March 2006

Kent Kanoy has annouced plans to run against David Price here in North Carolina's 4th congresional district. Given that this district would vote for a dead, not just yellow, dog democrat (despite a sizable GOP minority) is this a positive way for progressives to get a voice, or a distraction when we can least afford it? I think the first.

He seems to view his primary challange as a referendum on what Price should be doing in 3 important areas: Iraq (sign on to the Murtha Resolution), Impeachment (sign on to the Conyers Resolution to investigate Bush), and a single payer national health system.

Kanoy is not taking campaign contributions and is not wealthy so this won't likely be a competetive race in the traditional sense. But if we can't hold an elected Democrat accountable here, where can we? Obviously it would be best to not burn bridges though...

· Kanoy's Official Campaign Website
· Price's Official Campaign Website
· Interview with Kanoy on BlueNC.com

Mike Nelson's campaign for County Commissioner is demonstrating leadership on tech issues the likes of which we have not seen before in Orange County. I have proposed to Mike (and to other candidates) that Orange County should sponsor a technology summit for municipal staff and county residents to discuss how technology can serve us better.

The County Commissioners should look for a new manager who ‘gets it' when it comes to using technology in new and creative ways to deliver services more efficiently. In my experience, you have to have a leader at the top who understands what questions to ask and who understands that innovations can be put to work to improve public service and to reduce the costs of delivering those services. Additionally, technology can be used to provide our citizens with more information in a timelier manner.
- Nelson for Commissioner: Using Technology in New and Better Ways

Guest Post by Cynthia Wertz

Orange County residents are invited to attend and participate in the Orange County Board of Commissioners Candidates Forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Orange, Durham and Chatham Counties and Democracy North Carolina. The Forum will be held on Wednesday, April 19, 2006, at the Gordon Battle Courtroom in Hillsborough, N.C. from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

The forum will provide an opportunity for citizens to learn about the positions of each candidate as well as to ask questions of the candidates. Molly Beacham, a League member and Director of Development, Democracy North Carolina, will moderate the forum. The candidates for the Orange County Board of Commissioners race are Fred Battle - D, Robin Cutson - D, Jamie Daniel - R, Betty Tom Phelps Davidson - D, Artie L. Franklin - D, Alice Gordon - D, Barry Jacobs - D, Mike Nelson - D.

This forum is one in a series of spring candidate forums sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Orange, Durham, and Chatham Counties.

Judge Chuck Anderson says he is not going to accept campaign contributions from attorneys or political action groups during his primary for Superior Court. There is a whole section about 'judicial independence' on his website, which talks about how he would like to try to not accept donations from attorneys who may have an interest before him. I checked out Adam Stein and Alan Baddour's websites, but I could not find if they were doing the same thing or not. They might be, but I could not tell from their websites.