Notes for 2018 Midterm Elections
Table of Contents
1 Overview
Notes on who to vote for, from The Independent.
We are in:
| Indy endorses | ||
|---|---|---|
| Precinct | DAMASCUS | |
| Congress | CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 4 | David Price |
| NC Senate | NC SENATE DISTRICT 23 | Valerie Foushee |
| NC House | NC HOUSE DISTRICT 56 | Verla Insko |
| Superior Court | 15B SUPERIOR COURT | |
| Judicial | 15B JUDICIAL | |
| Prosecutorial | 18TH PROSECUTORIAL | |
| County Commissioner | COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 1 | |
| Township | CHAPEL HILL | |
| School | CHAPEL HILL |
From https://indyweek.com/news/elections/endorsements-our-last-best-hope-to-save-the-republic/
1.1 Constitutional Amendments: No to all six.
1.2 Statewide Court Positions
| Supreme Court | Anita Earls |
| Court of Appeals Seat 1 | John Arrowood |
| Court of Appeals Seat 2 | Tobias Hampson |
| Court of Appeals Seat 3 | Allegra Collins |
Entertaining quote:
After Mike Morgan won a seat on the Supreme Court in 2016—likely thanks to Republicans who accidentally voted for him—lawmakers tried to game the system first by requiring candidates to have party identification and then eliminating primaries, thinking that would give incumbent Republican Barbara Jackson a better shot at reelection. Enter Christopher Anglin, a “former” Democrat who changed parties to run as a Republican and, quite possibly, split the Republican vote, thus giving Democrat Anita Earls a clear shot to victory. Republicans then tried to head Anglin off by passing a law that wouldn’t allow him to appear as a Republican on the ballot, but the courts wouldn’t stand for it. So here we are.
Republicans have good reason to be suspicious of Anglin. Even so, there’s schadenfreude in seeing them hoisted by their own petard. And if Anglin succeeds is paving a path for Earls, he’ll have done the state a favor.
1.3 Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor: Main and Hogan
FYI, Chris Hogan was in my Disciple Bible study, back in the day, and he was the real estate agent that helped me buy the Durham house. He's a nice guy. I don't know about his politics, but I guess they aren't too crazy, because the Indy endorses him (w/out enthusiasm).
1.4 Affordable Housing Bond (Chapel Hill): Yes.
Pretty sure the town can afford it.
1.5 Fun quotes on Foushee and Insko
1.5.1 Foushee
State Senate, District 23: Valerie Foushee
Valerie Foushee has been a household name in Orange and Chatham Counties for years, having served as a school board member, Orange County commissioner, and a representative in the legislature.
The Democrat faces Republican Tom Glendinning, a landscaper and founder of the N.C. Composting Council who has held several appointed seats in Chatham County, including positions involved in economic development and planning. His platform centers on economic growth, property rights, and “making the world safer and cleaner” in light of a “breakdown of society.” He advocates for self-defense to protect God-given life until “common decency” is restored. We’re fans of composting, too, but not so much paranoia and religious zeal.
Foushee, on the other hand, is well-versed in issues facing families and education in North Carolina. Along with Woodard, she sponsored a bill in the Senate to move UNC’s Confederate statue. She’s pushed for paid sick leave and vows to repeal the HB 2 replacement bill1 as soon as possible. We endorse her for another term.
1.5.2 Insko
The District 56 race sees longtime Democratic incumbent Verla Inkso against Libertarian Matthew Clements and Republican Matthew Cooke.
Clements’s website says he is for school choice2, lower taxes3, decriminalization of drug possession, and privatization of the ABC system4. Cooke, according to a speech he gave at at a recent Second Amendment rights rally in Hillsborough, is a research scientist with the EPA. He didn’t share much about his platform but highlighted the nearby Confederate monument and the Alamance Regulators militia that are “so much a part of our history.” Yep, we just rolled our eyes, too.
By contrast, Insko was the primary sponsor (along with Meyer) of a bill in May to remove the Confederate statue at UNC known as Silent Sam that has offended students of color for decades. A retired health program administrator, she has also sponsored a host of health-related bills, supporting contraceptive education and telemedicine, as well as a driver’s license designation for the deaf and hard of hearing. Insko has served eleven terms, and we endorse her for number twelve.
Footnotes:
The "bathroom bill", which makes it illegal for a single city (Charlotte) to pass an ordnance allowing places to allow patrons to use the restroom consistent with their gender identity. Ew, trans people. We hates them.
This is code language for "rich (white) people get to send their kids whereever they want, and poor (black) people get to send their kids whereever they 'want', and the state contributes some small amount toward everybody's expenses." Yay. If the school is more expensive than what the state pays for, well, then it's your "choice". Also, if your kid has special needs, good luck.
Drugs and alcohol for everyone! Woo!! Healthcare? Toxic coal ash cleanup? Offshore oil drilling? Solar electricity farms? Hurricane relief? Voter rights? Never mind all that; pot!