Today begins the filing period for municipal elections. To file to run for a municipal office, visit the Randolph County Board of Elections. The process is easy and the people in the office are always friendly and helpful.  Here is their list of offices up for election in November 2017.

2017 Randolph Co. Municipal Offices for Election 

STATE:

This recently passed budget has been one of the most harmful and cynical things our Republican-run NCGA has done.  That’s saying a lot about a GA that holds votes on key legislation in the middle of the night, sneaks legislation against women’s healthcare into motorcycle safety bills, gerrymanders anything that will hold still long enough, ignores court orders to make it right (then tries to gerrymander the court) and uses their lame duck governor to strip power from the incoming governor out of pure, brazen spite. 2018 is going to be a big year. If we ever hope to make all this right and set our state on the path to success again, we need to oust some of these regressive Republicans and replace them with some forward thinking legislators, who have the best interests of ALL North Carolinians in mind. Interested in running for NC Senate or House in Randolph County? Email us at randolphdem@gmail.com We’d love to help!

Column: The gloomy, blustery and vindictive session drawing to a close

Here’s a budget breakdown by NC Justice Center.

 

JUSTICE IN NC

NC Policy Watch‘s Chris Fitzsimon has a short message on how the NCGA’s budget has just made it harder for poor people to seek justice in North Carolina. “The House eliminates the funding mechanism for legal services for low-income people, which saves the state only $2 million but could devastate thousands of people’s lives.”

Here is NCPW’s reporting on the recently passed budget compiled in one place. NC Budget 2017

NCGA Budget Cuts Jeopardize Community Stability – “Many in North Carolina, especially the state’s rural areas, have few options when in crisis. Across our state, there is one legal aid attorney for every 15,000 low-income people who desperately need representation but can’t afford it.”

 

ANTI-UNION FARM BILL S615

ANTI-UNION BILL S615 ATTACKS FARMWORKERS RIGHT TO ORGANIZE – Farm Bill S615 is a shameful abuse of power that takes aim at our union in a blatant attempt to stop farm workers from achieving union agreements that include wage increases, job security, benefits, and improved working conditions. Farm Bill S615 has already passed the NC House and Senate, and we are calling on Governor Cooper to veto the bill.

 

WIND FARMS

Exactly how is this being “Open For Business”? Why don’t these legislators want to create more jobs, boost the economy of multiple counties and encourage sustainable, clean energy to keep our state clean and beautiful. Nobody wants to come to a state cloaked in smog and covered in oil and coal ash. Get your act together, NCGA!

Comments on the Wind Farm Moratorium HB 589 From Steve Harrison of BlueNC

STATE SENATOR TRUDY WADE TAMPERS WITH LOCAL NEWSPAPERS’ BOTTOM LINES

I know Sen. Trudy Wade is not one of our county legislators, but her tinkering could have ramifications for our local news outlets eventually. Her bill, SB343, would set a dangerous precedent as a backdoor method of undermining local newspapers who report on our legislature. She seeks to punish Guilford County newspapers with this bill “by stripping a requirement that legal notices be published in paid-circulation newspapers and allowing for a county website to handle the task.”  What would happen if this were became a statewide bill?  More than likely, reporters would be laid off, which means fewer individuals and opportunities to report on the shenanigans of our legislators. With right-wingers beating the “fake news” drum it’s certainly a possibility. Pretty sneaky, huh?

Call Your Senators: Jerry Tillman, Rick Gunn

SCRIPT: I am calling from _________ in Senator _________’s district. I want to urge the Senator to vote against SB 343, which I feel is a backdoor attack on local newspapers. The First Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees the right of a free press. Eliminating one of the main revenue streams which help fund these local newspapers is just a sneaky way of putting constraints on their ability to hire reporters who might report on NCGA activities. Constraints on our First Amendment rights, whether direct or indirect, are unconstitutional and unAmerican. I urge the senator to vote against SB 343. Thank you.

What if the BP oil spill had happened along NC’s coast?

Sign our petition telling U.S. Congress to protect North Carolina’s coast from offshore drilling.

 

SIGN THE 6TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS’ PETITION FOR NON-PARTISAN REDISTRICTING

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Informational Session from Asheboro Indivisible – Join the folks from Asheboro Indivisible for an informational session and postcard avalanche Thursday July 13, 2017 at 6:30PM in the downstairs meeting room of the Asheboro Library.

Blue Jean Gala Planning Committee/Executive Committee Meeting – Tuesday July 11, 2017 at Democratic Headquarters 803 W. Salisbury St. Asheboro. Blue Jean Gala Meeting at 5:30PM Executive Committee Meeting to follow immediately after at 7:00PM

NCDP Unity Dinner (Formerly Jefferson-Jackson Dinner) Saturday July 15, 2017 7:00-10:00PM at Talley Student Union on the campus of NC State in Raleigh. Guest speaker will be former US Attorney General Eric Holder.