Carolina Journal Weekly Report

For the week of November 02, 2012 - carolinajournal.com

Reaction of the Week

BUTNER — Recent stepped-up voter registration efforts at state mental hospitals and facilities for the developmentally disabled resulted in the registration of Wendell Justin Williamson, who in 1995 killed two people in Chapel Hill and was judged not guilty by reason of insanity, reports Carolina Journal.

Election records show Williamson, a patient at Central Regional Hospital in Butner, was registered on Sept. 13 as an unaffiliated voter. He cast an absentee ballot that was accepted Oct. 15 by the Granville County Board of Elections.

In a street shootout in January 1995 near the UNC-Chapel Hill campus, Williamson, a law student, used an M-1 rifle to kill two strangers. The not-guilty verdict caused a national furor. He attracted additional headlines this week when a judge granted Williamson unsupervised off-campus privileges.

Efforts to register mental patients and residents of centers for the developmentally disabled have taken place in recent months in several locations around the state.

Employees of the Murdoch Developmental Center, a state-run facility in Butner for the mentally retarded and developmentally disabled, recently registered 36 of the more than 500 residents to vote in what appears to have been a voter registration drive at the facility. In addition, some residents were checked out of the facility and transported to early voting centers to cast votes.

CJ: Cowell, Royal try to make impression with voters
RALEIGH — Incumbent Democratic state Treasurer Janet Cowell and Republican challenger Steve Royal don’t agree on much, but concur that lack of statewide name recognition is a challenge in the Nov. 6 general election.

CJ: Troxler, Smith battle for ag commissioner slot
RALEIGH — The re-election campaign of North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler has highlighted his efforts to grow agriculture and agribusiness revenue and employment. His Democratic opponent Walter Smith wants to expand the industry, too.

CJ: Goolsby and Butler at odds on more than abortion
RALEIGH — Much of Democratic state Senate District 9 candidate Deborah Butler’s campaign against freshman Republican Sen. Thom Goolsby has focused on a piece of anti-abortion legislation he supported, even though both candidates say their primary goal is job creation.

CJ: Barefoot and Berger highlight parties’ struggle for power
RALEIGH — Leaders in the North Carolina Republican Party are doing all they can to help Chad Barefoot get elected to the Senate District 18 seat as part of a larger effort to expand their new majority and advance their agenda.

CJ: Campaign activities by Harnett Register of Deeds staff raises ethics concerns
RALEIGH — The question about how much campaigning local courthouse employees should be doing for their boss’ election has arisen in Harnett County as Democrat Register of Deeds Kimberly Hargrove battles to keep her job against Republican challenger Darryl Black.

Monday, November 05, 2012 at 12:00 p.m.
Shaftesbury Society Luncheon
with our special guest Dr. Michael Walden
"Why is North Carolina's Unemployment Rate So High?"

Thursday, November 15, 2012 at 12:00 p.m.
A Headliner Luncheon
with our special guest Fred Barnes
Headliner Luncheon with Fred Barnes:
What the Election Results Really Mean

Capital Quotes

“We’re ahead. It’s as simple as that.”
— Walton Robinson, state Democratic Party spokesman, as quoted by the Raleigh News & Observer, commenting on early voting numbers.

“The math just isn’t adding up for Democrats. Momentum is clearly on the Republican side.”
— Rachel Adam, a Mitt Romney spokeswoman, as quoted by the Raleigh News & Observer, rejecting the notion that Barack Obama is ahead in North Carolina.

“Can someone from Charlotte win? Sure.”
— GOP strategist Jack Hawke, talking to the Charlotte Observer about whether former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory can be elected governor.

“It was bad before. It’s much worse now.”
— Bob Hall, director of Democracy North Carolina, talking to the Charlotte Observer about the importance of money in getting elected to the state House.

On The Air This Week…

This week on C J Radio…
Carolina Journal Managing Editor Rick Henderson discusses the use of regulatory power by the state nutrition board; lawmakers react to June Atkinson’s comments on performance pay; JLF’s John Hood on roadblocks to economic reform; Research Triangle Foundation President and CEO Bog Geolas lays out RTP’s future plans; and JLF’s Terry Stoops analyzes the opposition to school choice.

This week on NC Spin…
Join moderator Tom Campbell for another week of political discussion and debate on the most intelligent television talk show in the state. Topics this week: The 2012 elections and who our panelists think will win. This week’s panelists: John Hood, president of the John Locke Foundation; Chris Fitzsimon of NC Policy Watch; Henry Hinton, host of Eastern NC’s “Talk of the Town”; and political consultant Brad Crone.