Gaston County

What’s Brewing in Raleigh? Possum Stew!

The most recent unemployment numbers in North Carolina show a continued decrease in employment. Gaston County, like all the counties in the state recorded more unemployed citizens than the previous month. At 11.1 % unemployment on the county level and 10.2 state-wide, the frenzied activity in Raleigh to right this sinking ship must be at an all-time high, right? Unfortunately the answer is no. Instead the feverish legislation coming out of Raleigh amounts to a piping hot bowl of possum stew!

Instead of an “all hands on deck” approach our law-makers in Raleigh have set their sights on laws that are not only insignificant, but smacks of silliness in the face of current economic calamity.

This Saturday, August 4, Young Democrat Day will celebrate the service-minded Millennial Generation by giving Young Democrats across North Carolina the opportunity to give back through registering voters, donating blood, collecting canned food, and more. Events are planned in Murphy, Asheville, Black Mountain, Dallas, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Fayetteville, Clayton, Elizabeth City, Wilmington, and Manteo. Follow the action starting at 4 AM using the #YDDay hashtag!

Click for a full list of events and sign up form!

All over the state, Young Democrats will spend the weekend making a difference. Gaston Young Democrats will help distribute school supplies, Mecklenburg Young Democrats will donate blood, Guilford Young Democrats will collect cans to combat a shortage at the local food bank, and Young Democrats from Asheville to Wilmington will register voters.

As we celebrate our independence from tyranny, let us not forget those who still face political injustice, intimidation and voter manipulation. I wish I were talking about some far away land or a third world Country which we are always eager to compare ourselves with in order to show our political superiority. No my friends, political intimidation is not a thing of the past, but a living entity in Gaston County, North Carolina.

On Friday, July 2nd, two days before our Nation was set to celebrate its independence from all things politically oppressive and deceptive, Annette Carter, Democratic candidate for the NC state Senate seat in Gaston County, backed out of the race with physical pain and a heavy heart.

WHY THE REST OF THE STATE SHOULD CARE ABOUT THE RACE FOR STATE SENATE IN THE 43RD DISTRICT!

Today’s Sunday edition of the Gaston Gazette, the local newspaper in Gaston County, told the terrifying story of local Democratic candidate Annette Carter and her brush with political terrorism. Annette Carter is the current chairperson of the board of education and is running in a hotly contested race for current Democrat, David Hoyle’s seat this fall.

Gaston County politics has always been a bit lopsided and if truth be told somewhat cumbersome for local democrats. The conservative stronghold in this county is more like a choke hold with the 43rd State Senate seat being one of the bright spots.
Annette carter became the victim of what some are calling “campaign terrorism” when a crumpled up yard sign was left on her door step along with shards of glass from a brick thrown at her glass door. The Gaston Gazette described it this way.

In light of Senator Forrester's refusal to meet with us, PFLAG and many African American constituents who have contacted me remain steadfast in our effort to reach out to the Senator. We would like to extend an invitation one more time to the Senator and ask him to join his minority constituents in a meeting or forum to discuss diversity and minority sensitivity. See the blog link on Pamshouseblend for the complete story. It's also in the Gaston Gazette.