Home › Blogs › Martha Brock's blog ›

The N & O got it right (this time) and the Sierra Club blew it

Submitted by Martha Brock on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 6:53am

Senator Neal Hunt; Counties Represented: Wake
Occupation: President of HMC Corporation (Real Estate and Development)
Address: 2600 Fairview Road, Raleigh, NC 27608 (Hayes Barton neighborhood)
Phone: (919) 781-3464

From yesterday's endorsement of Democrat Charles Malone for Senate District 15: "As a candidate Malone is up against it, as he well knows. Republican Neal Hunt, a property manager and developer, is a three-term incumbent."

"While Hunt tends to support some predictable conservative positions (smaller government, more friendly to business, etc.), he's also been good on environmental protection and keeping the government's business open.

We have endorsed Hunt in the past and respect his service, but believe Malone's broad life experience and fresh perspective would be of value on Jones Street."

I first met Charles Malone this year at Democratic Party functions. I liked him immediately (somewhat unusual for me). I interviewed him recently for an article on his race and I learned just how extensive his history in politics is and how knowledgeable on the issues Charles is. Please read the editorial by the N & O and support Malone for Senate District 15.

Tagged:

Comments

The Sierra Club

Submitted by James on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 7:47am.

The Sierra Club's endorsement of Hunt was a hit job by locals with some kind of axe to grind. I've seen that happen many other times from local chapters filled with self-interested, petty people who have personal agendas that don't align with Sierra Club as a whole.

The Sierra Club

Submitted by charlesmalone on Thu, 10/21/2010 - 10:57am.

Yes, James, I am the victim of the "hit job" by the local Sierra Club leaders, not its rank and file, who have by-passed me, not even giving me a questionnaire or an interview before endorsing the developer Hunt, who has voted for the environment on occasion.

In contrast, I stand solidly for a clean energy approach to our environmental problems that seeks sustainable energy sources instead of fossil fuel addiction--especially since our energy needs (wants) come from unsavory regimes in the Middle East and elsewhere that do not share our values. I'm a Transit Authority member locally and have long stressed taking the bus and lowering the carbon footprint for our city, and support transportation options, the cleaning of Falls Lake, the safeguard of coal ashe, the removal of Alcoa from the Yadkin River issue, and the strong protection of our coastal water and habitats. I am a member of the Sierra Club and work for DENR. I could go on, and know that my views align with Al Gore, not Richard Burr, who my opponent would like to see leading us in DC. How can the Sierra Club endorse half a loaf over a full loaf when it comes to the virtue of our environmental positions? It's just that they want to have access to the guy they believe will be on Jones Street next year. I thought we voted for who we believed in, not who we thought would win. It's a shame.

Charles Malone