Unopposed candidates were the first to make opening statements.
Representative Jim Crawford
Representative Jim Crawford of the 32nd House District was the first to speak. He said that his candidacy means to Vance County things like $40 million for low wealth in North Carolina, of which Vance County gets “an appreciable amount”. He also said it means $27 million for special education and $44 million to restore money taken away by the govenor when there was a shortfall.
Crawford said that he also got $350,000 for Chavasse Avenue on Saturday, and that I-85 was a top priority. He also said that he was working to put $90 million into mental health and $10 into a mental health trust fund. He said he was also working to change the Medicaid formula so that the state pays more of the burden.
Representative Michael Wray
Next was Representative Michael Wray of the 27th District. He said that it “is about working together”. He said that Crawford is the senior legislator and that he is teaching Wray. He thanked the audience.
County Commissioner Danny Wright
Vance County Commissioner Danny Wright of District 3 said that he wanted to make himself accountable and accessable to voters. He said the democratic process was the greatest in the world and that he enjoyed being a part of it. He said he would serve to the best of his ability.
The next set of statements came from those candidates running in contested races.
County Commissioner Wilbur Boyd
Wilbur Boyd, the County Commissioner currently holding the District 4 seat was the first to speak. He said that in past years, the county was known as agricultural and textile, but the number one crop was disappearing and the textile jobs are moving to places like China where wages are $.25 an hour.
Boyd said that the county is in transition, and that we must be willing to improve skills and communication. He said the we can’t look at how things used to be, but must be visionary.
The incumbent lauded the accomplishements of the Vance County Board of Commissioners during his tenure with the building of three new elementary schools, Southern Vance, and major renovations to the middle schools, as well as the acquision of a new Central Office.
Boyd advocated for Medicaid costs being moved back to the state.
Dan Brummitt
Boyd’s opponent, Dan Brummit, noted that he was born and raised in Vance County on a farm. He told the audience and listeners that he graduated from
Appalachian, worked for Roses, went into banking, and eventually became a contractor, and owns and operates a small business to this day, as does his wife. He also said that he has coached and attended Leadership Vance.
He said that he decided that now is an appropriate time to run. He said that Vance County has potential, but that it continues to travel in the same direction and it takes us to the same undesirable places. He added that it is time for a change.
County Commissioner Tommy Hester
Tommy Hester, the Vance County District 7 incumbent, spoke of two major issues of jobs and education. He talked about the need to bring new businesses and to help schools and Vance-Granville Community College to get the most out of every dollar spent. He said that together we can help our county grow and prosper.
Scott Hughes
District 7 challenger Scott Hughes told the audience that he decided in 2000 that he wanted to seek county office, and that he had been learning everything he could in preparation for his run. He said that he was running on a platform of change.
Hughes told the audience that he was a lifelong Hendersonian, a graduate of Campbell University, and the father of two young children. He said that family is important, which is why he was advocating parenting classes to teach right from wrong and accountability to children.
Hughes also said that he wanted to increase job satisfaction among county employees. He also took the position that taxes were unfair to city residents and said that he would like to immediately address that problem.
The candidate said that his mid-stream change of position on zoning showed that he would not be stubborn.
George Hoyle
Candidate for Vance County Sheriff George Hoyle stated at the outset that he did not run in the primary because he promised incumbent R. Thomas Breedlove that he would not run against him. He said that the deciding factor was not who won, but was Thomas Breedlove losing.
After that initial remark, Hoyle said that he would put more officers on the street by a process of staggered shifts. He also said the would use drug seizure money for off-duty pay and part-time help to increase manpower.
He said that in the jail, prisoners would spend more time in lockdown instead of “socializing”. He said that he would continue the war on drugs. He quoted his opponent as saying that he would only go after the “big drug dealer”. He promised he would go after every drug dealer.
Peter White
Candidate for Vance County Sheriff Peter White said he proud to sit before the audience as the Democratic nominee. He said he wanted to work on unsolved murders.
“I don’t know where some of these quotes come from,” White said, referencing statements attributed to him by Hoyle, “but what I said was I’d be looking at the large dealers as well as the small ones.” He said he believes that if the supply is cut off, the drug dealers would have to go out of business or go somewhere else.
White said he wanted to put some of the authority in the hands of the citizens. He said the Sheriff’s Office belongs not to the Sheriff, but to the citizens, and he [the Sheriff] should be held accountable.
He encouraged voters to visit his web site and look at his resume. He said his dedication and loyalty were not in question.
Senator Doug Berger
For the North Carolina District 7 Senate race, incumbent Doug Berger was the first to speak. He said that two years ago he came and asked for support and he was sent to Raleigh because he had the necessary experience. He told the audience that he had served as an educator, prosecutor, and judge, and that that his “front-line” experience had worked for the people of District 7.
Berger said he delivered on the promises made to voters. He said that he had effected changes in tax structure to bring high-paying industry to rural areas, and
legislation giving a tax credit for businesses locating in the mini-HUB. He said he also supported the mini-HUB along with Wray and Crawford. He said the project was bipartisan and enjoyed broadbased support.
The senator maintained that he has fought for public education so that rural schools would have the same advantages and urban ones. He cited the monies that Crawford referenced in his opening statement.
Chuck Stires
Chuck Stires, Berger’s Republican opponent for the Senate District 7 seat, opened by stating that he hoped to bring a change in approach and a better life to the area. He said that he had been encouraged by friends and neighbors to run.
He said there was a growing divide between rich and poor counties that would not be improved without a change in leadership. He said that claims of improvement had been made, but that we see in newspapers that this is not happening.
He said a group called NC Free rates senators on effectiveness. He said that effectiveness is important.
He said 30% of schools in [the Vance] district are below the minimum standard. He said we are in a position to solve this. He said roadblocks have been placed in front of parents to prevent school choice and that he would change that.
Looking at the unemployed, he cited the Kerr-Tar program, which he said was excellent. He also said that at any of the job sites there are no buildings, no jobs, no dirt moved. Stires said with his business experience he would be able to take the project to fruition and look at it as an “incubator”.
Listen to opening statements here.