State Dems Gather in New Bern: Eighth District's Prominent Role

As North Carolina's Democrats gather in New Bern today for the 2008 convention, it is worth noting the prominent role that the Eighth Congressional District and its delegates will have.

First of all, everyone will cheer on the Everyman of Democratic candidates for Congress: Larry Kissell of Biscoe. He is ahead in the polls, he has a stellar team, and he's got "the Big Mo" that winning grassroots campaigns must have. Expect the 1,000+ Dems in New Bern to chant his name with the hopes, intensity and fervor for every voter back west in the 8th to hear it and vote accordingly!

Second, we have a significant number of African-American Democrats, young Democrats, and disaffected rural Democrats in the Eighth District who are feeling an excitement comparable to none before: They see the incredible organizational skills of Senator Barack Obama's team touching communities that have heretofor never seen a presidential race. I still can't believe that even in my hometown of Hamlet - of all places - there was an Obama field office! A strong turnount of Dems in the Eighth will lift the fortunes of EVERY Democrat on the ballot (including yours truly), so a super-jazzed, uber-exhilarated Eighth is the key to victory, in my opinion.

Third, the Eighth is home to a fantastic array of candidates and officials who are carrying the banner high for the party and for the best interests of our region. Besides the previously mentioned Kissell, we have:

State Rep. Melanie Wade Goodwin (first on my list for many reasons!)
State Rep. Tricia Cotham (whose fiance, Jerry Meek, is NCDP Chairman and a future 8th District resident)
State Sen. Dan Clodfelter
State Rep. Garland Pierce
State Rep. Pryor Gibson
State Rep. Doug Yongue
State Sen. Bill Purcell
State Rep. Rick Glazier
NCDP First Vice Chairwoman Dannie Montgomery
Monroe Mayor Pro Tem Phil E. Bazemore
Walter Rogers of the 8th District Black Caucus
Anthony Copeland, also of the Black Caucus
Hoke County Sheriff Hubert Peterkin
Cumberland County Sheriff Moose Butler
Richmond County Sheriff Dale Furr
Anson County Sheriff Tommy Allen
Stanly County Commissioner Sherrill Smith
Judge Tanya Wallace
Judge Kevin Bridges
Judge Tripp Helms
Almeta Armstrong, Montgomery County School Board
the many active Democrats from the 8th who are going to Denver as national delegates;
and,
Wayne Goodwin, Democratic Party nominee for NC Insurance Commissioner

... and the list could go on, and on, and on!

So as Democrats gather to rally for this weekend's State Convention, and with all the firepower that we have in our Congressional district, do expect the 8th to be upfront and outfront in leading the charge for victory in November!

8th District Well-Represented at Vance-Aycock Dinner

Our fellow 8th Congressional District Democrats should be quite pleased to know that our area was well-represented at last weekend's annual Asheville gala at the historic Grove Park Inn. (The issue of a probable name change of this annual NC Democratic Party dinner will be held in abeyance until the January 2008 State Executive Committee meeting.)

In addition to yours truly of Richmond County, I saw the following folks who hail from one of our 10 counties:

Drew Arrowood - Cabarrus
State Representative Tricia Cotham - Mecklenburg
Sarah Gulledge - Stanly
Larry Kissell - Montgomery
Dannie Montgomery - Anson
Bill Mullinix - Stanly
Leanne Powell - Cabarrus
Elizabeth Roscoe - Stanly
Nancy Rorie - Union
Michael Taylor - Stanly
Judge Susan Taylor - Stanly
U.S. Marshal Becky Wallace (ret.) - Stanly

(State Representative Melanie Wade Goodwin sent her regrets for missing the Asheville weekend gala but had good cause: She remained in Richmond County to attend various district events, and to take our daughter to church. Though I may be biased in saying so, Melanie is doing a phenomenal job looking after the needs of both her constituents and her daughter!)

And, though he lives in Carrboro now, it was also great to see Thomas Mills working the Jim Neal for U.S. Senate hospitality suite. Thomas's father was a long-time jurist here in the Anson County region, Judge Fetzer Mills.

Others with 8th District connections were sprinkled throughout the crowd, a crowd ecstatic about the coming elections and the promise that Democratic leadership from bow to stern offers America. (Let me know of other District folks that you'd like for us to highlight here by either adding a comment to the blog or by dropping me an email message.)

Incidentally, members of the 8th Congressional District also joined countless colleagues from across the Tar Heel State in Insurance Commissioner Jim Long's hospitality suite. The dean of the Council of State did indeed provide ample hospitality, and fun was had by all. For political pundits, activists and strategists the gathering proved to be the ideal place to fraternize, analyze, plot and scheme. I was further pleased to see a strong friend of our district there, Chief Justice Sarah Parker, and many of both our young Democrats and our stalwart party leaders who have slogged through many a campaign.

Apart from what the 8th District was up to in Asheville, I will soon share some terrific news with you that will be a tremendous booster shot to our growing efforts to re-take our Congressional seat and to energize a vital base of our Party. Stay tuned!