NC Democratic Party Convention Report
NCDP Convention was held in New Bern on Saturday, June 21 in the Convention Center. Bettie and Todne Bembry and I attended as delegates for Chowan County.
Training sessions were held Saturday Morning. I attended the sessions on "Successful Volunteer Recruitment and Coordination" and "Myth-Buster: How to Talk about Dole, McCain and McCory". I hope that we will be able to implement some of their suggestions here in Chowan County.
Between the training sessions and the start of the convention I had the opportunity to visit the many booths and tables set up by candidates and political action groups. It was an opportunity to do a little shopping for that special campaign button, bumper sticker, shirt or hat. There was a lot of free information available as well. It was also an opportunity to meet many of the delegate hopefuls who were actively campaigning for election
to the National Democratic Convention.
Once the convention was called to order, it was down to business. First order of business was the election of the National Convention Delegates. Both the Obama and Clinton campaigns had identified those candidates that they were supporting out of the 90 who were running for election. Obama was allocated 22 delegates and Clinton 16. Seven alternate delegates were also selected. All of the endorsed candidates but one was elected. The alternates will attend the convention but will not be seated on the floor.
Presidential Electors were chosen next. North Carolina has 15 Electoral College Votes. We were to vote for two females and two males from the 17 candidates. David Crawford and Kara Hollingsworth were elected. Don Mail and Robbie Acre (sp?) will serve as alternates.
The next order of business was the approval of the Resolutions. Eighty-two resolutions were presented to the body (73 to be adopted by consent and 9 with recommendation for additional discussion). Interestingly one of the consent resolutions was placed in the discussion group. This was a measure that resolved to create statewide pre-release and post-release programs to assist prisoners in transitioning to stable jobs and healthy relationships with their communities. It was amended to include education on the restoration of their voting rights. This is allowed in NC but apparently is not well publicized. This amendment was approved and the resolution was passed. The resolutions to require super delegates to vote as the majority state vote and the resolution to support the creation of a Federal Department of Peace and Nonviolence failed to pass after much discussion.
Throughout the meeting candidates running for state offices and judgeships were introduced and allowed to give short speeches to gain support for their candidacy. Among those speaking were Lt. Governor Beverly Perdue (Governor), NC Senator Kay Hagen (Dole Senate Seat) and Beth Wood (State Auditor).
The meeting finally adjourned just before 5 PM giving us a little time to change for the Sanford-Hunt Dinner. Approximately 850 people attended a traditional NC barbeque dinner. The program included a short film highlighting the contributions that Governors Sanford and Hunt had made to make North Carolina the great place that it is today. Lt. Governor Beverly Perdue candidate for Governor spoke outlining her vision for North Carolina’s future.
On Sunday I attended the Executive Board Meeting. Its primary purpose was to elect five members to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and to vote on proposed amendments to the Plan of Organization. After 7 ballots (a very time consuming exercise) we elected Jeannette Council, Susan Burgess, David Parker, Everett Ward and Phillip Gilfus. They will serve for four years. Their term begins after the National Convention in August. All except Phillip Gilfus are currently on the DNC. Mr. Gilfus is a young man who served in Iraq. He defeated a candidate who has been serving on the DNC for 20 years. In his case at least the group voted for change.
The only other item of importance and one that will affect Chowan County concerns precinct meeting. The amendment as approved will allow precinct meetings to be held in places other than in the polling place if approved by party chair and the location change is advertised. This became necessary because in some locations were the polling place was a church, the church would not allow the precinct meeting to be held because of the political nature of the meeting. The amendment also allows multiple precinct meeting to be held in a single location. This will allow precincts to meet together for shared agenda items but to have "break out sessions" for things such as election of precinct officers. The amendment will allow unorganized precinct to organize and elect and send delegates to county conventions if done so two (2) weeks before the scheduled county meeting.
I think we all benefited from the experience. We can now put faces and names together in North Carolina politics. We learned how the party is organized and what is involved in making changes. It was a democratic process. All those wanting to speak were given the opportunity to do so, each with a specified time limit. Some of the speakers were passionate about their causes but Chairman Meek maintained order and all were considerate of the each others points of view. I think we are energized and ready for November.
Martha Badger
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Chowan Dems Consider Impeachment Resolution
Poll Results:
67%For Impeachment
25% No Impeachment
8% Undecided
Of Those In Favor of Impeachment,
6% - in favor of the impeachment of the President only
38% -in favor of impeachment of the Vice President
56% - in favor of impeachment of both
These results will be combined with the results of a yet incomplete
phone poll. If you have already taken this poll and are called,
please tell your volunteer caller that you have already given your
response.
On the strength of these results we are working on a draft resolution.
If the poll is conclusive is favor of impeachment , it will be voted
on by the Executive Board. It will then be sent to the North Carolina
Democratic Party and our Representative in the House, Congressman
G.K. Butterfeild.
Thank you
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"When there are those in the world who would extinguish the light of liberty, it
must burn brightest here"
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
On another note:
It is curious that all of the presidential candidates, with the
exception of Republican Ron Paul, are silent on the issue of restoring
the integrity of the Constitution. Why are none of the Democratic
candidates talking about repealing the excessive powers granted
the Chief Executive under prior legislation?
As anyone knows, when the government has taken powers unto itself,
it is unlikely to give them back unless there is an outcry. It is
also known candidates have better hearing before they become office
holders than after.
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