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October 11. 2006 1:00PM
Candidates flock to women's club forum
By ERIC FRAZIER
The Dispatch
THOMASVILLE | If anyone left the Thomasville Women's Club candidates forum
Tuesday without an emery board, it wasn't due to a shortage of them.
Several of the 27 political candidates who attended the luncheon placed
imprinted nail files at each place-setting in a stack of campaign
paraphernalia that included brochures, candy, calling cards, pens, postcards
and rulers.
The literature provided a good way for the candidates to tell the other 39
people in the room about themselves - especially important with so many
candidates on hand. Each got exactly one minute to speak, and club member
Ramona Cranford banged the gavel more than a few times. But just showing up
may be the real benefit for candidates.
"Now, I can put more faces with names than I could before," club president
Jane Hill commented at the conclusion.
Judy Smith, a Thomasville resident and club member for 10 years, agreed.
"If you see them face-to-face, it's more enlightening," she said.
Smith even made notes that she plans to take with her to the voting booth.
"I found it very helpful," said Rachel Armentrout of the Colonial County Club
area, who has been a member of the women's club for about two years. "I've
never been to a candidate forum."
Past President Marie Culbreth, who is also a Thomasville councilwoman, said
she has organized forums for the past 25 years.
"I've always had a real good attendance," she said. "The candidates were so
happy because there hasn't been another one (forum) this year."
Culbreth said she issued an invitation to every candidate who will appear on
the Nov. 7 ballot in Davidson County - a total of 57 in all.
"These are voters," she said of the club members. "They vote, and they have
families who vote. It's a good crowd to come and get your message out."
For the most part, given the limited time, candidates stuck with thumbnail
biographies and general goals. Only a few took swipes at their opponents.
Democrat Rory Blake, a retired Charlotte pharmacist, who is challenging
22-year incumbent U.S. Rep. Howard Coble, R-6th, linked him to the large
federal budget deficits
"Remember Howard's pencil?" Blake said in a reference to Coble's career-long
promise to cut wasteful spending. "I guess they've given that up in
Washington, because they're not really cutting the budget."
Coble, who spoke before Blake, told a story about a woman who said she hadn't
voted for former Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill because he hadn't asked for
her vote.
"I'm asking you all for your vote," Coble said.
Fourteen-year incumbent Mel Watt, D-12th, and his challenger, Republican Ada
Fisher, a Salisbury physician, did not talk about each other. Fisher ran
against Watt previously in 2004.
"I'm challenging the folks in Davidson County to value my experience and the
work I've done for them," said Watt, who has never carried the county in his
victories.
Fisher talked about promoting affordable and accessible health care, stopping
illegal immigration and making English the official language.
"We need jobs in this country that you can't send south of the border and you
can't send overseas," she added.
None of the county's state legislators attended. All are incumbents and
unopposed.
In the county race that usually gets the most attention, incumbent Republican
Sheriff David Grice and his Democratic challenger, Roy Holman, both attended
the forum.
"We're making progress," Grice said of the department he was appointed to run
27 months ago when Gerald Hege stepped down following felony convictions.
Holman said he would "put honesty and integrity back in the sheriff's
department."
"We do not have that," he charged.
Incumbent Republican county commissioner Sam Watford spoke also for fellow
incumbent Don Truell, who as a former Thomasville mayor was playing in the
Mayor's Cup golf tournament.
"I'm sticking with one issue -economic development," Watford said, promising
to continue "aggressive recruitment."
He called it important for the tax base, jobs and to improve the appearance of
the county by filling empty factory buildings.
Billy Joe Kepley pledged to "restore faith and confidence in government" and
focus on schools and small businesses.
He served for 14 years on the board before losing in the 2004 Republican
primary by five votes.
"It shows how important your vote is," he reminded the audience.
Republican Kenny Moore, who served on the board from 1986 to 1994, including
as chairman, said he would be a stronger commissioner for having spent the
last 12 years in the private sector.
"I stand strong for God and country and traditional family values," he
promised.
Max Walser, the only incumbent Democratic commissioner, pointed to the
postcards on each table picturing him with his three grandsons.
"That's why I'm running for county commissioner," he said. "I really am
running for the future of our children."
He advocated protecting the environment and controlling growth, especially in
the northeastern part of the county.
Randall Lanier, a former county Democratic party chairman, said he has a
passion for Davidson County.
"This is a just a great place to live, and we've got to get it back to what it
was," he said.
Watson Gregg, also a former county Democratic Party chairman, got some
chuckles when he recalled his grandmother telling him that "politicians are
like babies' diapers. They need to be changed every so often." He commended
every candidate for committing the personal time to run for office.
Larry Allen, who was appointed by the Republicans to fill the unexpired term
of Fred Sink, who had to vacate his seat when he lost an appeal of his felony
conviction, did not attend the forum.
His challenger in the head-to-head matchup, Loretta Martin, a former county
Democratic chairwoman, took the opportunity to remind women's club members
that she is the only female on the ballot.
"I think we ought to have a woman's voice on the county commissioners, and if
I'm not elected, there will be no woman's voice on the county commissioners,"
she said.
In other head-to-head races, two-term Clerk of Superior Court Brian Shipwash
stressed public service and talked about his program, "Fifty Things You Can Do
at the Courthouse," to help people file simple legal processes without a
lawyer.
Democratic challenger Teresa Odgen Lowe, a 20-year veteran of the district
attorney's office, said she is committed to public service "without favoritism
or political influence."
Democratic incumbent Register of Deeds Mark Myers, appointed in June 2005
after Ronnie Callicutt retired, pointed to his business background.
"I know what customer service is," he said, calling his office the most
efficiently managed it can be.
But Republican challenger David Rickard, who also has a business background,
stuck with his call for technology upgrades.
"We're a little behind other counties," he asserted.
In the nonpartisan race for two seats on the Davidson County Board of
Education, incumbent one-term member Carol Crouse, an educator and parent
volunteer, said education has been "the love of my life since I was 6 years
old." Kenny Meredith, who was elected to the board in 1996 and 2000, said his
experience would help "maneuver not just the potholes but some land mines that
education is facing." Political newcomer Keith Wingler said Davidson County
has a great school system, and "I'd just like to be involved in making sure it
stays that way."
Other candidates appearing at the forum included N.C. Court of Appeals Judges
Linda Stephens, who is running for re-election, and Eric Levinson, who is
seeking a seat on the State Supreme Court; 22nd District Superior Court Judge
Mark Klass and his challenger, Robert Spaugh, a Forsyth County lawyer who
lives in Davidson County; Lexington lawyer Rod Penry and former Davie County
assistant district attorney Carlton Terry, who are vying for the 22nd District
Court judge seat vacated when Jim Huneycutt retired; and Ted Royster, who is
unopposed for another term as District Court judge in District 22.
Eric Frazier can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 226, or eric.frazier@the-dispatch.com.
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