North Carolina Democratic Party

GOOD NEWS ABOUT DEMOCRATS!

FEBRUARY 15, 2013

HISTORIC THOUSANDS ON JONES STREET

State Democratic Party Chair Randy Voller and thousands of Democrats from across the state marched for equality, opportunity, jobs, fair elections, and many other issues in the "HK ON J" parade in Raleigh on February 9th. Chairman Voller has marched in "HK ON J" for seven consecutive years.

All North Carolina Democrats can be proud that so many Democrats marched to try to make the voices of the people heard by our legislators.

Our College Democrats enjoyed marching! The last two pictures show Sammi Kiley of Salem College and Ian O'Neil of Appalachian State who spoke onstage at the rally at the State Capitol that climaxed the march.  They spoke about the proposed Voter ID laws and the negative impact those laws would have on the state.

FORSYTH COUNTY'S SINGING TEAGUE SISTERS

KIKI TEAGUE & MARY LAURA TEAGUE AUSTIN

The Singing Teague Sisters are golden throated Yellow Dog Democrats who love to write and perform original songs to delight Democrats!  They are with Nashville star George Hamilton IV in the second picture above.

Born in Winston-Salem, the Teague Sisters came from the Moravian heritage of music.  Mary Laura was a theatre major at UNC-G and graduated from Salem College in Education.  Kiki graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill majoring in English.

A love of theatre and love of the written word combines the sisters' talent for writing and performing original compositions dedicated to outstanding Democrats!  They have performed for many candidates, elected officials and auxiliaries of the Democratic Party.  Their favorite group to perform for is President Bill Freeman and his Democratic Men's Saturday breakfast meetings in Winston-Salem.

Originally the sisters performed to honor Kiki's former boss and hero, Governor Jim Hunt.  They have also composed music for the campaigns of Governor Perdue, Elaine Marshall, Bob Etheridge, Earline Parmon, Evelyn Terry and many others.   In 2012 they sang under the name of The Waltones when they were under exclusive contract with Walter Dalton and Walter Smith.

Kiki and Mary Laura are already working on songs for Susan Frye for Forsyth County Clerk of Court and Senator Kay Hagan.

Blending harmony, comedy and love for the Democratic Party, The Teague Sisters are always available to perform when called upon!

     You can hear them sing on www.reverbnation.com where you enter "The Teague Sisters" into the search engine.  You can contact Mary Laura and Kiki at marilara@aol.com or KTeague0331@aol.com.

STANLY COUNTY RECEPTION FOR SENATOR BILL PURCELL

Stanly County Democrats invite everyone to "An Appreciation Reception For Senator Bill Purcell" from 5:30PM to 7:00PM on February 21st at The Boardroom Restaurant in Albemarle.

     Hosted by M. W. "Bill" Mullinix, the event will feature heavy Hors d'oeuvres and entrance will only be $10 per person. No reservation is required.

HONORS FOR A GREAT DEMOCRAT

GEORGIA JACQUEZ LEWIS - MECKLENBURG COUNTY

This year's Julius L. Chambers Diversity Champion Award of the Mecklenburg Bar Foundation will be presented to the first Hispanic to ever sit on a County Board of Elections in North Carolina, Georgia Jacques Lewis, at a banquet on February 21st in Charlotte.  Georgia also became the first Hispanic to be Chair of a County Board of Elections.

Born in humble surroundings in New Mexico, Georgia moved to Charlotte with her husband, pharmacist Bob Lewis.  The mother of five children, she enrolled at age 53 in the NC Central Law School. After earning her law degree she worked as a lawyer for the homeless, immigrants, minority voters, and to obtain fair pricing for pharmacy customers.

She was also instrumental in organizing and leading bar associations at the local, state, and national levels to promote and protect the interest of Hispanic clients and to provide networking and pipeline opportunities for Latino lawyers.

The February 21st banquet will be staged at Bryon's South End at 101 West Worthington Avenue in Charlotte.  Tickets are $125 and can be ordered by calling Leah Campbell at 704-375-8624, extension 114. You may write Georgia at MadreAbogada5@aol.com.

SONYA JAQUEZ LEWIS 

One of Georgia Lewis's most ardent and faithful cheerleaders is her daughter, Sonya Jaquez Lewis, who is shown in the middle of the picture above.  She made several trips to NC from Colorado in 2012 to present information to Hispanic Democrats about how to become Delegates to the Democratic National Convention.  Three of the Hispanics that Sonya had counseled were elected Delegates.  She later returned to present them with honors baskets at a celebration of Delegates before the Convention began.

Sonya is a pharmacist and she is an Adjunct Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Colorado in Denver.

Sonya was always involved in Democratic events from her grade school through becoming the first female student to run for Student Council President at UNC-Chapel Hill.  She was very active in Harvey Gantt's US Senate race.  She has won tennis trophies and keeps active with her horses on her Rainbow Ranch in Colorado.  Above all, Sonya will not let Georgia slack off from her Democratic duties.

HENDERSON COUNTY

County Chair Shelly Kingsley and the creative Henderson County Democrats have come up another happy fundraising idea:  A LOADED BAKED POTATO DINNER!

It will be from 5PM to 7:30PM, Saturday, February 16th at their Party Headquarters in Hendersonville.  For $10 each guest will get a potato bar with lots of toppings, a beverage, salad and dessert.  Take out boxes will be available.

Last year Shelly and the Henderson Democrats raised a total of $38,000 from their uniquely-themed dinners, monthly breakfasts, picnics, Holiday Party, 50/50 Drawings, Apple Festival booth and other fund raisers. Henderson County Democrats enjoy raising money!

GASTON COUNTY CHAIR ROBERT KELLOGG

Gaston County Chair Robert Kellogg has announced that he will not accept another term.  He and the Gaston Democrats are strong fighters in a red county.

During his term Gaston Democrats have staged a pro-education rally, organized the rebirth of the Senior Democrats, worked to establish a foundation for a Young Democrats group and a Hispanic caucus, created GOTV events, developed a better party web site, staged many fundraisers, and welcomed President Obama to Gaston County.

Robert says he will never forget shaking the President's hand and hearing Mr. Obama say that he was thankful for Democrats in Gaston County.  Robert is with Valerie Jarrett in the second picture above.

He will still be an active Democrat.  He says "I am looking for areas to be better effective by being able to advocate for Democratic principles and values.  I am looking forward to being a Democratic voice on the issue of LGBT equality across the state as well as championing the cause of grassroots organizing and candidate recruitment on the local level."

Robert expresses: "I am so thankful to be part of a party that not only allowed me this opportunity to serve the party I love, but also to be a mouthpiece for social justice and Democratic change.  I look forward to joining other Democrats in our pursuit of liberty and justice for all North Carolinians."

You may contact Robert at RKellogg001@carolina.rr.com

JOHNSTON COUNTY

Paula Wolf will be the Keynote Speaker at the Johnston County Democratic Women's meeting at 6:30PM in the Fellowship Hall at St. Paul's Episcopal Church at  218 South Second Street in Smithfield.  Paula is a highly effective lobbyist who represents many nonprofit organizations before the General Assembly and other regulatory bodies in state government.  All Democrats are invited.

THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER WILL BE:

CONGRESSWOMAN  GWEN MOORE!

The Wake County Democratic Women have announced that Wisconsin Congresswoman Gwen Moore will be the featured speaker at the 2013 Jefferson-Jackson Breakfast. This exciting event will be held at 8:30AM on Saturday, April 27th at the Hilton North Raleigh/Midtown Hotel at 3415 Wake Forest Road in Raleigh.

    Ticket are $40 until April 20th.  Contact J-J Breakfast Chair Jannet Barnes at jbar623@aol.com or Sponsorship Chair Eunice Jones at ERJones216@yahoo.com.

GASTON COUNTY BLACK HISTORY MONTH GALA

Everyone is invited to the Black History Month Gala of the Gaston County Democratic Party's African American Caucus which will be held at 6:30PM on February 22nd.   The location of this big event will be The Vineyard at 160 West Franklin Blvd in Gastonia.

For details please contact Democratic leader Altriese Price-Bryant at apb1975@live.com.  This is going to be a Gala to remember!

MECKLENBURG COUNTY DEMOCRATIC WOMEN

The first picture above shows the installation of President Mary Milan (blue suit with pearls) and the full lineup of 2013 Officers of the Democratic Women of Mecklenburg County.

The second picture shows that talented Democrat, Connie Green-Johnson, as she led the Democratic Women in a celebration of Black History at their Februrary 13th meeting at the Asian Library in Charlotte.

Connie asked several DWMC members to stand and tell the stories of  various historical women from the movement for civil rights and social justice, including Sojourner Truth, Shirley Chisholm, and Barbara Jordan. Members were reminded of theses women's struggles and triumphs - and the continuing need to honor their lives by making women's voices heard on the important social issues of today.

All Democratic women are invited to the DW's monthly meetings on second Wednesday at the Asian Library at 1339 Baxter Street in Charlotte.

YOUTH FEATURE

JUSTIN CONLEY - MACON COUNTY!

State Young Democrats Treasurer and Macon County Democratic Party Vice Chair, Justin Karr Conley, is an avid promoter of good things in North Carolina. He says: "I love North Carolina so I'm always mindful that we must work hard to keep this state great.  Whether it's community service, promoting policy, or doing our best to elect Democrats, my goal is shared prosperity across our state."

Justin is 26 and is an educator for "at risk" youth from across the southeastern US at the Lyndon B. Johnson Job Corps center in Franklin, North Carolina, where he lives. He has worked there for two years since graduating from Western Carolina University with degrees in Journalism and Public Relations. 

He was a Delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention and he managed the 2012 campaign of Senator John Snow.  The pictures above show him with Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer and television commentator Chris Matthews.

For his service to the Macon County Democratic Party he received the Liston B. Ramsey Democratic Party Service Award.  He received the 2012 "DEMOCRAT OF THE YEAR AWARD" from the Young Democrats of North Carolina.

Justin is a shareholder of the Green Bay Packers and a proud Cheesehead. He hopes to go to Green Bay, Wisconsin to watch a Packers game next year.  He enjoys hiking in beautiful Macon County. An avid bluegrass fan, he attends concerts frequently.  He is active in his local Masonic lodge and serves on the Alumni Advisory Board of his college fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha. He's looking for the perfect pet and says it could possibly be a mini-pig.

In the two pictures above Justin is speaking at the Institute of Political Leadership in which he is currently enrolled.

Macon County Democratic Party Chair Dr. Ed Morris says "Justin is a hardworking young Democrat who is dedicated to the principles of our Party.  If we can attract more young people to the Party like Justin our local, state, and national governments will be in good hands for future generations."

Eleventh Congressional District Chair Luke Hyde says "Justin is one of the sharp young people that we are blessed to have in the 11th District.  He was instrumental in restarting the College Dems at Western Carolina University and making it one of the most effective College Dems chapters in the state and nation."

Luke continues by saying that "Justin receives joy in working with young people and he is inspirational and encouraging to them.  He comes to most of our District's monthly dinners and brings young people with him."

Eleventh District Party Secretary Bob McCollum of Macon County writes that "Justin has been a great motivator of young and old alike across the state.  His enthusiasm for our Democratic Party and candidates is contagious. He has a political savvy and insight that few people his age have and I expect great things from this very capable young party leader."

You may write Justin at ConleyJustinK@gmail.com.

Your Democratic Friend,

Melvin Williams

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