Good News About Democrats - January 24, 2012
PRESIDENT TALKS ABOUT SURRY COUNTY SOCKS
Surry County Democratic Party Chair Erica Smith reports that President Obama talked about socks made by Nester Hosiery in Surry County in his January 21st weekly address entitled "Helping American Businesses Succeed." The President said "I brought a few things with me for this week's video. A padlock. A pair of boots. A candle. And a pair of socks" He continued by saying "These products are united by three proud words: MADE IN AMERICA." Erica says Nester Hosiery was founded in Mount Airy in 1993 and employs about 225 people.
WAKE HAS A NEW COUNTY CHAIR
On January 19th, Dan Blue III was elected Chair of the Wake County Democratic Party. He succeeds Mack Paul who retired after leading the Party to significant victories in the 2011 elections. Dan is a Raleigh attorney. He and his wife, Traci, are the proud parents of a two year old daughter named Kennedy and they are expecting another child in April. Dan says that his goals are "to grow the Party's ranks, to win elections, and to play a more active role in helping our elected officials govern."
At the same meeting Attorney Gene Davis was elected Raleigh Vice Chair of the Wake County Party. Gene is a Raleigh native and he earned his undergraduate and law degrees at UNC-Chapel Hill. He serves on the NC Housing Finance Agency Board, the NC Housing Coordination and Policy Council, and the Raleigh Arts Commission.
Gene and his wife, Mary Kaitland, are active in Habitat for Humanity and Hayes Barton United Methodist Church where he is a Sunday School teacher.
CUMBERLAND CHARTERS TEEN DEMS CHAPTER
The Cumberland Teen Dems officially chartered their chapter on January 21st in Fayetteville. Their Officers are:
President - Miles McKeller-Smith
First Vice Chair - Henry Mixon
Second Vice Chair - Anisha Padma
Secretary - Jacob Liebers
Treasurer - Ann Mixon
Spring Lake Mayor Chris Rey is the group's advisor and Carmela McKeller-Smith will be the group's mentor. Stanley County Teen Dems President Dylan Frick and Vice President Erik Benson travelled to Fayetteville to provide guidance in helping the Cumberland group get organized.
ORANGE COUNTY HAS A NEW HEADQUARTERS
On January 19th County Chair Matt Hughes and Treasurer Missy Biggers signed a lease for a new Democratic Headquarters at 209 Lloyd Street, Suite 310 in Carrboro. An official opening date will be announced soon.
MECKLENBURG ELECTS 4 NEW OFFICERS
At their January 21st meeting the Mecklenburg Executive Committee elected Cynthia Wallace to be their new Second Vice Chair and Isaac Applewhite to be their new Treasurer. Sherry Booth and County Commissioner Jennifer Roberts were elected to the State Executive Committee.
FORSYTH HISPANIC DEMOCRATS ARE BUSY
Thirty nine Hispanic Democrats gathered at the Forsyth Democratic Party Headquarters on January 19th to hear a call to action from Irene Godinez of the Latin American Coalition. The group organized a trip to Raleigh on January 25th to opposes harmful bills that will be considered by a GOP-dominated legislative committee.
They elected new Officers for the Forsyth Hispanic Democrats. They are:
President - German Garcia
Vice President - Mercedes de Rivers
Treasurer - Gabriela Rocha
Secretaries - Alma Alberto & Samer Toledo
WAKE & FRANKLIN COUNTIES ARE WORKING TOGETHER
Watt Jones, Vice Chair of the Wake County Demcratic Party, hosted a meeting for Wake and Franklin County Democratic leaders at Angie's Restaurant in Garner on January 21st to discuss the reelection campaign of Senator Doug Berger (D-Franklin) in the new District 18. Under the new redistricting plan most of eastern Wake County has been added to Sen. Berger's district. Franklin County Chair Armenta Eaton and Wake Chair Dan Blue III headed the list of Democratic leaders who participated. All the Democrats who attended were enthusiastic about working together to reelect Sen. Berger.
ONSLOW COUNTY
Carolyn Bryan, Director of Minority Affairs of the Third Congressional District, reports that Judge Cressie Thigpen will be the Keynote Speaker at the Onslow County Political Action Committee Banquet at First Baptist Church in Jacksonville on March 17th. The $20 tickets can be purchased by calling Mrs. Bryan at 910-545-0301.
ALAMANCE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC WOMEN
Jay Parmley, Executive Director of the State Democratic Party was the featured speaker at the Alamance County Democratic Women's meeting in Burlington on January 17th. Over 90 enthusiastic Democrats attended. Membership Chair Anna Gerow said "Jay was a great, informative, and motivational speaker!"
Becky Mock, Vice President of the Alamance Democratic Women was awarded the 2012 Margaret Sanger Award for her "lifetime contributions to the advancement and empowerment of women" at the banquet of the PPCNC Political Action Committee meeting in Durham on January 19th.
GUILFORD COUNTY'S SWEETHEART PARTY
Guilford's Democratic Women invite everyone to their big Sweetheart Party from 4PM to 6PM, Sunday, February 12th at the home of County Commissioner Kay Cashion at 103 West Greenway Drive in Greensboro. Former Guilford Party Chair Karen Savage is Chair of the Sweetheart Party committee. Karen says this year's event will honor "Everybody's Sweetheart", Sue Mengert, who is the state's "Democratic Woman Of The Year." Tickets are $25 and many sponsorship levels are available.
CUMBERLAND VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE
Dr. Vikki Andrews, First Vice Chair of the Cumberland Democratic Party, coordinated seven voter registration sites around the county on January 16th. A total of 50 new voters were registered.
MECKLENBURG YOUNG DEMS
President Toria Boldware reports that before their February 12th meeting Mecklenburg Young Dems will be collecting clothing and household goods to donate to Crisis Assistance Ministry. On February 25th the Young Dems will be volunteering at the Ministry.
AISHA DEW
Mecklenburg County Party Chair Aisha Dew was featured in an article in a recent issue of the "Salem College Alumnae Magazine." The full page article was entitled "Making Political History" and included a very good picture of Aisha.
TENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Tenth District Demcrats have fun with a drawing every time they meet. At the January 18th meeting Mitchell County Party Secretary Virginia Hunt won the drawing prize which was a free ticket to the Sanford Hunt Frye Dinner in Greensboro. The drawing raised over $100 for the District Treasury. At each meeting District Chair Cliff Moone gives everyone a free Moon Pie for their work to strengthen the Democratic Party.
CORRECT WEB SITES FOR COURT OF APPEALS JUDGES
www.JudgeWandaBryant.com
www.JudgeCressieThigpen.com
www.JudgeLindaMcGee.com
GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK
Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts will be the Keynote Speaker at the big Sanford Hunt Frye Dinner at 7PM, this Saturday, January 28th at the Greensboro Marriott. Governor Patrick was elected in 2006 to succeed Mitt Romney. He was reelected in 2010. He graduated from Harvard College and the Harvard School of Law. In 1994 President Clinton appointed him to be Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department. He and his wife, Diane, are the parents of two daughters, Sarah and Katherine. Only a few tickets are left at $40 each. Email Finance Director Ellen Stankiewicz at EStankiewicz@NCDP.org to get your tickets.
Melvin Williams, Secretary
North Carolina Democratic Party
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