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Central Region
Raleigh to be Site of North Carolina’s Democratic Presidential Debate
The North Carolina Democratic Party announced today that Raleigh’s RBC Center will be the site for the April 27th Democratic Presidential Debate.
Click here to apply to attend the debate.
It will be held in partnership with North Carolina State University and CBS News.
CBS will broadcast the 90-minute live debate, beginning at 8 p.m., immediately following 60 Minutes. Katie Couric and Bob Schieffer will moderate.
Gov. Easley Announces NC Ranks First In Small Metro Business Growth
Greensboro-High Point Named Top Small Metro Region; Two Rural Communities Also Take Top Spots
Gov. Mike Easley announced today that North Carolina placed first in the nation in Site Selection magazine’s annual ranking of states with small metropolitan areas having the most new and expanded corporate facilities. The Greensboro-High Point area in Guilford County was named the No. 1 small metro region. Lexington-Thomasville in Davidson County and Statesville-Mooresville in Iredell County swept the first- and second-place spots for rural areas.
“The latest Site Selection ranking proves that it is not just the large cities that benefit from North Carolina’s investments in education, workforce development and the state’s top-ranked business climate,” Easley said. “As industries recognize they can find the 21st century training programs and qualified workers they need in all communities across the entire state, we gain jobs and effectively compete to lead in the global economy.”
Mecklenburg Precinct Reorganizing Successfully Underway
NCDP Chair Jerry Meek announced today that the process of reorganizing the Democratic Party’s precinct organizations is moving “quickly, successfully, and strictly by the rules.”
Applications to serve as temporary precinct Chair, for the purpose of holding an organizational meeting of each precinct, are due at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Application forms may be obtained here. Temporary precinct Chairs will be announced on the website over the weekend.
All precincts will meet at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 19th. Precinct meeting locations will be posted to the State Party website, www.ncdp.org, by 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 12th. All registered Democrats are encouraged to attend their precinct meeting.
As of 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, 101 Democrats, representing 85 precincts, have applied to serve as temporary precinct Chair.
“While this has been a difficult time for the county party,” Meek said, “I am heartened by the energy displayed in organizing these precincts throughout Mecklenburg County.”
Cooper and UNC Act to Protect Students
Attorney General Roy Cooper went to Chapel Hill on Thursday to endorse the work of the UNC system's safety task force and to argue for new safety measures in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech tragedy.
Parents expect their children to be safe at a state university campus, Cooper told the UNC Board of Governors. Campuses have to prepare for the worst possible catastrophic events.
"You never know when someone will come on one of our campuses and start shooting," he said. "You'll never know when someone comes with a bomb. You'll never know if someone drives a vehicle on a campus and starts to try to run over people. You just never know, and we have to be ready."
The UNC board is reviewing an extensive set of recommendations by a task force that has worked for six months.
In January, another statewide panel appointed by Cooper will issue a report that takes a broad view of campus safety across public universities, community colleges and private colleges. That panel is likely to recommend changes in mental health treatment and rules around gun permits, Cooper said.
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Speaker Pelosi to join Presidential Lecture Series at Meredith College
Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi will present a public lecture as part of Meredith’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Presidential Lecture Series.
Speaker Pelosi will discuss the accomplishments and current work of the New Direction Congress. After the event Speaker Pelosi will take questions from the audience.
Speaker Pelosi will hold a press conference with North Carolina Congressmen Brad Miller and David Price following the question and answer session.
“I want to thank Meredith College for their hospitality in hosting today’s event. It’s a pleasure to welcome Speaker Pelosi to my home district to highlight the accomplishments and future goals of the Democratic Majority,” said Congressman Miller.
Davidson County Democrats Hold Education Forum
By SETH STRATTON, The Dispatch
An education summit Saturday sponsored by the Davidson County Democratic Party brought together students, parents, teachers and government officials to discuss and ultimately come up with solutions for problems facing the area's schools.
Will Westmoreland, chairman of the county Democratic Party, said the workshop, in the planning stages for the last five months, was meant to be a non-partisan forum for those concerned with education in the county to share ideas.
"This is the first time we've done something like this," Westmoreland said. "One thing we found when we were doing this is everybody was excited about sharing their ideas."
Forum participants spent the day rotating through four sessions focusing on school funding, performance, safety and dropout issues. The invited speakers included two N.C. Department of Public Instruction administrators; Dr. Max Walser, former superintendent of Davidson and Montgomery County schools and county commissioner; and the Rev. Fran Cook, a gang specialist with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
Take Back Charlotte Canvass: This Saturday, Sept 29th
This November, we have a chance to retake the Mayor's office in Charlotte. And I want to help make that happen.
That's why I'll be in Charlotte this Saturday, September 29th, working for our Democratic municipal candidates.
I hope you'll join me this Saturday, from noon to 3:00 p.m., as we go door-to-door, spreading the word about our municipal candidates and their vision for Charlotte. Volunteers will gather at noon at Plaza Presbyterian Church, located at 2304 The Plaza, in Charlotte. From there, we'll canvass Democrats and unaffiliated voters in a nearby precinct.
With a national mood favoring Democrats and strong candidates, this could be our best chance in years to make significant gains in Charlotte's municipal races. But it's going to take hard work -- including direct voter contact on a regular basis, between now and election.
If you can join us, just reply to jmeek@ncdp.org. I hope to see you Saturday.
Best Wishes,
Jerry
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Gov. Easley Announces 494 New Jobs
Gov. Mike Easley announced today that PRA International, one of the world’s leading clinical development organizations, will move its headquarters from northern Virginia to Raleigh. The company plans to invest $2.89 million and create 494 jobs during the next four years. The announcement was made possible in part by a Job Development Investment Grant.
“The addition of PRA to North Carolina’s list of prominent research organizations that provide drug development services continues our state’s leadership in this field,” Easley said. “Companies in the pharmaceutical, biotech and healthcare industries know that they find the knowledge, talent and skill in North Carolina they need to succeed in the global economy.”
While wages for the new jobs will vary by job function and responsibility, the expected average yearly salary for all the new jobs will be more than $75,000 plus benefits, which is more than double the Wake County average of $35,672 not including benefits.
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Wayne Goodwin on Sanford-Hunt
The State Executive Committee meeting in Greensboro was, once again, a celebration of what the North Carolina Democratic Party is about.
In addition to considering each of the recommended resolutions and action items (passing some, referring others back to committee, opposing others), Democrats from all across the Tar Heel State made much from their pilgrimage to Guilford County.
There we gathered, organized, rejoiced, reflected, and inspired.
We shared how our religious faith and values guide us in doing what we believe is right for North Carolina.
We learned about the growing intricacies of election laws, and witnessed what is driving our various candidates for 2008 to offer themselves up for public service.
And - as at last year’s Sanford-Hunt gala - many Democrats hoped to hear Governor Jim Hunt proclaim that he, once again, would be a candidate.
Alas, that last part was not meant to be.
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Leslie Hubbard on Sanford-Hunt
The following was written by Leslie Hubbard of Clayton, NC.
In NC we're a little spoiled. We have Democratic Party leadership that truly respects and appreciates the little guys.
Last year was the first Sanford-Hunt Dinner, a low-dollar fund raiser (30/plate) that honors two outstanding former NC Governors, Terry Sanford and Jim Hunt. According to Jerry Meek, this low-dollar event is now the most profitable fund raiser of the year for the Party. Those who Host and Sponsor and "beFriend" this event -- the big guys -- have their priorities in order. Kudos and Thank you to them all.
But that's not really what I wanted to tell you about.
