a rural commu-nity, went to pub-lic schools, andgraduated with aB.S. in businesseducation, Rad-

ford University;M.S. in vocational

education, Virginia Tech; and adoctorate in educational leader-ship, NCSU. She taught in Roa-noke, Va., and Charlotte. Whileserving in various educationalleadership positions, shehas vis-itedall N.C.schooldistricts.

At least 14 associations havehonored her with awards for herleadership and commitmentto public education. Marriedto Dr. William Gurley, an ortho-dontist, she a is a member of theFirst United Methodist Churchin Cary.

Candidate Statement: While

serving as state superintendent,North Carolinas high schoolgraduation rate has gone from68 percent to over 80 percent,the highest in our states history.North Carolinas educationrank-ingbyaleadingeducationalpub-lication is at an all time high. Arecent research report indicatesthat North Carolina is among sixstates getting the most student

achievement out of each educa-tional dollar spent.

While pleased with our prog-ress during my service as statesuperintendent, we must con-tinue to improve education forall students. I will work to moveNorth Carolinas graduation rateto nearly 100 percent, focus onimproving reading achievementand ensure that our teachers arerespected, valued and compen-sated well for the challengingwork they do.

Through partnerships I havealready developed, I will contin-ue involving parents, businessesand educators to accelerate the

progress students are making. Iwill work in a nonpartisan wayto put the education of our stu-dents first and to make NorthCarolinas investment in educa-tion count. A vote for Atkinsonin November will be a positivevote for North Carolinas nearly1.5 million children.

JOHN TEDESCO (REPUBLICAN)

Website: Tedesco4kids.comCandidate Biography (submit-

ted by candidate): The oldest ofsix children, Tedesco grew up

in Pittsburgh, Pa.,andattendedThielCollege earning adegree in politicalscience. John, hiswife, Jennifer, andtheir son, Gabri-el, live in Garnerwhere they attend

Victory Church.A proven public sector leader,

Tedesco has served in seniorexecutive posts with a nationaleducational foundation, major

university, nonprofit organiza-tionsand asa city manager. Heisthe president of the N.C. Centerfor Education Reform and serveson the Wake County Board ofEducation where he has been aforce for student achievement.Tedesco is a skilled administra-tor and champion for children.

Candidate Statement: Tedescohas a proven track record lead-

ing the largest school systemin North Carolina and the 16thlargest in America; the WakeSchool System serves 147,000children with 18,000 employeesand a $1.5 billion budget. Hiscolleagues have selected himto serve as vice chairman of theboard, chair of the Student As-signment Committee, chair oftheE.D.Task Forceand vicechairof the Student AchievementCommittee and Facilities Com-mittee. His work in these roleshave lead to millions of dollarsin savings, expanded parentalchoice, reduced school suspen-sions, strong academic gains,

increased program innovationsand more.

Tedesco has a bold vision tochallenge our most gifted, raiseour most vulnerable and build apromising future for North Car-olina. Endorsed by political andeducational leaders across N.C.,Tedescos vision is built on fourkey focus areas.

1. Protect, develop and em-

power our teachers by trimmingwasteful spending and burden-some bureaucracy.

2. Build a better educatedworkforce, expand vocationaleducation and reduce the needfor remediation for students at-tending our colleges.

3. Reinforce the basicsstrengthening math and readingoutcomes while expanding in-novative programming.

4. Increase local controls, en-gage parents and strengthencommunities.

Please see our website for ex-panded details.

Fromwww.ncvoterguide.org

JANET COWELL(DEMOCRAT)Website: CowellForTreasurer.

comCandidate Biography (submit-

ted by candidate): I am the firstperson to run foroffice in my fam-ily. Myfatherwas aMethodist minis-terandmy mothera school teacher.

Living abroad inChina, Hong Kongand Indonesia

during and after college gave mea real appreciation for our lifehere in America.

After attending the WhartonSchool of Business and workingin thefinancial industry, I settledin North Carolina. I was electedto the Raleigh City Council in2000, served two terms in theNorth Carolina Senate and waselected the states first womanTreasurer in 2008.

Candidate Statement: Duringmy first term in office, I have

worked to maintain North Car-olinas AAA bond rating. NorthCarolina is only one of sevenstates to have a AAA rating fromeach of the rating agencies. De-spite the tough economic cli-mate, North Carolina is rankedas the fifth best funded publicpension in the country.

During the 2011 session of theGeneral Assembly, I stepped upandagreedtotakeonoversightofthe State Health Plan. Since tak-ing on this responsibility, I have

brought enhanced governanceand accountability to the systemand improved communicationwith its 650,000 members.

Under my direction, we cre-ated the $230 million innovationfund that supports investmentin N.C. businesses while earninga solid rate of return for the pen-sion fund.

As a memberof the state boardof education, I have worked tointegrate financial literacy intothe k-12 system and created

Advanced Money Managementfor Community College Stu-dents, on online tool that helpsstudents to make wise decisionsabout borrowing money fortheireducation.

I look forward to serving thepeople of our great state in mycapacity as treasurer and haveworked hard to earn their trustand confidence.

STEVE ROYAL (REPUBLICAN)Website: RoyalForTreasurer.

comCandidate Biography (submit-

ted by candidate):Steve Royal is a

native-born andlifetime resident ofNorthCarolina. Heearned a BSBA de-gree in accountingwith honors. Stevehas governmentalexperience work-

ing for the state of N.C. He alsohas much manufacturing experi-

ence,having workedas a control-ler/owner and a senior cost ac-countant with largecorporation.

With the decline of manu-facturing in the early 1980s, hebecame a Certified Public Ac-countant, working with privatecorporations, partnerships andindividuals, providing assistancewith their taxes, loans and in-vestments.When hefirst becamea CPA, Royal taught accountingfor a community college.

Candidate Statement: Its the

debt! Former chairman Adm.Mike Mullen described the na-tions debt as Americas biggestnational security threat. Notonly does our nation face a debtcrisis, so does North Carolina.Excessive debt cannot only de-stroy individuals, but also cities,counties andevenstates. Debt isto be respected, even feared.

North Carolina has been rack-ing up almost $3 billion of debtto the Feds by overdrawing theunemployment fund, and this

debt still grows every day. Thecomplete lack of leadership bythe current governor and trea-surer is without explanation.

Bigmoneyis destroyingthe po-litical process. The serious officeof N.C. treasurer has been usedas a political milking-machinefor almost 12 years to fund theoffice-holders political cofferswith hundreds of thousands ofdollars, known as pay-to-playbecause the vast amount of thismoney came from law firms,

financial interests and bank in-terests. The motto shall be: Ab-solutely No Pay-To-Play.

No more games with the fi-nancial reports, period! As witha $771 million loss on securitiesrealized by not shown or over $5billion in questionable

2012 Burke County Voter's Guide | The News Herald

Documents

Transcript of 2012 Burke County Voter's Guide | The News Herald